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[[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. He is celebrated by the [[Orthodox Church]] on [[March 18]], and on [[May 7]] for his role in the apparition of the [[cross]] over Jerusalem in 351.

== Life and Character character==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 [[MaximusIII 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]]''. Separating from his [[metropolitan]], [[Acacius of Caesarea]], a partisan of [[Arius]], Cyril took the side of the Eusebians, the "right wing" of thepost-[[First Ecumenical Council|Nicene]] conciliation party, and thus got into difficulties with his superior, which were increased by Acacius's jealousy of the importance assigned to Cyril's see by the [[First Ecumenical Council|First Council of Nicaea]]. A council held under Acacius's influence in 358 deposed Cyril and 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 other hand, the conciliatory Council of Seleucia in the following year, at which Cyril was present, deposed Acacias. In 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.

== Theological Position ==Though Separating from his theology was at first somewhat indefinite in phraseology, he undoubtedly gave athorough adhesion to the Nicene orthodoxy. Even if he does avoid the debatable term ''[[homoousiosmetropolitan]]'',he expresses its sense in many passages, which exclude equally [[PatripassianismAcacius of Caesarea]], a partisan of [[SabellianismArius]], and the Arian formula "There was a time when Cyril took the Son was not." In other points he takes the ordinary ground side of the Eastern FathersEusebians, as in the emphasis he lays on the freedom of the will, the ''autexousion'', and his imperfect realization "right wing" of the factor so much more strongly brought out in the West post-- sin. To him sin is the consequence of freedom, not a natural condition. The body is not the cause, but the instrument of sin. The remedy for it is repentance, on which he insists. Like many of the Eastern Fathers, he has an essentially moralistic conception of Christianity. His doctrine of the [[ResurrectionFirst Ecumenical Council|Nicene]] is not quite so realistic as that of otherFathers; but conciliation party, and thus got into difficulties with his [[ecclesiology|conception of the Church]] is decidedly empirical -- the existing catholic Church form is the true onesuperior, intended which were increased by Christ, the completion Acacius's jealousy of the Church of importance assigned to Cyril's see by the [[Old TestamentFirst Ecumenical Council|First Council of Nicea]]. His doctrine on the [[Eucharist]] is noteworthyA council held under Acacius's influence in 358 deposed Cyril and forced him to retire to Tarsus. If At that time he sometimes seems was officially charged with selling church property to approach help the symbolical viewpoor, at other times he comes very close although the actual motivation appears to a strong realistic be that Cyril was teaching Nicene and not Arian doctrinein his catechism. The bread and wine are not mere elementsOn the other hand, but the body and blood of conciliatory [[Jesus Christ|ChristCouncil of Seleucia]]in the following year, at which Cyril was present, deposed Acacias.

In 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. ==Theological position==Though his theology was at first somewhat indefinite in phraseology, he undoubtedly gave a thorough adhesion to the Nicene orthodoxy. Even if he does avoid the debatable term ''[[homoousios]]'', he expresses its sense in many passages, which exclude equally [[Patripassianism]], [[Sabellianism]], and the Arian formula "There was a time when the Son was not." In other points he takes the ordinary ground of the Eastern [[Church Fathers|Fathers]], as in the emphasis he lays on the freedom of the will, the ''autexousion'', and his imperfect realization of the factor so much more strongly brought out in the West&mdash;[[sin]]. To him sin is the consequence of freedom, not a natural condition. The body is not the cause, but the instrument of sin. The remedy for it is repentance, on which he insists.  Like many of the Eastern Fathers, he has an essentially moralistic conception of Christianity. His doctrine of the [[Resurrection]] is not quite so realistic as that of other Fathers; but his [[ecclesiology|conception of the Church]] is decidedly empirical&mdash;the existing catholic Church form is the true one, intended by [[Christ]], the completion of the Church of the [[Old Testament]]. His doctrine on the [[Eucharist]] is noteworthy. If he sometimes seems to approach the symbolical view, at other times he comes very close to a strong realistic doctrine. The bread and wine are not mere elements, but the body and blood of [[Jesus Christ|Christ]]. == Catechetical Lectures lectures==His famous twenty-three 23 catechetical lectures (in Greek, ''Katecheseis''), which he delivered while still a [[presbyter]] in 347 or 348, contain instructions on the principal topics of Christian faith and practise, in rather a popular rather than a scientific manner, full of a warm pastoral love and care for the [[catechumen]]s to whom they were delivered. Each lecture is based upon a text of [[Scripture]], and there is an abundance of Scriptural quotation throughout. After a general introduction, eighteen lectures follow for the ''competentes'', and the remaining five are addressed to the newly baptized, in preparation for the reception of [[Eucharist|Holy Communion]]. Parallel with the exposition of the 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''

[[Troparion]] ([[Tone ]] 8)

 {{start box}}{{succession|before=[[Maximos III of Jerusalem|Maximos III]]|title=Source[[List of Patriarchs of Jerusalem|Archbishop of Jerusalem]]|years=350-386|after=[[John II of Jerusalem|John II]]}}{{end box}} ==Sources==