Message to Emperor Constantius

“Epistle to Emperor Constantius” was compiled by St. Cyril of Jerusalem in May 351 on the occasion of the miraculous appearance of the sign of the cross in the sky of Jerusalem. This is the first appeal of St. Kirill to the Emperor. He expresses good wishes to him, and also compares the miracle of the appearance of the cross in the sky of Jerusalem that took place during his reign with the event of the discovery of the Cross under his father, St. equal to imp. Constantine the Great. The miracle itself is described in detail, even indicating the exact time of its appearance: “on the seventh of May, about the third hour.” The miracle of the cross that appeared in Jerusalem should strengthen the imp. Constantius in his fight against “enemies” (i.e., the usurper Magnentius and his supporters); There is an obvious parallel with the appearance of the cross of St. Constantine before the battle with Maxentius. The reference contained in the message to the finding of the Cross in Jerusalem is the oldest dated evidence of this event. Also noteworthy are the emphasis on the unique significance of Jerusalem for the entire Christian world. The final phrase of the message or part of it represents a later addition: “May the God of all, with all your house, grant us you, most God-loving King Augustus, always glorifying the Holy and Consubstantial Trinity, our true God! To Him belongs all glory forever and ever! Amen". Here the term “consubstantial” is not only used the only time in the entire corpus of works of St. Cyril, but also put into the mouth of the Arian emperor. *The title of the work in Greek is ᾿Επιστολὴ πρὸς Κωνστάντιον. *The title of the work in Latin is Epistula ad Constantium imperatorem. Message to Constantius, the most pious king, about the luminous sign of the Cross that appeared in the sky, which was visible in Jerusalem. 1 To the Most God-loving and Most Pious King Constantius Augustus, Cyril of Jerusalem, Bishop, rejoice in the Lord. The first of these from Jerusalem to Your God-loving Royal Majesty I send the beginnings of writings, which it is fitting for You to accept, and for me to bring: they are filled not with caressing words, but with the proclamation of heavenly visions of God: and they do not contain artfully composed probabilities of rhetorical words, but they testify to the truth to You according to the foreshadowings of the Holy Gospels by the very things of the event. Others from their estates often crown Your venerable head, bringing gold-braided crowns, speckled with the most brilliant stones. But we do not crown You with earthly things (for the end of earthly gifts is earth): but the Divine action of heavenly things, which took place during the time of Your God-loving Reign in Jerusalem, we diligently present to Your piety as a message. Not so that now only You come from ignorance to the knowledge of God: (for You yourself take precedence in this matter, teaching others about Your piety): but so that what You have known, you will be established in it. And so that, having accepted the ancestral inheritance of the Kingdom, and knowing that You are honored with heavenly crowns from God, even more so You would now give due thanks to God the All-Tsar: and against enemies you would be filled with greater boldness, knowing from experience that Your Kingdom is dear to God, who works miracles with You. For under the Most God-loving, and Thy Father Constantine, of blessed memory, the Saving Tree of the Cross was found in Jerusalem: when he, having the greatest zeal for piety, through the assistance of Divine grace, found the hidden Holy places. But with You, Master, Most Pious King, whose reverence for God surpasses ancestral piety, miracles happen not from earth, but from heaven: our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, a solemn sign of victory over death, the blessed Cross, I say, appeared shining with rays of light in Jerusalem. For on these Holy Days of Holy Pentecost, the seventh day of May, about the third hour, a great Cross of light appeared, composed of light, in the sky above Holy Calvary, and extended even to the Holy Mount of Olives; which appeared very clearly not to one or two only, but to all the numerous inhabitants of the city, and not as others would have thought, but quickly passed in a dream: but after many hours above the earth, it was visible to the eyes, and with a luminous brilliance surpassing the rays of the sun: otherwise, having been defeated by them, it would not have been visible if it had not emitted such rays to those who saw it that were stronger than the sun. Why, without hesitation, at the same hour all the numerous inhabitants of the city came together to the Holy Church, and were embraced by the fear and joy of God, young men and old men, men and wives, and every age, even the very maidens who were in the inner palaces, local inhabitants and strangers, Christians and the pagans who came from other countries, unanimously, as if with one mouth, they praised the miraculous Christ Jesus, our Lord, the Only Begotten Son of God: we have learned by prophethood and experience that the Christian pious teaching “is not in the most excellent... wisdom of all words, but in the manifestation of the Spirit and power” (1 Cor. 2:4), not only proclaimed from man, but testified from heaven from God (Heb. 2:3-4). But as we, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, having seen with our own eyes this glorious miracle, the God of all, the King, and the Only Begotten Son of God, we gave and will give due veneration with thanksgiving; We have brought diligent prayers for Your God-loving Power in Holy places, and we have to offer them: then we decree that it is our duty not to consign these heavenly visions of God to silence, but to proclaim Your God-glorified piety. Why did I try to fulfill this scripture? So that on the good foundation of the faith that existed in You, having placed the knowledge of the things shown from God, You took the firmest hope in our Lord Jesus Christ: and so that, together with being filled with all ordinary courage, and as if having God Himself as your companion, You most diligently erected the solemn monument of the Cross: bringing out the praise of praises, the sign shown in heaven, the image of which, having shown people, the sky became more glorified. And this miracle, O God-loving King, according to the testimonies of the Prophets, and according to the Holy words of Christ found in the Gospel, has now been accomplished, and will again be accomplished even more completely. For in the Gospel of Matthew, communicating the knowledge of future things to his blessed Apostles, and through them speaking to their successors, the Savior, very clearly foreshadowing, said: “And then the sign of the Son of man will appear in heaven” (Matthew 24:30). So, having taken this Gospel Divine book in your hands as usual, you will find pre-announcement testimonies placed about this: about which meditate more often with attention, Master, I pray to You, for the sake of other things written there in order. For the things predicted from our Savior require much observation with reverence, so as not to suffer the slightest harm from the opposing force. I offer these beginnings of my words to You, Most God-loving King! These are the first from Jerusalem that I proclaim to You, the most sincere and most pious worshiper of Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God and our Savior, who created salvation in Jerusalem according to the Divine Scriptures (Ps. 73:12), here trampled down death, and with His honest blood cleansed the sins of men: who gave life and incorruptibility; and spiritual heavenly grace to all believers. By whose power I thank You, who rejoices and is observed, Who adorns His own sons with the brightest and most glorious gifts of piety, and who is glorified by the Royal branches, God Himself, the King of all, the Giver of all goodness, may He preserve with all Your house for many years of peace, to the praise of Christians and the whole world. Likewise healthy, adorned with every kind of virtue, showing the usual care for the Holy Churches and the Roman Empire, and shining with great deeds of piety, in the cycle of many peaceful years, may God who is above all, with all Your house, observe You, Augustus, God-loving King, always glorifying the Holy and Consubstantial Trinity, our true God. To whom belongs all glory forever and ever. Amen. This message and the appearance of the venerable Cross are mentioned in the Four Menaions and the Prologue of the month of May on the 7th day, on which the remembrance of this miracle is celebrated. You might be interested in: