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Popular Patristics Series #57
The Catechetical Lectures of St. Cyril of Jerusalem
St. Cyril of Jerusalem - Bishop of Jerusalem and Doctor of the Church, born about 315; died probably 18 March, 386. In the East his feast is observed on the 18th of March, in the West on the 18th or 20th. Little is known of his life.
St. Cyril's doctrine is expressed in his creed, which seems to have run thus:
I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and earth and of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten by the Father true God before all ages, God of God, Life of Life, Light of Light, by Whom all things were made. Who for us men and for our salvation came down, and was incarnate by the Holy Ghost and the Virgin Mary, and was made man. He was crucified . . . and buried. He rose again on the third day according to the Scriptures, and sat at the right hand of the Father. And He cometh in glory to judge the living and the dead, whose kingdom shall have no end. And in one Holy Ghost, the Paraclete, Who spake by the prophets; and in one baptism of repentance for the remission of sins, and in one holy Catholic Church, and in the resurrection of the body, and in life everlasting.
St. Cyril teaches the Divinity of the Son with perfect plainness, but avoids the word "consubstantial", which he probably thought liable to misunderstanding. He never mentions Arianism, though he denounces the Arian formula, "There was a time when the Son was not". He belonged to the Semi-Arian, or Homoean party, and is content to declare that the Son is "in all things like the Father". He communicated freely with bishops such a Basil of Ancyra and Eustathius of Sebaste. He not only does not explain that the Holy Trinity has one Godhead, but he does not even say the Three Persons are one God. The one God for him is always the Father. "There is one God, the Father of Christ, and one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of the only God, and one Holy Ghost, Who sanctifies and deifies all things" (Cat. iv, 16). But he rightly says: "We do not divide the Holy Trinity as some do, neither do we make a melting into one like Sabellius" (Cat. xvi, 4). Cyril never actually calls the Holy Ghost God, but He is to be honoured together with the Father and the Son (Cat. iv, 16). There is therefore nothing incorrect in his doctrine, only the explicit use of the Nicene formulae is wanting, and these, like St. Meletius and others of his party, he fully accepted at a later date.
St. Cyril's teaching about the Blessed Sacrament is of the first importance, for he was speaking freely, untrammelled by the "discipline of the secret". On the Real Presence he is unambiguous: "Since He Himself has declared and said of the bread: This is My Body, who shall dare to doubt any more? And when He asserts and says: This is My Blood, who shall ever hesitate and say it is not His Blood?" Of the Transformation, he argues, if Christ could change water into wine, can He not change wine into His own Blood? The bread and wine are symbols: "In the type of bread is given thee the Body, in the type of wine the Blood is given thee"; but they do not remain in their original condition, they have been changed, though the senses cannot tell us this: "Do not think it mere bread and wine, for it is the Body and Blood of Christ, according to the Lord's declaration". "Having learned this and being assured of it, that appears to be bread is not bread, though perceived by the taste, but the Body of Christ, and what appears to be wine is not wine, though the taste says so, but the Blood of Christ . . . strengthen thy heart, partaking of it as spiritual (food), and rejoice the face of thy soul". It is difficult not to see the whole doctrine of Transubstantiation in these explicit words.
St. Cyril's doctrine is expressed in his creed, which seems to have run thus:
I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and earth and of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten by the Father true God before all ages, God of God, Life of Life, Light of Light, by Whom all things were made. Who for us men and for our salvation came down, and was incarnate by the Holy Ghost and the Virgin Mary, and was made man. He was crucified . . . and buried. He rose again on the third day according to the Scriptures, and sat at the right hand of the Father. And He cometh in glory to judge the living and the dead, whose kingdom shall have no end. And in one Holy Ghost, the Paraclete, Who spake by the prophets; and in one baptism of repentance for the remission of sins, and in one holy Catholic Church, and in the resurrection of the body, and in life everlasting.
St. Cyril teaches the Divinity of the Son with perfect plainness, but avoids the word "consubstantial", which he probably thought liable to misunderstanding. He never mentions Arianism, though he denounces the Arian formula, "There was a time when the Son was not". He belonged to the Semi-Arian, or Homoean party, and is content to declare that the Son is "in all things like the Father". He communicated freely with bishops such a Basil of Ancyra and Eustathius of Sebaste. He not only does not explain that the Holy Trinity has one Godhead, but he does not even say the Three Persons are one God. The one God for him is always the Father. "There is one God, the Father of Christ, and one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of the only God, and one Holy Ghost, Who sanctifies and deifies all things" (Cat. iv, 16). But he rightly says: "We do not divide the Holy Trinity as some do, neither do we make a melting into one like Sabellius" (Cat. xvi, 4). Cyril never actually calls the Holy Ghost God, but He is to be honoured together with the Father and the Son (Cat. iv, 16). There is therefore nothing incorrect in his doctrine, only the explicit use of the Nicene formulae is wanting, and these, like St. Meletius and others of his party, he fully accepted at a later date.
