Cyprian of Toulon, St.
CYPRIAN OF TOULON, ST.
Bishop; d. Toulon, France, c. 543–49. caesarius of arles consecrated Cyprian bishop of Toulon (before 517). His signature is recorded for a number of synods: the first, Arles (524), and the last, Orléans (541). At the synods of Orange (529) and Valence (c. 529), semipelagianism found in him a vigorous opponent. Disciple, friend, and stanch supporter of Caesarius, he is the principal author (among several collaborators) of the Vitas. Caesarii, accepted by critics of medieval hagiography as "an exceedingly precious monument of history." Also extant is a letter, dated 530, from Cyprian to Bp. Maximus of Geneva that gives evidence of Cyprian's orthodoxy on certain moot theological questions of the day.
Feast: Oct. 3.
Bibliography: Vita s. Caesarii, in Monumenta Germaniae Historica: Scriptores rerum Merovingicarum 3:457–501. Letter to Maximus, in Monumenta Germaniae Historica: Epistolae 3:434–436. Monumenta Germaniae Historica: Concilia 1:38, 42, 53, 58, 59, 61, 96. Acta Sanctae Sedis Oct. 2:164–178. o. bardenhewer, Geschichte der altkirchlichen Literatur (Freiburg 1913–32) 5:356. j. l. baudot and l. chaussin, Vies des saints et des bienhereux selon l'ordre du calendrier avec l'historique des fêtes (Paris 1935–56) 10:53–54.
[g. m. cook]