St. Cyril of Jerusalem
Born: c. 315 CE
Died: c. 386 CE
Feast: March 18
Patron saint of: N/A
Not much is known about Cyril before he became Bishop of Jerusalem, but he left a legacy large enough as a bishop to be named a Doctor of the Church by Pope Leo XIII centuries later in 1822. Cyril was a strong advocate against Arianism, a heresy that threatened the idea that Jesus is co-eternal and co-substantial with God. Cyril’s Catecheses is an important text for understanding the liturgy and sacramental rites of the early church. Cyril spent half of his time as bishop in exile; there were many arguments and accusations between him and Acacius, who served as bishop of the nearby Caesarea. When he returned to Jerusalem, he was tasked with dealing with heresy, schism, and a city of crime. Cyril was present at the Council of Constantinople where the Nicene Creed underwent editing to become the version that we have today.
Image: Wikimedia Commons
