The Lives of the Saints
1. SAINT CYRIL, ARCHBISHOP OF JERUSALEM
Born in Jerusalem in the time of Constantine the Great, he fell asleep in the time of Theodosius the Great (315–386). In 346 he was ordained a priest, and in 350 he succeeded the blessed Patriarch Maximus on the throne of Jerusalem. Three times he was cast down from his throne and sent into exile, until at last in the time of Theodosius he was restored, and having lived peacefully for eight more years, he gave up his soul to the Lord. He fought two great struggles: one against the Arians, who grew powerful under Constantius, the son of Constantine; and the other under Julian the Apostate, against that apostate and against the Jews. In the time of the power of the Arians, on the Day of Pentecost, there appeared a sign of the Cross, brighter than the sun, which extended over Jerusalem and the Mount of Olives, and lasted for several hours beginning from the ninth hour of the morning. Concerning this appearance, which was seen by all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, a letter was written to Emperor Constantius, and it served greatly to strengthen Orthodoxy against the heretics. In the time of the Apostate, moreover, another sign came to pass. Wishing to humiliate Christianity, Julian persuaded the Jews to rebuild the Temple of Solomon. Cyril prayed to God that this should not be. And there came a terrible earthquake which destroyed all that had been newly built. Then the Jews began again. But again there came an earthquake, which demolished not only the newly built portions but also uprooted and scattered the ancient stones that were still held in the earth. And thus the word of the Lord was fulfilled: not one stone shall be left upon another. Of the many writings of this holy father, his Catecheses have been preserved — a first-rate work that confirms the faith and practice of Orthodoxy to this day. This holy one was an uncommon archpastor and great ascetic. He was meek, humble, utterly emaciated, and pale of face. After a life of great labors and a valiant struggle for the Orthodox faith, he reposed in peace and departed to the eternal courts of the Lord.
2. ANINUS THE WONDERWORKER
He was a native of Chalcedon, small of stature like the ancient Zacchaeus, but great in spirit and faith. He renounced the world in his fifteenth year and settled near the River Euphrates in a small cell where he fasted and prayed to God — first under his teacher Maïumas, and after the latter's death, alone. By the power of his prayer he filled a dry well with water, healed the sick of various ailments, and tamed wild beasts. One tamed lion remained perpetually in his service. He was able to see at a distance. When robbers attacked and beat a certain stylite named Pionius who dwelt not far from him — so badly that Pionius was contemplating coming down from his pillar to go and complain to the judges — Saint Aninus saw into the soul of that stylite and his intentions, and sent him a letter by his lion, urging him to abandon his intention, to forgive his attackers, and to continue his ascetic labor. He was merciful beyond measure. The bishop of Neocaesarea gave him a donkey to ease the carrying of water from the river, but he gave the donkey away to some poor man who had complained to him of his poverty. The bishop gave him another donkey, but he gave that away too. Then the bishop gave him a third donkey, but only for use as a water-carrier, on condition that he must keep it and return it. Before his death he saw Moses, Aaron, and Hur coming to him and calling: "Aninus, the Lord is calling thee — arise and come with us!" He revealed this to his disciples and gave up his spirit to the Lord, Whom he had faithfully served. He was one hundred and ten years old when he ended his earthly life.
Hymn of Praise
SAINT CYRIL OF JERUSALEM
Large lamps shine before the altar,
And smaller lamps with smaller flame,
But both alike give the same light,
And before the same God they blaze.
Both great saints and saints more humble
Are kindled by the same fire of Christ.
Among the great saints, great lamps —
Holy Cyril the Church reckons thus.
He explained the faith and confirmed it;
Whatever he spoke in word, he sealed with life.
His word was from the Holy Spirit,
And his life — a reflection of heavenly flame.
He shamed Arius and crushed Julian,
And was as balm to many an ailing soul.
He believed Christ from word to word,
Therefore his word rings out like gold:
Even today it strengthens the weak and faint of faith,
Emboldens and gladdens the Orthodox for Christ.
Therefore the Church glorifies and honors Cyril —
Through the ages the name Cyril resounds.
“He shamed Arius and crushed Julian, and was as balm to many an ailing soul.”
Reflection
There are malicious people who think as though time bestowed greatness upon Christ, and as though in the early centuries of Christianity the Lord was not thought of so highly as He was in later times. Nothing is easier than to refute that falsehood. Hear how Saint Cyril of Jerusalem writes of the Lord Christ: "This is He Who is and Who was, Co-eternal with the Father, Only-begotten, Co-enthroned, Equal in power, All-powerful, Without beginning, Uncreated, Unchangeable, Indescribable, Invisible, Ineffable, Incomprehensible, Unencompassable, Inconceivable, Unlimited. He is the brightness of the Father's glory *(Heb. 1:3)*. He is the express image of the substance of all creation. He is Light of light, shining from the Father's bosom. He is God of gods (Ps. 50:1) and God from God as may be known. He is the fountain of life (Ps. 36:9) flowing from the Father's fountain of life. He is the river of God (Ps. 46:4; 65:9) that proceeds from the deep of God yet is not separated from it. He is the treasury of the Father's goodness and infinite blessedness. He is the water of life (John 4:14) that bestows life upon the world. He is the uncreated ray, born yet not cut off from the First-shining Sun. He is God the Word (John 1:1) Who with one word brought all creation from non-being into being... This is He Who created us in the image of God, and has now made Himself man in our image. Man, yet at the same time God." And to this day, sixteen centuries after this confession of faith was written, the Orthodox Church holds this same faith — word for word, letter for letter.
“He is Light of light, shining from the Father's bosom. He is God of gods and God from God. He is the fountain of life flowing from the Father's fountain of life.”
Contemplation
Contemplate the Lord Jesus on the Cross, mocked, namely:
1. How they write a mockery above His head: King of the Jews;
2. How passersby taunt Him, wagging their heads and blaspheming;
3. How even the robber on the cross mocks Him;
4. How through the ages the persecutors of Christians mock Him.
Homily
on the King Who will not defend Himself with an army
*Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He shall presently give Me more than twelve legions of angels? * (Matt. 26:53)
Thus spoke the Lord to the disciple who drew a sword to defend his Teacher in the Garden of Gethsemane. From these words it is clear that the Lord could have defended Himself, had He so wished — not only from Judas and his band of guards, but also from the chief priests of the Jews, and from Pilate, and from the whole Roman Empire, had it risen against Him. For the strength of a single angel is greater than the strength of the mightiest human army — how much more the strength of twelve legions of angels!
But the Lord did not wish to seek that help from the Father. In His prayer in Gethsemane He had said to the Father: Thy will be done. And immediately He understood the Father's will — that He must allow Himself to be given over to suffering — and He consented to the will of His Father and set out on the way of suffering. It was needful to allow the background to be painted as darkly as possible, so that the image of the Resurrection would be the clearer. It was needful to let evil swell as greatly as it could, that it might afterward burst and dissolve into nothing. It was needful to let evil cry out as loudly as it could, that it might soon fall silent before the miracle of the Resurrection. It was needful that all human wickedness against God be made manifest, so that God's love and mercy toward mankind might be seen and reckoned. The angels of God, not sent to defend Christ from the Jews, were sent three days later to announce to the world the Resurrection of Christ.
O Lord, all-powerful and all-merciful, have mercy on us and save us! To Thee be glory and praise forever. Amen.
“It was needful to let evil swell as greatly as it could, that it might afterward burst and dissolve into nothing.”