St. Cyril of Jerusalem

Oversimplified

• Fourth-century bishop of Jerusalem whose Catechetical Lectures to those preparing for baptism are among our richest early witnesses to the Church's sacraments.
• He walks candidates through the Creed, baptism, chrismation, and the Eucharist as the early Church understood them.

Summary

St. Cyril of Jerusalem (c. 313–386) delivered a famous series of catechetical and "mystagogical" lectures to catechumens and the newly baptized in the very city of the Resurrection. They are a step-by-step tour of Christian initiation.

A window into early sacramental faith

Cyril explains baptism as real death and rebirth, chrismation as the seal of the Spirit, and the Eucharist plainly: the bread and wine are the Body and Blood of Christ, "with full assurance let us partake."[^1] His lectures are prime evidence that the Orthodox understanding of the mysteries is ancient, not medieval invention. See Baptism, Chrismation, Eucharist, Catechesis.

[^1]: St. Cyril of Jerusalem, Catechetical and Mystagogical Lectures.