Martyrs, Confessors and Apostates in De Lapsis of Cyprian of Carthage

The article offers a new look at Cyprian of Carthage's treatise De lapsis, written in the spring of 251 after the end of the persecution of Decius. The issues of church discipline and repentance were in the focus of the author’s attention. He was looking for solutions to the problems that have arisen as a result of apostasy. Cyprian was fully aware that the persecution could resume in the near future, and the De lapsis contains detailed instructions on how to behave during the persecution, and what to do if a believer had made a sacrifice. Cyprian pointed out the reasons for apostasy, describes the patterns of behavior of apostates, and finally gives recommendations on how to repent and to seek forgiveness

Ancient Mediterranean Archaeology and History · Archaeology and Historical Studies · Classical Antiquity Studies