[[Image:Saint_Cyril_of_Jerusalem.jpg|thumb|250px|<center>St. Cyril of Jerusalem</center>]]Our father among the saints '''Cyril of Jerusalem''' (315-386) was a distinguished [[theologian ]] and [[archbishop]] of [[Church of Jerusalem|Jerusalem]] in the early Church (315-386). He is venerated as a saint celebrated by both the Roman Catholic [[Orthodox Church ]] on [[March 18]], and on [[May 7]] for his role in the apparition of the Orthodox Church[[cross]] over Jerusalem in 351.

<H2>==Life and Charactercharacter==Little is known of his life before he became [[bishop]]; the assignment of the year 315 for his birth rests on mere conjecture. He seems to have been [[ordination|ordained]] [[deacon]] by Bishop [[Macarius I of Jerusalem|Macarius of Jerusalem]] about 335, and [[priest]] some ten years later by [[Maximus III of Jerusalem|Maximus]]. Naturally inclined to peace and conciliation, he took at first a rather moderate position, distinctly averse from [[Arianism]], but (like not a few of his undoubtedly orthodox contemporaries) by no means eager to accept the uncompromising term ''[[homoousios]]''.</h2>

Little is knownof his life before he became bishop; the assignmentof the year 315 for his birth rests on mereconjecture. He seems to have been ordained deacon byBishop Macarius of Jerusalem about 335, and priestsome ten years later by Maximus. Naturally inclined to peace and conciliation, hetook at first a rather moderate position, distinctly averse from Arianism,but (like not a few of his undoubtedlyorthodox contemporaries) by no means eagerto accept the uncompromising term ''homooussios''.Separating from his [[metropolitan]], [[Acacius ofCaesarea (q.v.)]], a partizan partisan of [[Arius]], Cyril took theside of the Eusebians, the "right wing" of thepost-[[First Ecumenical Council|Nicene ]] conciliation party, and thus got intodifficulties with his superior, which were increasedby Acacius's jealousy of the importance assignedto Cyril's see by the [[First Ecumenical Council|First Council of NicaeaNicea]]. A councilheld under Acacius's influence in 358 deposed Cyriland forced him to retire to Tarsus. At that time he was officially charged with selling church property to help the poor, although the actual motivation appears to be that Cyril was teaching Nicene and not Arian doctrine in his catechism. On the otherhand, the conciliatory [[Council of Seleucia ]] in thefollowing year, at which Cyril was present, deposedAcacias. In 360 the process was reversed throughthe metropolitan's court influence, and Cyril suffered another year's exile from Jerusalem, untilJulian the Apostate's accession allowed him to return. TheArian emperor Valens banished him once more in367, after which he remained undisturbed until hisdeath, his jurisdiction being expressly confirmedby the [[Second Ecumenical Council|First Council of Constantinople]] (381), at which hewas present. At that council, he voted for acceptance of the term ''homooussios'', having been finally convinced that there was no better alternative.

<H2>Theological PositionIn 360 the process was reversed through the metropolitan's court influence, and Cyril suffered another year's exile from Jerusalem, until [[Julian the Apostate]]'s accession allowed him to return. The Arian emperor [[Valens]] banished him once more in 367, after which he remained undisturbed until his death, his [[jurisdiction]] being expressly confirmed by the [[Second Ecumenical Council|First Council of Constantinople]] (381), at which he was present. At that council, he voted for acceptance of the term ''homoousios'', having been finally convinced that there was no better alternative.</h2>

==Theological position==Though his theology was at first somewhat indefinite in phraseology, he undoubtedly gave athorough adhesion to the Nicene orthodoxy. Evenif he does avoid the debatable term ''[[homoousios]]'',he expresses its sense in many passages, which exclude equally [[Patripassianism]], [[Sabellianism]], andthe Arian formula "There was a time when the Sonwas not." In other points he takes the ordinaryground of the Eastern [[Church Fathers|Fathers]], as in the emphasishe lays on the freedom of the will, the ''autexousion'',and his imperfect realization of thefactor so much more strongly broughtout in the West--&mdash;[[sin]]. To him sin isthe consequence of freedom, not anatural condition. The body is not the cause, butthe instrument of sin. The remedy for it isrepentance, on which he insists. Like many of theEastern Fathers, he has an essentially moralisticconception of Christianity. His doctrine of the Resurrection is not quite so realistic as that of otherFathers; but his conception of the Church is decidedly empirical-- the existing catholic Churchform is the true one, intended by Christ, thecompletion of the Church of the Old Testament. Hisdoctrine on the Eucharist is noteworthy. If hesometimes seems to approach the symbolical view,at other times he comes very close to a strongrealistic doctrine. The bread and wine are notmere elements, but the body and blood of Christ.

