Cyril of Jerusalem
Christian theologian, bishop, and saint (c. 313 – 386)
b. c. 313 · d. c. 386
38th Bishop of Jerusalem (Patriarch) · 350–386
Offices
- Bishop of Jerusalem (Patriarch) № 38 · 350 – 386
Cyril of Jerusalem was a theologian of the Early Church. About the end of AD 350, he succeeded Maximus as Bishop of Jerusalem, but was exiled on more than one occasion due to the enmity of Acacius of Caesarea, and the policies of various emperors. Cyril left important writings documenting the instruction of catechumens and the order of the Liturgy in his day and his old age
Related people
- Maximus of Jerusalem succeeded · inferred
- John II preceded · inferred
Works
- Hilandar Fragments 11th century
- Mystagogic Catecheses
- Catecheses
Events
Commemorated
Places
- Jerusalem death
How we know
Recorded as a historical figure.
- Ecclesiastical History 1 claim — HE 4.5
- The Early Church 2 claims — Cyril delivers the Catechetical Lectures; Council of Seleucia in Isauria
- Oriens Christianus in quatuor Patriarchatus digestus 1 claim — Oriens Christianus III, col. 101 sqq. — De Patriarchatu Hierosolymitano
Sayings
- It is called Catholic then because it extends over all the world, from one end of the earth to the other Checked word-for-word against the book it cites — The oldest surviving explanation of what the creed means by "catholic", given to candidates for baptism while the word still had to be explained. Geography is only the first of…
- not writing it out on paper, but engraving it by the memory upon your heart Checked word-for-word against the book it cites — How the creed was handed over before anyone thought to print it: recited, memorised, never written down, and not to be said where a catechumen might overhear. The discipline of…
- Keep then, I pray thee, this deposit undisturbed, and let none remove thee: believe that God became Man Checked word-for-word against the book it cites — The lecture on the clause "Incarnate, and Made Man", arguing it to catechumens who would have heard the Jewish objection in the street: Abraham entertained the Lord, Jacob saw…