Letter 63: I was seriously disturbed, dearest brothers and sisters, to learn that Fortunatianus — formerly your bishop, who...

Cyprian to his brother Epictetus and to the people of Assurae, greetings. I was seriously disturbed, dearest brothers and sisters, to learn that Fortunatianus — formerly your bishop, who fell during the persecution — is now trying to act as though nothing happened and is claiming the episcopate for himself again. This distresses me on several counts. First, for his own sake. The wretched man — blinded by the devil's darkness, or deceived by the sacrilegious persuasion of certain people — should be spending his days in atonement, pleading with the Lord night and day through tears, prayers, and supplications. Instead, he dares to reclaim the very priesthood he betrayed. As if a man could move directly from the altars of the devil to the altar of God. As if he would not provoke an even greater wrath and indignation from the Lord on the day of judgment. He who could not serve as an example of faith and courage to his brothers now sets himself up as a teacher of shamelessness. He who did not teach his people to stand bravely in battle now teaches the defeated not even to ask for pardon. The Lord says: "If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, he shall drink the wine of the wrath of God, mixed full strength in the cup of his anger, and he shall be tormented with fire and sulfur" [Revelation 14:9-10]. Anyone who fears God will shudder at these words. It was decreed in council — and rightly so — that bishops who lapsed during the persecution may indeed be received back to repentance, but they cannot return to their former rank. They may be reconciled as penitent laymen, but they cannot be restored as priests. The altar of God cannot be served by one who deserted it. Do not be deceived by his claims. Do not be moved by his audacity. Let him do penance — genuine, lasting penance — and be thankful for whatever mercy God grants. But the bishop's chair is not his to reclaim. Farewell, beloved brothers and sisters.

Epistle 63