St. Cyril's teaching about the Blessed Sacrament is of the first importance, for he was speaking freely, untrammelled by the "discipline of the secret". On the Real Presence he is unambiguous: "Since He Himself has declared and said of the bread: This is My Body, who shall dare to doubt any more? And when He asserts and says: This is My Blood, who shall ever hesitate and say it is not His Blood?" Of the Transformation, he argues, if Christ could change water into wine, can He not change wine into His own Blood? The bread and wine are symbols: "In the type of bread is given thee the Body, in the type of wine the Blood is given thee"; but they do not remain in their original condition, they have been changed, though the senses cannot tell us this: "Do not think it mere bread and wine, for it is the Body and Blood of Christ, according to the Lord's declaration". "Having learned this and being assured of it, that appears to be bread is not bread, though perceived by the taste, but the Body of Christ, and what appears to be wine is not wine, though the taste says so, but the Blood of Christ . . . strengthen thy heart, partaking of it as spiritual (food), and rejoice the face of thy soul". It is difficult not to see the whole doctrine of Transubstantiation in these explicit words.
698 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 348
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
August 20, 2023
It cracks me up how often Cyril mentions the tiredness or weariness of his listeners. Multiple times he says something like, “I would go into further detail explaining this, but I can tell you’re already tired.” I guess nothing has changed in 1600 years!
This was my first taste of catechetical lectures. And I loved it! It’s pretty much a basic systematic theology. The first half was 5 stars, but I brought it down to 4 overall because he waxes eloquent in the second half. Other cat. lectures that I’m planning on reading: Augustine and Gregory of Nyssa.
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My ⭐️ rating criteria
- ⭐️: I absolutely did not like or totally disagreed with the book and would recommend that no one else read it
- ⭐️⭐️: the book was below average style or content, wouldn’t read it again, but wouldn’t beg people not to read it necessarily
- ⭐️⭐️⭐️: a fine book, some helpful information (or a decent story, for the handful of novels I read), didn’t disagree with too much, enjoyed it decently well
- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️: a very good book, information was very helpful, mostly agreed with everything or it was a strong argument even if I disagree, was above-average enjoyable to read
- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️: life-changing book, I enjoyed it more than most other books, I want to read it again in the future, I will be telling everyone to read it for the next few weeks
This was my first taste of catechetical lectures. And I loved it! It’s pretty much a basic systematic theology. The first half was 5 stars, but I brought it down to 4 overall because he waxes eloquent in the second half. Other cat. lectures that I’m planning on reading: Augustine and Gregory of Nyssa.
___
My ⭐️ rating criteria
- ⭐️: I absolutely did not like or totally disagreed with the book and would recommend that no one else read it
- ⭐️⭐️: the book was below average style or content, wouldn’t read it again, but wouldn’t beg people not to read it necessarily
- ⭐️⭐️⭐️: a fine book, some helpful information (or a decent story, for the handful of novels I read), didn’t disagree with too much, enjoyed it decently well
- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️: a very good book, information was very helpful, mostly agreed with everything or it was a strong argument even if I disagree, was above-average enjoyable to read
- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️: life-changing book, I enjoyed it more than most other books, I want to read it again in the future, I will be telling everyone to read it for the next few weeks
March 8, 2024
Absolutely fantastic. St Cyril goes through each phrase of the Nicene Creed, explaining throughly the faith handed down from the apostles. I have seen several Protestants try to claim Cyril as one of them, but the last several chapters on the sacraments and Chrism just make those claims absolutely laughable. What Cyril espouses in his lectures is straight Eastern Orthodoxy in all its glory.
February 5, 2021
Undeniable testament to the Truth of Eastern Orthodoxy and the falsity of protestantism.
"Even of itself the teaching of the Blessed Paul is sufficient to give you a full assurance concerning those Divine Mysteries, of which having been deemed worthy, ye are become of the same body and blood with Christ. For you have just heard him say distinctly, That our Lord Jesus Christ in the night in which He was betrayed, took bread, and when He had given thanks He brake it, and gave to His disciples, saying, Take, eat, this is My Body: and having taken the cup and given thanks, He said, Take, drink, this is My Blood.1 Since then He Himself declared and said of the Bread, This is My Body, who shall dare to doubt any longer? And since He has Himself affirmed and said, This is My Blood, who shall ever hesitate, saying, that it is not His blood?"
"Wherefore with full assurance let us partake as of the Body and Blood of Christ: for in the figure of Bread is given to thee His Body, and in the figure of Wine His Blood; that thou by partaking of the Body and Blood of Christ, mayest be made of the same body and the same blood with Him. For thus we come to bear Christ4 in us, because His Body and Blood are distributed5 through our members; thus it is that, according to the blessed Peter, we become partakers of the divine nature.6 4. Christ on a certain occasion discoursing with the Jews said, Except ye eat My flesh and drink My blood, ye have no life in you.7 They not having heard His saying in a spiritual sense were offended, and went back, supposing that He was inviting them to eat flesh."