==Catechetical lectures==His famous twenty-three 23 catechetical lectures(Gk. in Greek, ''Katecheseis''), which he delivered while still a[[presbyter ]] in 347 or 348, contain instructions onthe principal topics of Christian faith and practise,in rather a popular rather than a scientific manner, fullof a warm pastoral love and care for the catechumens [[catechumen]]s to whom they were delivered. Each lectureis based upon a text of [[Scripture]], and there is anabundance of Scriptural quotation throughout.After a general introduction, eighteenlectures follow for the ''competentes'', andthe remaining five are addressed tothe newly baptized, in preparationfor the reception of the communion.Parallel with the exposition of the creed as it wasthen received in the church of Jerusalem are vigorous polemics against pagan, Jewish, and hereticalerrors. They are of great importance for the lightwhich they throw on the method of instructionusual in that age, as well as upon the liturgicalpractises of the period, of which they give the fullest account extant[[Eucharist|Holy Communion]].

----Initial text from Schaff-Herzog Encyc Parallel with the exposition of Religionthe creed as it was then received in the church of Jerusalem are vigorous polemics against pagan, Jewish, and heretical errors. They are of great importance for the light which they throw on the method of instruction usual in that age, as well as upon the liturgical practises of the period, of which they give the fullest account extant.

==Quotations=="O strange and inconceivable thing! We did not really die, we were not really buried, we were not really crucified and raised again, but our imitation was but a figure, while our salvation is in reality. Christ was actually crucified, and actually buried, and truly rose again; and all these things have been vouchsafed to us, that we, by imitation communicating in His sufferings, might gain salvation in reality. O surpassing loving-kindness! Christ received the nails in His undefiled hands and feet, and endured anguish; while to me without suffering or toil, by the fellowship of His pain He vouchsafed salvation." &mdash;''On the Christian Sacraments'' ==Hymns==[[Troparion]] ([[Tone]] 8):You were seen in Zion clothed in a robe of godliness:As an illustrious pillar of the Apostles' faith.:You became an heir to their grace,:Setting forth their pious doctrines:And dispensing their talents of wisdom.:O Cyril, our Father and hierarch, pray for us. [[Kontakion]] (Tone 1):With your lips, O wise Cyril,:And through divine inspiration:You enlightened your people:To the worship of the one Trinity,:Undivided in essence, yet divided in Hypostases.:Wherefore rejoicing, we celebrate your all-holy memory,:Offering you as our intercessor before God. {{start box}}{{succession|before=[[Maximos III of Jerusalem|Maximos III]]|title=[[List of Patriarchs of Jerusalem|Archbishop of Jerusalem]]|years=350-386|after=[[John II of Jerusalem|John II]]}}{{end box}} ==Sources==*Initial text from ''Schaff-Herzog Encyc. of Religion''.*[http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cyril_of_Jerusalem&oldid=10344944 Wikipedia: Cyril of Jerusalem] ==External links==*[https://www.goarch.org/chapel/saints?contentid=464 Cyril, Patriarch of Jerusalem] ([[GOARCH]])*[http://ocafs.oca.org/FeastSaintsViewer.asp?SID=4&ID=1&FSID=100829 St Cyril the Archbishop of Jerusalem] ([[OCA]])*[http://ocafs.oca.org/FeastSaintsViewer.asp?SID=4&ID=1&FSID=107787 Commemoration of the Apparition of the Sign of the Precious Cross Over Jerusalem, in 351 AD] (OCA)*[http://www.westsrbdio.org/prolog/my.html?month=March&day=18 Saint Cyril, Archbishop of Jerusalem] (''[[Prologue from Ohrid]]'')*[http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf207.ii.i.html The Catechetical Lectures Of S. Cyril, Archbishop of Jerusalem] from ''Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers'', vol. VII (Christian Classics Ethereal Library) [[Category: Bishops]][[Category:4th-century bishops]][[Category: Church Fathers]][[Category:Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers]][[Category:Patriarchs of Jerusalem]]