Customer Reviews

St. Cyril of Jerusalem's Lectures on the Christian Sacraments: The Procatechesis and the Five Mystagogical Catecheses

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In this book St. Cyril of Jerusalem describes some basic elements of Christianity. This after all is a collection of seven separate lectures given by St. Cyril to those in preparation for baptism.

This first lecture was for those preparing for baptism and explains the meaning of what is to come. The next two lectures are on preparation for baptism and the baptismal rite. This is follow by one lecture on the Holy Chrism and two concluding lectures, one on the Eucharist and the other on the Eucharistic rite. The last lecture also concludes with a fascinating and instructive commentary on the Lord's Prayer.

This edition of St. Cyril's lectures begins with a learned and well-written introduction, which explains the history of the church in the 4th century, and outlines the life, works and ideas of St. Cyril of Jerusalem. An excellent commentary.

The actual text consists of the original Greek, followed by an archaic English translation, made in 1838 by R.W Church. The only criticism I have of this edition is that I was often distracted by the archaicisms of the English translation.

Still, an excellent book by an interesting mind and very influential father of the church.

...the translation is ancient - going back to the early middle 19th century in fact. So, although the content provides an excellent introduction to sacramental theology and provides a fascinating insight into the early liturgical praxis of the mid-4th century Jerusalem church, the translation does absolutely no justice to the importance of these texts.

Hence the rating of 3 stars. Frankly, I'm surprised that SVS Press would provide not only such an outdated translation (perhaps because it is now in the public domain?), but a translation that is based on an (inferior?) Benedictine translation. Why not a translation based upon a critical edition of the Greek text? The introduction is helpful, as it helps to illuminate the original context of the work. Liturgical developments, Cyril's own tendencies in thought (pastoral/practical rather than theoretical) and theological controversies are given a helpful, if cursory, treatment.

The actual work is short. The book contains, interestingly enough, a translation entirely in Greek (although why and what its relation is to the version of the text that is translated is never mentioned) and is followed by the English translation. The content is basically that of what the catechumen are to expect in being fully received into communion in the Church: the liturgical practices and their meaning, as well as the meaning of the various steps in converting, especially baptism and exorcism/s.

The most interesting thing in reading this was learning about baptisms and that they were done in the nude. The meaning seems to be to a sense of innocence - the innocence of humanity before the fall - yet, at the same time, as women and men were baptized separately so as to avoid inciting lust, one might also wonder how thick the meaning behind this nude baptism really was. It is an interesting idea, though!

In the end, this book is a quick read and provides an interesting insight into some of the beliefs and practices of the earlier Church. The translation obscures, sadly, the importance of these texts - and various liturgical practices that seem to having begun in Jerusalem have since become almost universally practiced in the Church - but reading this particular translation can still be helpful (although better ones exist).

This book presented to me a hermeneutical and aesthetic challenge. I began reading it due to my interest in liturgy and sacramental theology. I finished it realizing how much of the Enlightenment air I breathe.

Part of the difficulty in reading this work is that St Cyril simply does not think like we do. He sees pictures and symbols and has no problems making connections. This can make the work frustrating to the reader.

These six lectures deal with the symbolism behind eastern Patristic sacramental thinking. It is not so much a theology of the sacraments but a demonstration of the sacramental life of his church.

In preparing for baptism and the Eucharist, the catechumen will face the West, publically renounce Satan and his works, have her head and lips anointed with oil, etc.

St Cyril then gives exegetical reasoning behind these actions. While we will not find his reasoning persuasive, it is interesting that he appeals to Scripture for his arguments.

A few interesting highlights: St Cyril notes that the gates of Paradise are opened to the initiate following baptism. He places paradisal living within the current lifetime. Also, for those who participate in covenant renewal services, much of our liturgy has ancient roots in the 4th century (e.g., "Life up your hearts...we lift them to the Lord.").