Just some quotes amongst many many passages testifying to ecclesiology, sacraments, and the divine liturgy (which has its own entire lecture).
Highly recommend for those curious about the truth of Orthodoxy and the True Church from ages of ages.
I made all my kindle highlights public for those who wish to see many more quotes.
"Even of itself the teaching of the Blessed Paul is sufficient to give you a full assurance concerning those Divine Mysteries, of which having been deemed worthy, ye are become of the same body and blood with Christ. For you have just heard him say distinctly, That our Lord Jesus Christ in the night in which He was betrayed, took bread, and when He had given thanks He brake it, and gave to His disciples, saying, Take, eat, this is My Body: and having taken the cup and given thanks, He said, Take, drink, this is My Blood.1 Since then He Himself declared and said of the Bread, This is My Body, who shall dare to doubt any longer? And since He has Himself affirmed and said, This is My Blood, who shall ever hesitate, saying, that it is not His blood?"
"Wherefore with full assurance let us partake as of the Body and Blood of Christ: for in the figure of Bread is given to thee His Body, and in the figure of Wine His Blood; that thou by partaking of the Body and Blood of Christ, mayest be made of the same body and the same blood with Him. For thus we come to bear Christ4 in us, because His Body and Blood are distributed5 through our members; thus it is that, according to the blessed Peter, we become partakers of the divine nature.6 4. Christ on a certain occasion discoursing with the Jews said, Except ye eat My flesh and drink My blood, ye have no life in you.7 They not having heard His saying in a spiritual sense were offended, and went back, supposing that He was inviting them to eat flesh."
Just some quotes amongst many many passages testifying to ecclesiology, sacraments, and the divine liturgy (which has its own entire lecture).
Highly recommend for those curious about the truth of Orthodoxy and the True Church from ages of ages.
I made all my kindle highlights public for those who wish to see many more quotes.
February 21, 2025
Foundational reading for new or inquiring Orthodox Christians or converts
November 25, 2024
I enjoyed this work significantly. I do not think Cyril is correct on everything, but he is one of my favorite fathers nonetheless.
January 12, 2017
An interesting read from a Doctor of the Church. As I understand it, St. Cyril delivered these homilies to catechumens awaiting baptism on Easter in the mid 4th Century from the Church of the Holy Sepulchre itself. Quite a bit of interesting history in the introduction (in the version I read, anyway) about Cyril's time as Bishop of Jerusalem, the conflict between the Catholic and Arian beliefs, Roman interference with the governance of the church, etc. As to the lectures, they are delivered in a lively manner, clearly introductory in depth (though there are a few surprises for those looking for them). Looking back over 1,600 years, one is surprised by how little things have changed in the theology, and though the liturgy is not identical there are more than enough familiar elements to know what is going on. He does stumble on the Book of Revelation (the end times will come within the era of the Roman Empire?) and believing the phoenix to be real (in fairness, he was quoting experts of his time rather than claiming it first hand), but overall worth the message of hope he offers his listeners.
November 17, 2021
A great series of lectures in the fourth century that teach the true faith, given to those preparing for baptism and a few lectures after baptism explaining some of the mystery.
June 18, 2022
Many excerpts will be familiar as the author is often quoted and pericoped. It is fulfilling, though, to tap into this source material and see the larger context and lesson planning intended.
August 18, 2024
Instructive. Insightful. A true masterpiece and exposition of the Christian faith. Strongly recommend for believers of all ages!
March 21, 2025
great book. loved the lecture structure. St. Cyril really cooked with all the typology and references to OT. Sadly the book is filled spelling errors and printing errors (in sometimes become m).
April 4, 2014
Great!
Read
July 29, 2014Read at Hill Abbey Summer Hall 2014. There is nothing quite like hearing the work of one author read aloud by many voices.
April 15, 2017
Very comprehensive; also accessible for a modern reader (for me at least). St. Cyril relies heavily on the Holy Scriptures as he elaborates on the Nicene Creed. I especially appreciated his listing of Old Testament prophesies, and his exhortation for the newly illumined to participate in Divine Liturgy with reverence. This catechism's reputation as the best patristic catechism is well earned. This is appropriate reading for both catechumens and Church members ( by way of reminder) alike.
Very comprehensive; also accessible for a modern reader (for me at least). St. Cyril relies heavily on the Holy Scriptures as he elaborates on the Nicene Creed. I especially appreciated his listing of Old Testament prophesies, and his exhortation for the newly illumined to participate in Divine Liturgy with reverence. This catechism's reputation as the best patristic catechism is well earned. This is appropriate reading for both catechumens and Church members ( by way of reminder) alike.
Very comprehensive; also accessible for a modern reader (for me at least). St. Cyril relies heavily on the Holy Scriptures as he elaborates on the Nicene Creed. I especially appreciated his listing of Old Testament prophesies, and his exhortation for the newly illumined to participate in Divine Liturgy with reverence. This catechism's reputation as the best patristic catechism is well earned. This is appropriate reading for both catechumens and Church members ( by way of reminder) alike.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews