Cyril’s life began a few years before Arianism became the hot topic in the Church. Arianism is the heresy (incorrect teaching) that Jesus was not divine or one in being with the Father. Cyril lived to see its suppression and condemnation at the end of his life in the Councils of Nicea in 325 and Constantinople in 381. In between he was the victim of many of the power struggles that took place.
After being ordained a deacon and then a priest, his bishop, St. Maximus, respected Cyril enough to put him in charge of the instruction of catechumens, those who were preparing to be baptized.
When Maximus died, Cyril was consecrated as bishop of Jerusalem. Because he was supported by the Arian bishop of Caesarea, Acacius, the orthodox criticized the appointment and the Arians thought they had a friend. Both factions were wrong, but Cyril wound up in the middle.
When a famine hit Jerusalem, the poor turned to Cyril for help. Cyril, seeing the poor starving to death and having no money, sold some of the goods of the churches. This was something that other saints, including Ambrose and our own Augustine, had done.
The initial cause of the falling out between Acacius and Cyril was their territory as bishops. As bishop of Caesarea, Acacius had authority over all the bishops of Palestine. Cyril argued that Acacius' authority did not include Jerusalem because Jerusalem was an "Apostolic See" -- one of the original sees or dioceses set up by the Apostles. When Cyril did not appear at councils (a meeting of all of the bishops) that Acacius called, Acacius accused Cyril of selling church goods to raise money and had him banished. (Nothing like a little bad rumor to get things going!)
Cyril stayed in Tarsus (you may recall that St. Paul was from that city) while waiting for an appeal on his banishment.
Meanwhile, Constantius called a council where the appeal was supposed to take place. The council consisted of orthodox believers, Arians, and semi-Arian bishops. When Acacius and his faction saw that Cyril and other exiled orthodox bishops were going to show up for the meeting, they demanded that the persecuted bishops leave. Acacius walked out when the demand was not met. The other bishops prevailed on Cyril and the others to give in to this point because they did not want Acacius to have reason to complain later that the council was not valid. Acacius came back, but then left again for good when his creed (statement of beliefs) was rejected -- and refused to come back even to give testimony against his enemy Cyril. The result of the council was the Acacius and the other Arian bishops were condemned, and not Cyril and his group. With no one to testify against Cyril, the case was thrown out. So Cyril went back hoem to Jerusalem.
This was not the end of Cyril's troubles, however, because Acacius carried his story to the emperor -- embellishing it with details that it was a gift of the emperor's that was sold to a dancer who died wearing the robe. This brought about a new meeting of bishops run by Acacius who now had Cyril banished again.
This exile lasted until Julian became emperor and recalled all exiled bishops. So Cyril returned to Jerusalem. When Acacius died, each faction nominated their own replacement for Caesarea. Cyril appointed his nephew Gelasius -- which may seem like nepotism (it was), except that everyone thought Gelasius was a holy man. A year later both Cyril and Gelasius were driven out of Palestine again as the new emperor's consul reversed Julian's ruling.
Eleven years later, Cyril was allowed to go back to find a Jerusalem destroyed by heresy and strife. He was never able to put things completely right. He did attend the Council at Constantinople in 381 where the Nicene Creed and orthodoxy triumphed and Arianism was finally condemned. Cyril received justice at the same Council who cleared him of all previous rumors and commended him for fighting "a good fight in various places against the Arians."
Let us pray: Strengthen, O Lord, the bishops of your Church in their special calling to be teachers and ministers of the Sacraments, so that they, like your servant Cyril of Jerusalem, may effectively instruct your people in Christian faith and practice; and that we, taught by them, may enter more fully into celebration of the Paschal mystery; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
CALENDAR REMINDERS
LENTEN PROJECT: NETS FOR LIFE! NetsforLife® works to eliminate malaria in some of the most remote areas of sub-Saharan Africa. Churches are often the only functioning institutions in these communities located “at the end of the road.” Episcopal Relief & Development is a key part of this program. Their presence and power unite people to bring about lasting change for the whole community. By drawing on this trusted delivery system—churches and faith-based groups— vulnerable people are reached with life-saving nets and other services. NetsforLife® serves people in need regardless of faith affiliation.
We at St. Augustine’s can help. Each net only costs $12.50; it is a small price to pay to help save someone made in the image and likeness of God. Let’s work toward a goal of 50 nets during this Lenten season and help God in healing the world.
The next program in the Lenten Series is at St. Augustine’s on Wednesday, 23 March starting at 6:00 p.m. with Stations of the Cross, followed by the Eucharist. We will then have a light meal and begin the teaching. We will have a sign-up sheet on Sunday for the meal. Please come!
We will have a pot luck lunch for Easter so begin thinking about what to bring.
PLEASE REMEMBER EVERYONE ON OUR PRAYER LIST, especially the people of Japan.
Your servant in Christ,
Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550
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