Cyril, the Archbishop of Jerusalem

Cyril, the archbishop of Jerusalem lived during the reign of Constantius, the son of Constantine the great, in 340. He was the son of pious and orthodox parents, he was educated by them and he was brought up with pious and correct dogmas. When the Patriarch of Jerusalem left this life, blessed Cyril succeeded him to the prelatic throne of Jerusalem and fought for the dogmas of the Apostles and the Fathers.

At that time the throne of Ceasaria-in-Palestine was held by Akakios the Arian. This man had been deposed and defrocked by the local Council of Sardike, because he would not confess the Son to be consubstantial with the Father. However, he tyranically held the throne of Ceasaria, because he was an acquaintance and a friend of emperor Constantine, who thoughtlessly believed what Arius had taught. So, he was allowed by the emperor to depose blessed Cyril from his throne and to banish him from Jerusalem.

Divine Cyril came to Tarsus of Cilicia and associated with blessed Silvanus, who lived there. When a council that St. Cyril attended was held in Seleucia, the aforementioned heretical Akakios left the Council and went to Constantinople where he slandered the saint and infuriated the emperor against him. So, he banished the saint again.

When Constantius died in 361, Julian the apostate succeeded him. Julian wanted to win the Bishops' favour and love and, so, he ordered that all who had been exiled by Constantius ought to return to their dioceses. Thus, among others St. Cyril received the throne of Jerusalem.

He ministered the flock which Christ had entrusted him well and with love for God and he left to the Church of Christ these texts which are thought to be his Catechisms together with some other sermons of his, as a memorial of his wisdom.

He lived for a few years after his return and then he rested in peace. He was of medium height, pale and he had a lot of hair on his head. He had a short nose, a square face, straight and equal eyebrows and a bushy white beard which was divided in two. Moreover, he was as boorish as a peasant.