Cyril of Jerusalem

(c. 315-c. 386). Bishop and Doctor of the Church. He was probably ordained deacon around 330 and priest about 343. From 348 until 386, Cyril was the Bishop of Jerusalem. While he was bishop he wrote his Catechetical Lectures on the Christian faith, which were given to candidates for baptism. In these lectures he explained the liturgical practices of Lent and Holy Week in fourth-century Palestinian Christianity. The Mystagogical Catecheses, which were lectures given to the newly baptized after Easter, are ascribed to Cyril, but were probably written by his successor, John. Cyril attended the Council of Constantinople in 381, accepted its conclusions, and was a defender of the Nicene faith. He was made a Doctor of the Church by the Roman Catholic Church in 1882. He is commemorated in the Episcopal calendar of the church year on Mar. 18.