April: Day 28: Saint Cyril, Bishop of Turov

 

April: Day 28:
Saint Cyril, Bishop of Turov
 
(Every Christian is Obliged to Contribute to the Spread and Strengthening of the Christian Faith)

By Archpriest Grigory Dyachenko

I. The glorious hierarch of the Russian Church, Saint Cyril, whose memory is today, was born and raised in the city of Turov (now a poor town in the Minsk province, on the river Pripet). Having zealously devoted himself to book learning and having become well versed in the divine writings, Saint Cyril decided to leave the home of his parents and the vain pleasures of the world. In the Borisoglebsky Monastery in Turov he took monastic vows and soon surpassed everyone there in monastic feats. Not content with the usual feats of fasting and prayer, he, following the example of the Eastern ascetics, ascended a pillar. This first pillar dweller of the Russian land spent several years in seclusion, mortifying his flesh more than before with fasting and prayer. But saving his soul, he did not refuse spiritual healing and help to those who were attracted to him in great numbers by the glory of his feats and spiritual wisdom. Giving advice and instructions orally, he also wrote many pious works on the column. And it was not surprising that the prince and the inhabitants of Turov, after the death of the Bishop of Turov, began to ask their great ascetic to be their Bishop. Ready to serve for the benefit of his neighbors, Cyril agreed to their persuasive request and was appointed Bishop of Turov, around 1169. In the rank of Bishop, he zealously taught his flock in the church, and these teachings glorified him so much even in the distant countries of the Russian land that Prince Andrei Bogolyubsky wanted to read them and, receiving them, read them with reverence. But vigorous in spirit, Saint​ Cyril was weakened in body from extraordinary ascetic exploits; moreover, his soul was drawn to monastic solitude, and the Saint left the episcopal see, and spent the last days of his life in deep solitude. For his great Christian virtues, the Church canonized him.

II. Thus from the life of Saint Cyril we see that his distinctive feature was to instruct and teach others the rules of Christian piety.

What do you think, Christian brethren, does this work and duty lie only on the ministers of the Church – priests and monks? No, the spread of Christianity and the preaching of the gospel is the common duty of every Christian – whether he is a priest or a layman. Now this idea is completely forgotten, but we can easily prove its validity.

a) I will give only one simple proof. Take, my brethren, the list of saints, look through the names of the saints written in it for each day and date, whose memory the Holy Church remembers day after day. What will you see there? You will see that in that book, although the names of holy martyrs, hierarchs and other sacred persons are encountered, a significant part of the names mentioned in the list of saints belong to laymen, great martyrs, monks, hermits and others who were not servants of the altar, but were laymen; you will see written down laymen of every rank - doctors, soldiers, ordinary people, teachers, students. Most remarkable of all is that you come across very many names of the female sex, equal-to-the-apostles preachers, virgin martyrs, worthy mothers. Why did the Holy Church write them down in the list of saints and why does it remember the memory of them? Because many of them were preachers of the gospel of Christ and for the spread of Christianity they accepted much labor, and some even death. This example is sufficient as proof that all Christians, without exception, should strive, as far as possible, to spread and strengthen the faith of Christ.

b) And indeed, if the faith and hope of Christ are alive and active in the heart, then it is impossible for a person not to try to convey it to others, not to spread his feeling and hope among other people. It is also good when faith acts at least in your heart, improves and corrects your own life, but it is even better when faith is so strong in you that it cannot help but be communicated to others. How is the presence of fire recognized? By the fact that it warms and shines around a person. In a similar way, the presence of the fire of spiritual faith should be recognized in a person.

c) How should a layman fulfill this divine duty, i.e., the spreading and strengthening of Christianity? There are hundreds of different ways and means that a prudent man can use for this work. The very mind and the very fervor of his faith will indicate and explain to him when and where and what strength he should use for this holy work. But the most important means is when the very life and behavior of a Christian are righteous and honorable, so that without words they edify and silently instruct those who look at them. Such a life is more useful than verbosity with the tongue. But where and when necessary, one must resort to words, labor with the tongue to expose temptation, to console the weak, to strengthen those who waver in faith. Finally, if someone himself cannot personally do anything for the benefit of the faith, then he is obliged to use material means for the needs of the Church and faith and to provide means for the preachers of the faith.

III. Through the prayers of Saint Cyril, may the Lord grant us to fulfill this sacred duty, so that we may receive a great reward in heaven, according to the immutable word of the Savior: "He who does and teaches, he will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven." Amen. 

 

Source: A Complete Annual Cycle of Short Teachings, Composed for Each Day of the Year. Translated by John Sanidopoulos.