March 18th. St. Cyril of Jerusalem.

A native of Jerusalem, born in about 315, he was responsible for catechumens (those seeking Christian baptism) in the city, and produced a series of discourses, which have survived and which represent his most famous work. Although by association with the life of Christ Jerusalem might seem to possess an honoured status, this was challenged by the archbishop of Caesarea on the Mediterranean coast, one Acacius, and Cyril was dragged into the dispute against his will. A trumped up charge of having sold church property without sanction (in order to aid the poor) was brought against him, and with the connivance of the Emperor he was three times exiled. He was present at the Council of Constantinople in 381, where the decisions taken at Nicaea in 325 on the nature of Christ, as God and man were refined, and spelt out in the Creed which we use on Sundays and which is known at the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed. He died in 386. The strength of his writings for the baptismal candidates caused him to be declared a Doctor of the Church somewhat belatedly, in 1882.