Orthodox Feast of St. Cyril, Patriarch of Jerusalem, March 18

The truth of things hath revealed thee to thy flock as a rule of faith, an icon of meekness, and a teacher of temperance; for this cause, thou hast achieved the heights by humility, riches by poverty. O Father and Hierarch Cyril, intercede with Christ God that our souls be saved.

Thy speech inspired of God hath enlightened thy people to honour the One God, undivided in essence, yet known and distinguished in His Three Persons, the Trinity. Wherefore, with great joy we keep the holy remembrance, and we have thee as our intercessor, wise Cyril, to pray unto God for us.

This Saint was born in 315, and succeeded Maximus as Archbishop of Jerusalem in 350. He was zealous for the Orthodox Faith, and was a defender of the poor. He was exiled three times by the Arian Emperors Constantius and Valens. But after their death, he was recalled to his throne; he reposed in peace in 386. Of his writings, the most prominent are his catechetical lectures, which are considered the most ancient systematic summary of Christian teaching. Before Saint Cyril, there had been two dioceses, one of Jerusalem, and one of Holy Sion; under Saint Cyril, they were united into one bishopric.

Doctors of the Catholic Church

St Cyril of Jerusalem is the Doctor of Faith and against Heresy. His life and writings exemplify a faith that is ever ancient and ever new. That means that while on earth when we use our faith it will provide for us a part of eternalness because faith is a gift from God who is eternal and who alone can bond us to our personal and infintie Being. Union with God is only possible with faith.

Cyril is an outstanding model for new candidates and converts to the catholic faith and also for traditional Catholics who love their faith.

The church has stamped out old heresies but new errors and attitudes keep attempting to confuse and even bewilder the faithful. Cyril would advise us to live one's faith by praying to be faithful to the church because there are enormous challenges related to one's belief. Life is filled with ideas and actions from different cultures and within one's own culture to compound many issues that test one's beliefs.

Loving God who dwells within us is simple, however, we complicate it if our faith does not have a solid foundation. Faith is above all a mystery. We need to unite our faith, belief and religion towards God and our neighbor so that the practice of holiness is lived and we show charity, peace and goodwill to all even toward those who oppose, hate or ignore us or our religion. Cyril would tell us that if we are showing charity, love and goodwill to all, God is dwelling in us and uniting himself and we can know confidently that our God is acting within us as along as we are keeping God's commandments, acting humbly and continually practicing prayer and good works.

Cyril of Jerusalem, 315-387. Doctor of Faith and Against Heresy, Feast March 18th.

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