St. Cyprian and Christianity

We are now thick in the season of Saint Cyprian who has become quite popular. Indeed, if the look the Ursuline Sister gave me in Quebec City last month when I asked for his medal is any indication, word of his veneration amongst Sorcerers is even getting back to the establishment. A few years ago I declared Bune the Katy Perry of the Occult, and we are now approaching St Cyprian reaching similar status – a point indicated when people feel compelled to work with him simply because it seems like everyone is. No one likes to be left out.

As his popularity grows I see more and more practitioners attempting to distance Cyprian from Christianity. One student of mine on the Strategic Sorcery board came right out and asked a question that I think a lot of less-bold people try to dance around: “Aren’t there any prayers to Cyprian that are, well, less Christian?”

I get it. I do. On the one hand you have this very cool spirit that everyone seems to be getting some kind of result from, and on the other you have a religion that a lot of people have a very low opinion of for very good reasons. Can’t you have the spirit without the Christianity? I am gonna go ahead and do something that I rarely do – give a definitive answer.

NO.

If you want Cyprian, you kind of have to take Christ with him. Cyprian’s unique feature is that he stands as Maryr AND Magus simultaneously. He is Sorcerer AND Saint.  Like Milarepa he spent a lifetime learning black magic only to eventually find holiness. In Cyprians case called demons to essentially rape the maiden Justina, and Justina was able to rebuke all his powers with the sign of the cross. Impressed, Cyprian converted so that he could have this power as well. Seeking power, he found grace.  Christ is at the heart of what makes Cyprian important and unique. The Chrysm that anointed Cyprian a Bishop is at the heart of what makes his oil potent. If you are looking for powerful Pagan Magicians to venerate there is no shortage of them, but there is only one St Cyprian, and yeah, he is a Bishop.

Now the good news is that the religion you hate: the loud mouthed, fundamentalist, hate-filled, bible belting, Christianity is actually just a small but loud voice within the scope of the 2000 years Christianity has been in existence, and among the 2.2 BILLION people that currently practice it. Chances are there is a vision of Christianity that you can live with if you must pray to St Cyprian.

Or maybe not. That’s ok too. A lot of people have a lot of hurt and pain around Christianity and have done well taking their power back by rejecting it entirely. Even if it is itself not evil, like a whiskey bar to an alcoholic, it may be evil for you. If thats the case – then don’t pray to St Cyprian. Why would you? That’s what I don’t get. There isn’t a tax break for your St Cyprian altar. No prize for best Novena. If you cannot look at Christianity of any kind as something worth anything, then just do something else. That is the wonderful thing about the word we live in.

And yes, that same freedom lets you invoke Cyprian however the hell you want. I can’t stop you. I also don’t think that there will be any kind of negative backlash or whatever if you do leave out the Christian parts. I just think at that point you aren’t really invoking Cyprian at all, because you have removed the single thing about him that makes Cyprian unique and potent, and which spread his name to the northern reaches of Scandanavia to the southern tip of Argentina; from as far east as Turkey to the western shores of Peru.

Here again is my main prayer to St Cyprian:

In the name of the great and mighty power of God I invoke the sublime influence of St. Cyprian, in Christ Jesus.
I ask that you be my mentor and my master by virtue of the grace bestowed upon you by God omnipotent who was, who is, and who will ever be.

You learned to control storms on Mt Olympus, the casting of enchantment and illusion in Argos, the mysteries of the witches craft at Taurapolis, necromancy among the graves of Sparta, and incantations in Memphis. Finally in Antioch, drawn by power, you found grace of Christ.

Oh Holy Cyprian, you who equally partakes of the Mass and the Sabbat, bless my efforts to follow you in your path. You who commingled with angels, devils, and earthly spirits, grant the power to command the spirits as you did, and as Solomon and Manasses did before you.

I thank you Lord for the many gifts of nature and grace with which you enriched the spiritual treasure house of your most faithful servant St. Cyprian. I thank you, my protector, for the special favors I have received by your powerful intercession.

Oh Cyprian Holy Thaumaturge : Saint and Sorcerer, Martyr and Magus, bless me. Take my prayers and spells and make them your own. When the Lord hears them he will not ignore them, they will cease to be my words, but yours.

Amen

And a short prayer to the Martyrs of Nicomedia, because without Justina, we would not be talking about Cyprian at all.

NOVENA TO THE MARTYRS OF NICOMEDIA

In the name of the great and mighty power of God I invoke the sublime influence of St. Cyprian, St. Justina, and St. Theoctistus.

Answer the resolve of my devotion with success in all that I do. Remove all spells worked against me and all bonds placed upon me. Make level the path before me and clear every obstacle in my way.

Holy Cyprian Sorcerer Saint, Martyr and Mage, bless my efforts to follow you in your path. You who commingled with angels, devils, and earthly spirits, grant the power to commune and command the spirits as you did, and as Solomon and Manasses did before you.

Holy Justina, Virtuous Virgin, Arcane Abbess, make me immune to curses, crossing, and conjurations. As you tamed Cyprian and brought him to serve the Lord, tame all demons and spirits whether they be set against me, or whether I call them myself.

Holy Theoctistus, Soldier Saint, first convert of the holy pair. Lend me your strength and resolve. As the grace and power of Cyprian and Justina was extended to you, extend it to me that it may work through me, and that I may act upon it.

I bare my heart to you and place all worry and care into your holy hands. Free me from all evil. Smite those who would do me harm. Draw a circle of protection around me and those whom I love. In the night be my lantern and my solace. In the daylight be my guide and my protector. Through the intercession of the martyrs of Nicomedia, in Christ Jesus hear my prayers and spells. Bathe my words in the blood of Christ and bring them to fruition.

St Cyprian ora pro nobis
St Justina Ruego ora pro nobis
St Theoctistus Ruego ora pro nobis

Amen.