SAINT CYRIL OF JERUSALEM (315-386), DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH 18 March 2014 “The glory of the Cross led those who were blind through ignorance into light, loosed all who were held fast by sin, and ransomed the whole world of mankind.” These are the wise words of Saint Cyril of Jerusalem, who is one among the Early Church Fathers and now a Doctor of the Catholic Church. Cyril was born in Jerusalem about the time when Emperor Constantine legalised Christianity in the Roman Empire (313 AD). There is very little known about Cyril’s early life - during that time there was a rise in the Arian heresy, as well as the rediscovery of the Holy Sepulchre in 326, when Jerusalem, a relatively poor community, began moving into prominence. In 335, Constantines magnificent Church of the Resurrection was dedicated and Cyril, a new deacon, undoubtedly took part in the ceremonies. He was ordained a priest by Saint Maximus, the Bishop of Jerusalem. Cyril was put in charge of instructing and preparing the candidates for Baptism. He would instruct them saying, “You are standing in front of God and in the presence of the hosts of angels. The Holy Spirit is about to impress his seal on each of your souls. You are about to be pressed into the service of a great king. And so prepare yourselves to receive the sacrament. The gleaming white garments you are about to put on are not the preparation I am speaking of, but rather the devotion of a clean conscience.” On the death of Saint Maximus, Cyril was chosen as Bishop of Jerusalem around 349 AD - by this time, the when the Arian heresy was rampant. At the beginning of his episcopate, a bright cross was seen in the sky, reaching from Mount Calvary to Mount Olivet, and the faithful regarded it as a presage of victory over the Arian heretics. Like other bishops of his time, Cyril suffered much persecution - 3 times he was banished from his See for his bold proclamation of faith in Christs full divinity during a time when many bishops and governors favoured various forms of the Arian heresy. Cyril’s catechism instructions still survive and are of great importance as being the earliest record of systematic teaching by Church on the Creed and Sacraments. They are solid, simple, precise, and filled with Holy Scripture. Through his writings, know how the church celebrated the liturgy and sacraments during the first few decades after the legalization of Christianity. In his famous 24 lectures commonly known as the ‘Jerusalem Catechesis’, Bishop Cyril initiates new Christians into the life of the Church at the Easter Vigil. These instructions contain strong insistence on the value of the Sacrament of Baptism as well as emphasis on the real presence of Christs Body and Blood in the Eucharist: “Since Christ Himself has said, “This is My Body” who shall dare to doubt that It is His Body?” The emperor Julian then wanted to rebuild the ancient temple of Jerusalem in order to defy the words of Jesus, (Luke 21:6), and the Jews enthusiastically supported him. But Bishop Cyril was unmoved: “The Word of God abides; one stone shall not be laid on another.” And they attempted to reconstruct the old temple, it is said that horrible flames came forth from the earth, rendering the place inaccessible to the scorched and frightened workmen. The Emperor made several more attempts, but finally he had to abandon the project. In the year 386, after a much troubled episcopate of 35 years, Bishop Cyril of Jerusalem entered the Kingdom of Heaven - shortly after the First Council of Constantinople (which completed the widely-known Nicene Creed). Today, we continue to remember the words of Saint Cyril of Jerusalem, especially during the Lenten season, as he exhorts us: “Children of justice, follow John’s exhortation: ‘Make straight the way of the Lord.’ Remove all obstacles and stumbling blocks so that you will be able to go straight along the road to eternal life. Through a sincere faith prepare yourselves so that you may be free to receive the Holy Spirit.”
Posted on: Tue, 18 Mar 2014 07:35:43 +0000
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