[355:2] See Cyprian’s “Epistle to Successus,” where it is stated that “Xystus was martyred in the cemetery [the catacombs] on the eighth of the Ides of August, and with him four deacons.”

[355:3] This fragment may be found in Euseb. vi. 43.

[355:4] For an account of their duties see Period II. sec. iii. chap. x.

[355:5] According to some manuscripts, there were, not forty-six, but forty-two presbyters, seven deacons, seven sub-deacons, and forty-two acolyths.  At a later period, we find three presbyters connected with each Roman church.  There were fourteen regions in the city, and supposing a congregation in each, there would now be three presbyters, one deacon or sub-deacon, and three acolyths belonging to each church.  See Blondel’s “Apologia,” p. 224.

[356:1] Cornelius (Euseb. vi. 43) calls him “a malicious beast,” but he evidently writes under a feeling of deep mortification.

[357:1] Firmilian, “Cypriani Epistolae,” lxxv.

[357:2] Matt. xvi. 16-18.

[357:3] John i. 42.

[357:4] See 1 Pet. ii. 5.  Peter adds, as if to illustrate Matt. xvi. 18—­“Wherefore also it is contained in the Scripture—­Behold I lay in Zion a chief corner stone, elect, precious; and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.” 1 Pet. ii. 6.

[358:1] Matt. vii. 24, 25.

[358:2] See Tertullian, “De Praescrip.” xxii.; and Cyprian to Cornelius, Epist. lv. p. 178, where he says—­“Petrus, tamen, super quem aedificuta ab eodem Domino fuerat ecclesia.”  See also the same epistle, pp. 182, 183, and many other passages.

[358:3] Thus, Cyprian in his letter to Quintus (Epist. lxxi. p. 273) makes the following awkward attempt to get over the difficulty:—­“Nam nec Petrus, quem primum Dominus elegit, et super quem aedificavit ecclesiam suam, cum secum Paulus de circumcisione postmodum disceptaret, vindicavit sibi aliquid insolenter aut arroganter assumpsit, ut diceret se primatum tenere et obtemperari a novellis et posteris sibi potius oportere.”

[359:1] A.D. 325.

[359:2] The Suburbicarian Provinces comprehended the three islands of Sicily, Corsica, and Sardinia, and the whole of the southern part of Italy, including Naples and nearly all the territory now belonging to Tuscany and the States of the Church.  See Bingham, iii. p. 20.

[359:3] Basil, Ep. 220.

[360:1] Euseb. vii. 50.

[360:2] Thus we read of “the blessed Pope Cyprian,” bishop of Carthage.  Cyprian, Epist. ii. p. 25.  The name was sometimes given to the head of a monastery.  In the catacombs there was found an inscription probably to the memory of a Pope of this description.  See Maitland, p. 185.  See also Routh’s “Reliquiae,” iii. pp. 256, 265.

[360:3] See Bower, “Marcellus,” 29th Bishop.

[360:4] That is, from the autumn of A.D. 304 to the spring of A.D. 308.  See Burton’s “Lectures on the Ecc.  Hist, of the First Three Cent.” ii. p. 433.