Jerusalem / Classics Cyril of Jerusalem

Illustrated
1. Auflage 2026
ISBN: 978-1-80170-327-7
Verlag: Delphi Publishing Ltd
Format: EPUB
Kopierschutz: 0 - No protection

E-Book, Englisch, Band 162, 527 Seiten

Reihe: Delphi Ancient Classics

A fourth century theologian of the Early Christian Church, Cyril of Jerusalem produced important writings documenting the instruction of catechumens and the order of the Liturgy. His celebrated 'Catechetical Lectures' were delivered in the basilica erected by Constantine at the site of Christ's death and resurrection. They provide instructions on the principal topics of Christian faith and practice, in a popular rather than scientific manner, full of warm pastoral love. Cyril is venerated as a saint within the Roman Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Church, Oriental Orthodox Church, and the Anglican Communion. Delphi's Ancient Classics series provides eReaders with the wisdom of the Classical world, offering both English translations and the original Greek texts. This eBook presents Cyril's complete works, with illustrations and the usual Delphi bonus material. (Version 1)

* Beautifully illustrated with images relating to Cyril's life and works
* Features the complete extant works of Cyril, in both English translation and the original Greek
* Includes Edwin Hamilton Gifford's translation, previously appearing in the 'Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Series II'
* Excellent formatting of the texts
* Easily locate the works you want to read with individual contents tables
* Includes Cyril's rare homilies and 'Letter to Emperor Constantine'
* Provides a special dual English and Greek text of 'The Catechetical Lectures', allowing readers to compare the sections paragraph by paragraph - ideal for classical students
* Features two bonus biographies - discover Cyril's ancient world

CONTENTS:

The Translations
Brief Introduction to Cyril of Jerusalem
The Catechetical Lectures
Letter to Emperor Constantine
Three Homilies

The Greek Texts
List of Greek Texts

The Dual Text
The Catechetical Lectures (Dual Greek and English Text)

The Biographies
Introduction to Saint Cyril of Jerusalem (1885) by Edwin Hamilton Gifford
St. Cyril of Jerusalem (1913) by Henry Palmer Chapman

Autoren/Hrsg.

Jerusalem, Cyril Of

Classics, Delphi

Leseproben

PROCATECHESIS.

OR, PROLOGUE TO THE CATECHETICAL LECTURES OF OUR HOLY FATHER, CYRIL, ARCHBISHOP OF JERUSALEM.

1. ALREADY THERE is an odour of blessedness upon you, O ye who are soon to be enlightened1: already ye are gathering the spiritual2 flowers, to weave heavenly crowns: already the fragrance of the Holy Spirit has breathed upon you: already ye have gathered round the vestibule of the King’s palace3; may ye be led in also by the King! For blossoms now have appeared upon the trees4; may the fruit also be found perfect! Thus far there has been an inscription of your names5, and a call to service, and torches6 of the bridal train, and a longing for heavenly citizenship, and a good purpose, and hope attendant thereon. For he lieth not who said, that to them that love God all things work together for good. God is lavish in beneficence, yet He waits for each man’s genuine will: therefore the Apostle added and said, to them that are called according to a purpose7. The honesty of purpose makes thee called: for if thy body be here but not thy mind, it profiteth thee nothing.

2. Even Simon Magus once came to the Laver8: he was baptized, but was not enlightened; and though he dipped his body in water, he enlightened not his heart with the Spirit: his body went down and came up, but his soul was not buried with Christ, nor raised with Him9. Now I mention the statements10 of (men’s) falls, that thou mayest not fall: for these things happened to them by way of example, and they are written for the admonition11 of those who to this day draw near. Let none of you be found tempting His grace, lest any root of bitterness spring up and trouble you12. Let none of you enter saying, Let us see what the faithful13 are doing: let me go in and see, that I may learn what is being done. Dost thou expect to see, and not expect to be seen? And thinkest thou, that whilst thou art searching out what is going on, God is not searching thy heart?

3. A certain man in the Gospels once pried into the marriage feast14, and took an unbecoming garment, and came in, sat down, and ate: for the bridegroom permitted it. But when he saw them all clad in white15, he ought to have assumed a garment of the same kind himself: whereas he partook of the like food, but was unlike them in fashion and in purpose. The bridegroom, however, though bountiful, was not undiscerning: and in going round to each of the guests and observing them (for his care was not for their eating, but for their seemly behaviour), he saw a stranger not having on a wedding garment, and said to him, Friend, how camest thou in hither? In what a colour16! With what a conscience! What though the door-keeper forbade thee not, because of the bountifulness of the entertainer? what though thou wert ignorant in what fashion thou shouldest come in to the banquet? — thou didst come in, and didst see the glittering fashions of the guests: shouldest thou not have been taught even by what was before thine eyes? Shouldest thou not have retired in good season, that thou mightest enter in good season again? But now thou hast come in unseasonably, to be unseasonably cast out. So he commands the servants, Bind his feet, which daringly intruded: bind his hands, which knew not how to put a bright garment around him: and cast him into the outer darkness; for he is unworthy of the wedding torches17. Thou seest what happened to that man: make thine own condition safe.

