Today is the feast day of Saint Cyril, Archbishop of Jerusalem
He was born in Jerusalem in the time of Constantine the Great and died in the time of Theodosius the Great (315–386). In 346 he was ordained a priest, and in 350 he was succeeded by the blessed Patriarch Maxim of Jerusalem. He was removed from the throne three times and sent into exile, until finally he was returned in the time of Theodosius, so he lived peacefully for another eight years and surrendered his soul to the Lord. He had two difficult battles: on the one hand with the Aryans who intensified in the time of Constantine's son Constantius, and on the other in the time of Julian the Apostate, with this apostate emperor and with the Jews. At the time of the power of the Aryans on the day of Pentecost the sign of the Cross appeared, shining from the sun, extending over Jerusalem and over the Mount of Olives. This lasted for several hours and started at nine o'clock in the morning. For this phenomenon that all the inhabitants of Jerusalem saw, they also wrote to Emperor Constantius, and this served for many to establish themselves in Orthodoxy, and against the Arian heresy. Another sign happened in the time of the Apostate emperor. To humiliate Christianity, Julian persuaded the Jews to rebuild Solomon's temple. Saint Cyril prayed to God that this would not happen. And there was a terrible earthquake that destroyed everything that was restored to the temple. Then the Jews began to build again. But an earthquake struck again, destroying not only the new building but also the old stones that were still on the ground. This is how the word of the Lord came true: "not a stone shall be left here upon a stone." Of the many writings of this holy father, only his "Catechism" has been preserved, a first-class work that confirms the faith and practice of Orthodoxy to this day. This saint was an unusual archpastor and a great ascetic. He was characterized by humility and meekness, and he was all humble and pale in character. After a fruitful life in struggle and chivalry for the faith in Christ, he rested peacefully in the Lord.
