Roman martyrology:  In the monastery of Mount Saint Bernard, near Leicester, in England, Blessed Cyprian Iwene Tansi, priest of the Cistercian Order, who was born in the territory of Onitsha, in Nigeria, and while still a child and against his family, embraced the Christian faith. He was ordained a priest, devoting himself with great diligence to the pastoral care until they become a monk, deserved a holy death crowned with a holy life (1964).

Beatification date:  March 22, 1998 by Pope John Paul II at Oba, Nigeria.

Etymology: Iwemmaduegbunam = let human malice not kill me.

SHORT BIOGRAPHY

Born September 1903 in Igboezum, Aguleri, Nigeria as Iwemmaduegbunam. Son of Tabansi of Igboezunu-Aguleri and Ejikwevi of Nteje; one of five children. Though his parents were non-Christian, they sent the boy to live with and be educated by a Christian uncle. He was baptised on 7 January 1912, and given the name Michael.

Studied at Onitsha and Aguleri. Accidentally blinded in his left eye while playing with schoolmates. Taught at Holy Trinity School, Onitsha in 1920. Headmaster of Saint Joseph's School, Aguleri in 1924. Entered Saint Paul's Seminary at Igbarium in 1925. Ordained on  December 19, 1937 in the archdiocese of Onitsha, Nigeria. From 1937 to 1950 he served as parish priest in Nnewi, then Dunukofia, Akpu/Ajilla, and finally Aguleri, travelling on foot for hours on end to minister to his widely scattered parishioners.

One of his notable ministries was his work with women planning to marry. Pilgrim to Rome, Italy in 1950. Travelling to England, he became an oblate at the monastery of Mount Saint Bernard. He took the name Brother Cyprian, and lived the rest of his life as a Trappist monk at the monastery.

He died January 20, 1964 at the Royal Infirmary, Leicester, England. He was buried in the cemetery of Saint Bernard's monastery and re-interred in the priest's cemetery, Holy Trinity Cathedral, Onitsha, Nigeria on  October  17, 1986.