4. For we, the ministers of Christ, have admitted every one, and occupying, as it were, the place of door-keepers we left the door open: and possibly thou didst enter with thy soul bemired with sins, and with a will defiled. Enter thou didst, and wast allowed: thy name was inscribed. Tell me, dost thou behold this venerable constitution of the Church? Dost thou view her order and discipline18, the reading of Scriptures19, the presence of the ordained20, the course of instruction21? Be abashed at the place, and be taught by what thou seest22. Go out opportunely now, and enter most opportunely to-morrow.

If the fashion of thy soul is avarice, put on another fashion and come in. Put off thy former fashion, cloke it not up. Put off, I pray thee, fornication and uncleanness, and put on the brightest robe of chastity. This charge I give thee, before Jesus the Bridegroom of souls come in and see their fashions. A long notice23 is allowed thee; thou hast forty24 days for repentance: thou hast full opportunity both to put off, and wash, and to put on and enter. But if thou persist in an evil purpose, the speaker is blameless, but thou must not look for the grace: for the water will receive, but the Spirit will not accept thee25. If any one is conscious of his wound, let him take the salve; if any has fallen, let him arise. Let there be no Simon among you, no hypocrisy, no idle curiosity about the matter.

5. Possibly too thou art come on another pretext. It is possible that a man is wishing to pay court to a woman, and came hither on that account26. The remark applies in like manner to women also in their turn. A slave also perhaps wishes to please his master, and a friend his friend. I accept this bait for the hook, and welcome thee, though thou camest with an evil purpose, yet as one to be saved by a good hope. Perhaps thou knewest not whither thou wert coming, nor in what kind of net thou art taken. Thou art come within the Church’s nets27: be taken alive, flee not: for Jesus is angling for thee, not in order to kill, but by killing to make alive: for thou must die and rise again. For thou hast heard the Apostle say, Dead indeed unto sin, but living unto righteousness28. Die to thy sins, and live to righteousness, live from this very day.

6. See, I pray thee, how great a dignity Jesus bestows on thee. Thou wert called a Catechumen, while the word echoed29 round thee from without; hearing of hope, and knowing it not; hearing mysteries, and not understanding them; hearing Scriptures, and not knowing their depth. The echo is no longer around thee, but within thee; for the indwelling Spirit30 henceforth makes thy mind a house of God. When thou shalt have heard what is written concerning the mysteries, then wilt thou understand things which thou knewest not. And think not that thou receivest a small thing: though a miserable man, thou receivest one of God’s titles. Hear St. Paul saying, God is faithful31. Hear another Scripture saying, God is faithful and just32. Foreseeing this, the Psalmist, because men are to receive a title of God, spoke thus in the person of God: I said, Ye are Gods, and are all sons of the Most High33. But beware lest thou have the title of “faithful,” but the will of the faithless. Thou hast entered into a contest, toil on through the race: another such opportunity thou canst not have34. Were it thy wedding-day before thee, wouldest thou not have disregarded all else, and set about the preparation for the feast? And on the eve of consecrating thy soul to the heavenly Bridegroom, wilt thou not cease from carnal things, that thou mayest win spiritual?

7. We may not receive Baptism twice or thrice; else it might be said, Though I have failed once, I shall set it right a second time: whereas if thou fail once, the thing cannot be set right; for there is one Lord, and one faith, and one baptism35: for only the heretics are re-baptized36, because the former was no baptism.

8. For God seeks nothing else from us, save a good purpose. Say not, How are my sins blotted out? I tell thee, By willing, by believing37. What can be shorter than this? But if, while thy lips declare thee willing, thy heart be silent, He knoweth the heart, who judgeth thee. Cease from this day from every evil deed. Let not thy tongue speak unseemly words, let thine eye abstain from sin, and from roving38 after things unprofitable.

9. Let thy feet hasten to the catechisings; receive with earnestness the exorcisms39: whether thou be breathed upon or exorcised, the act is to thee salvation. Suppose thou hast gold unwrought and alloyed, mixed with various substances, copper, and tin, and iron, and lead: we seek to have the gold alone; can gold be purified from the foreign substances without fire? Even so without exorcisms the soul cannot be purified; and these exorcisms are divine, having been collected out of the divine Scriptures. Thy face has been veiled40, that thy mind may henceforward be free, lest the eye by roving make the heart rove also. But when thine eyes are veiled, thine ears are not hindered from...