Cyprian of Carthage: a bishop or an urban elite?

Alekaey Vital’evich Kargaltsev PhD in History, senior lecturer, Herzen State Pedagogical University of Russia (naberezhnaya reki Moiki, 48/20a, Saint-Petersburg, Russia, 191186)
akargaltsev@herzen.spb.ru

Kargaltsev A. V. Cyprian of Carthage: a bishop or an urban elite?, Religiya. Tserkov’. Obshchestvo. Issledovaniya i publikatsii po teologii i religii [Religion. Church. Society: Research and publications in the field of theology and religious studies], Saint-Petersburg, 2022, vol. 10, pp. 212–221.

doi: 10.24412/2308-0698-2022-10-212-221

Language: Russian

The article analyzes the social status of Bishop Cyprian of Carthage as a representative of the urban aristocracy. In our opinion, it was his education and reputation as well as professional skills that predetermined the election of Cyprian as bishop, contrary to the existing church traditions. The head of Carthaginian See used both his authority and wealth to change the position of Christians in the city, especially during the period of the epidemic known as the Plague of Cyprian. Also, he did so and in the matter of church transformations and relationships with other Christian pulpits. Another issue under consideration is the trial of Cyprian in 258. It is shown that although the bishop was sentenced to death, the attitude of the city authorities towards him was fundamentally different in comparison with other clergy of the city. Undoubtedly, the Roman governor perceived him in a friendly way, which was reflected in the type of his imprisonment before the execution, and in the last itself. Moreover, Cyprian retained ties with the urban aristocracy during the period of his episcopacy. Friends were ready to save him from death, which obviously indicates the stability of these ties. Thus, we can talk about a fairly stable social stratum to which the bishop belonged, even during the height of the crisis of the 3rd century. Its representatives could become Christian hierarchs, which explains the transfer of the initiative of anti-Christian persecutions from local authorities, as prescribed by the Edict of Trajan, to the imperial authorities.

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Key words: Christianity, Early Church, Roman Empire, Cyprian of Carthage, persecution, urban space

URL: http://rcs-almanac.ru/en/kargaltsev-2022-en/

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Martydom of St. Marian and James: Introductory article, Russian translation and commentary

Alexey Vital’evich Kargaltsev, senior lecturer, TheologicalInstitute of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ingria (der. Kolbino, d. 25a, Leningrad region, Vsevolozhsk district, Russia, 188680)
kargaltsev@gmail.com

Kargaltsev A. V. Martydom of St. Marian and James: Introductory article, Russian translation and commentary, Religiya. Tserkov’. Obshchestvo. Issledovaniya i publikatsii po teologii i religii [Religion. Church. Society: Research and publications in the field of theology and religious studies], Saint-Petersburg, 2013, vol. 2, pp. 208–239.

DOI: 10.24411/2308-0698-2013-00004

Language: Russian

The publication presents a translation of the early Christian hagiographic monument «The Martyrdom of Marian and Jacob» (Passio Sanctorum Mariani et Iacobi) (BHL 131–132) with comments and an introductory article, which dealt with the main issues of authenticity, dating and specifics of the text. The translation is based on the latest edition: The Martyrdom of Marian and James // The Acts of the Christian Martyrs / Ed. by H. Musurillo. Vol. 2. Oxford, 1972. p. 194–213. The focus of the introductory article lays on the problem of the Christian perception of prophetic visions. The work of the Roman authorities during the persecutions of Valerian is analyzed. The “Martyrdom” tells of the events in Numidia in the spring of 259, the history of the arrest, the suffering and the glory of the main characters – Marian and Jacob, and contains a lot of details, revealing the behavior of the Roman authorities and Christians during the persecution. This text is the only source that tells about the death of famous bishops: Agapius and Secundin. Finally, the text in a new way reveals the specifics of dreams and visions, which are one of the most important features of African hagiography. The text, written in exquisite rhetorized language, opens with traditional for African hagiography arguments about the high position of a martyr and about those heavenly rewards that are assumed to be accepted as suffering for Christ.

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Key words: North Africa, Numidia, martyrdom, early Church, Valerian, persecution

Permanent link: http://rcs-almanac.ru/kargaltsev-2013-en/

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Montanism in Roman North Africe: Concerning the problem of martyrdom reflection

Alexey Vital’evich Kargaltsev, senior lecturer, Theological Institute of the Evangelical  Lutheran Church of Ingria (der. Kolbino, 25a, Leningrad region, Vsevolozhsk district, Russia, 188680)
kargaltsev@gmail.com

Kargaltsev A. V. Montanism in Roman North Africe: Concerning the problem of martyrdom reflection, Religiya. Tserkov’. Obshchestvo. Issledovaniya i publikatsii po teologii i religii [Religion. Church. Society: Research and publications in the field of theology and religious studies], Saint-Petersburg, 2012, vol. 1, pp. 116–132.

DOI: 10.24411/2308-0698-2012-00011

Language: Russian

The article is devoted to the study of heresy of Montanism on the material of the Roman North Africa. The author comes to the conclusion that it is impossible to talk about the New Prophecy as a single phenomenon. A specific feature of Montanism in Africa was the addition of the veneration of martyrdom, traditional for the Phrygians ascetic. It is in this context that the «Phrygian heresy» can be viewed as the basis of disciplinary heresies and schisms in Africa. The article attempts to clarify to what extent the specific regional features that distinguish it from the «Phrygian heresy» manifested themselves in African Montanism. The question of the connection of the New Prophecy with Christian rigorism, especially with its radical form – voluntary martyrdom, is explained. It is possible to speak about the broadcasting of the Montanist sermon, which is different for Africa from the Phrygian form, it was less ecstatic, and as a result was less condemned. Retaining their main features: the election of “people of the spirit”, strict monogamy, worship of the Spirit Comforter, a surge of eschatological expectations, the Montanists hardly stood out against the background of the orthodox Christians. The reason for this was the fact that the church in Carthage was still being formed. In Africa, the strict asceticism of the Phrygians underwent a kind of transformation, and was supplemented with a special veneration of martyrdom. It is the context in which appropriate to speak of Montanism as the basis of subsequent disciplinary heresies and schisms.

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Key words: Phrygian heresy, martyrdom, North Africa, early church, schism, Carthage, Montanism

Permanent link: http://rcs-almanac.ru/kargaltsev-a-v-2012-en/

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