From the letter of Saint Dionysius († 264), Bishop of Alexandria, concerning the instances of persecution and the epidemic of the so-called Cyprian Plague. The illness, which struck the Roman Empire within the third century, stays in historical past with the title of St. Cyprian of Carthage, who described its signs. About 5 thousand folks died each day in Rome from this contagious illness. St. Dionysius wrote that there have been no residents left in Alexandria over forty years of age. On this harsh time, the Bishop of Alexandria described the conduct of Christians and their angle in direction of dying: not frivolously and self-confidently, however imitating Christ – because the bitter cup that they drink out of affection for his or her struggling neighbors.

“… After a brief intermission, this illness fell upon us; to them (the Gentiles) it was essentially the most dreadful of all dreadful issues, the cruelest of all calamities, and, as their very own author says, a unprecedented occasion which nobody may have anticipated. For us it was not like that; as in different circumstances, the Lord tried and hardened us. The illness didn’t encompass us, however it struck the Gentiles extra.

Lots of our brothers, out of plentiful charity and moved by cohesion, with out pitying themselves, supported one another, with out worry, visited the sick, served them unfailingly, cared for them for Christ’s sake, joyfully died with them; they crammed themselves with the struggling of others, turned contaminated by their neighbors and readily took upon themselves their sufferings. Many, caring for the sick and supporting others, died themselves, accepting dying for them…

That is how the most effective of our brothers handed away: clergymen, deacons, laymen. They showered them with reward, as a result of such a dying, attainable solely due to nice piety and robust religion, was thought-about equal to martyrdom.

Supply: Eusebius of Caesarea, “Church Historical past”, vol. 7

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