Cyril of Jerusalem
Readers
“These
Catechetical Lectures for those who are to be enlightened you may lend to
candidates for Baptism, and to believers who are already baptized, to read, but
give not at all, neither to Catechumens, nor to any others who are not
Christians, as you shall answer to the Lord. And if you make a copy, write this in the
beginning, as in the sight of the Lord.”
St. Cyril’s Catechetical Lectures are not intended for all
readers; they are specifically directed toward those ready to receive exorcism,
baptism, chrismation or confirmation, and first communion. The Procatechesis, and first eighteen
lectures were delivered before baptism; the last five lectures were delivered
after baptism.
In the early Church, coming out of the persecutions of the
first three centuries, being recognized as a legal institution for the first
time, it appears that the process of catechizing had developed into a somewhat
lengthy practice, possibly lasting three years or longer. Small, children were baptized, usually by a
combination of effusion and immersion, without catechizing: based on the
confession of their parents. Older
children and adults were catechized. The
yearly cycle was focused on conducting baptisms just before Pascha (Easter), so
that the newly baptized might receive their first communion at Pascha. So, by whatever process candidates were
deemed ready for baptism, St. Cyril began his lectures with them specifically
during Lent: the other catechumens were excluded. However, once the lectures were reduced to
published writings, it was no longer possible to prevent anybody from reading
them.
St. Cyril’s stated purpose in such a delay was not to make
Christianity into a secret society. His
only concern was that too early exposure to certain truths could be harmful:
the rudiments had to be learned first.
So, please don’t read these lectures if you’re not ready.
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