TEXTS
TEXTS
Although Cyril's writings are not extensive, there has not been space in this volume for a complete text of his works. I have chosen to include the whole of the Letter to Constantius, the Homily on the Paralytic, the Procatechesis and the Mystagogic Catecheses. From his only other, and longest, surviving work, the Lenten Catecheses, I have chosen the central instructions on Christ's incarnation, passion and resurrection, adding sections from the third instruction on baptism, the whole of the fourth, which is a summary of Christian faith, sections from the fifth, which precedes the formal delivery of the Creed to the candidates, and from the sixth on the One God, together with Cyril's final remarks before the people proceed to baptism. I have based these translations on the following texts:
Homily on the Paralytic, Procatechesis, and Catecheses: S.Patris Nostri
Cyrilli Hierosolymorum Archiepiscopi Opera quae supersunt Omnia, ed. W.K.Reischl and J.Rupp, Munich, 1848–60.
Letter to Constantius: ‘L’Épître de Cyrille de Jérusalem à Constance sur la vision de la Croix (BHG3 413)’, ed. E.Bihain, Byzantion 43 (1973), pp. 264–96.
Mystagogic Catecheses, ed. A.Piédagnel, SC 126 bis, Paris, 1988.
I have noted the few occasions when I have not followed the readings contained in these editions.
I have made my own translation of the Scriptures. For the Old Testament Cyril naturally uses the Septuagint (LXX). I have indicated the passages in which the LXX reading differs significantly from that of the Hebrew, which is the basis of most English translations. Although Cyril is often inexact in his quotations, I have not indicated this unless the variation is significant.