Saint Cyril of Caesarea

The governor of Caesarea, informed of what was happening, ordered that the young Cy ril be brough jeune Cyrille Child martyr of Caesarea in the 3rd century. t to him. He could not contain his anger when he heard him confess the name of Jesus Christ. He hid it, however, and tried to win him over through kindness. "Detest the name of your Christ," he said to him, "and I promise to forgive your fault, to reconcile you with your father, and to ensure you the possession of his goods."

"I rejoice," replied Cyril, "in the reproaches you make against me. I shall be received by God, and I shall find myself infinitely better off there than with my father. I will gladly be poor on earth, in order to possess eternal riches in another world. I do not fear death, because it will procure for me a life better than this one."

When he had spoken thus, they bound him as if to lead him to execution; but the judge gave secret orders that the executioners should content themselves with frightening him.

The sight of a great fire into which they threatened to throw him, having failed to shake his constancy, he was brought back before the judge. "My son," the latter said to him, "you have seen the fire and the sword which must bring about your death; be wise at last, and do not run to an inevitable loss."

"You have done me a real wrong," replied Cyril, "when you called me back. I fear neither fire nor sword; I burn with the desire to go to my God. Hasten to put me to death, so that I may have the happiness of seeing Him sooner."

"Why do you weep?" he added, addressing the bystanders who were melting into tears, "you should on the contrary show great joy; but you are ignorant of what my hope is, and you do not know the kingdom into which I am about to enter."

It was in these noble sentiments that he died. It is believed that he ended his life by the sword, under the reig Déce Roman emperor responsible for the persecution of Christians in 250. n of De cius or Valérien Roman emperor under whom the martyrdom took place. Valerian. His name is read in the martyrology at tributed to saint Jérôme Father of the Church and author of the original biography of Saint Asella. Saint Jerome, and i n that Florus Prefect of Illyria who judged Anastasia. of Florus.

See his sincere Acts, publis hed by Ruinart Hagiographer who published the Acts of the saint. Ruinart and by Heus Heuschénius Bollandist who published the Acts of the saint. chénius. It appears that they were wr itten by Saint saint Firmilien Bishop of Caesarea and presumed author of the Acts of Cyril. Firmilian, Bishop of Caesarea.