Cyprian of Tarragona

Cyprian of Tarragona was archbishop of Tarraco, probably born at Tarragona, in the seventh century, and died around the year 691. Though he was never formally canonised, he was venerated as a saint in the archdiocese of Tarragona, and his name appears in calendars of saints until the nineteenth century. He does not figure on the lists of saints of the Catholic Church, since he was never officially canonised. At Tarragona he had local veneration and is always called "saint" or "blessed" Cyprian. Since the nineteenth century, however, this veneration has disappeared from the liturgy.

His life before his appointment as bishop is not known. He was elected archbishop around the year 683, successor of Faluax. He took part in the Twelfth Council of Toledo and sent representatives to the thirteenth (683), fourteenth (684) and fifteenth (688). Through his life and virtue he gained a fame of holiness, and miracles were told that happened even in his lifetime. He died in the odour of holiness on 24 April, around the year 691, and was buried in the cathedral of Tarragona. The marble chest with his remains, today behind the high altar of the cathedral, was placed there by Archbishop Roderic de Tello in the thirteenth century.