March 18 — He was born in Jerusalem in 315, Cyril was ordained bishop and then placed by Acacius, Archbishop of Caesarea, in the place of Maximus in 350 A.D. But following the condemnation of Arianism by the Council of Nicaea, the relationship between Cyril and Acacius deteriorated very quickly.

Acace accused Cyril of selling precious fabrics and other objects belonging to the Church, gifts of Emperor Constantine, to provide for the needs of the people stricken by famine. Cyril then left Jerusalem and took refuge in Tarsus. Reinstated by the Synod of Seleucia in 359, he was again dismissed by the Synod of Constantinople. He returned to Jerusalem in 362, taking advantage of the decision of Emperor Julian concerning the bishops exiled under Constance. But again, forced by Emperor Valens, he left Jerusalem in 367 and could not return until the death of this emperor in 378.

During the thirty-eight years of Cyril's episcopate, he spent sixteen years in exile. He was one of the most fervent anti-arionists and strove to keep the faith of his flock in the right path of the Gospel. Cyril died in 386 and Pope Leo XIII proclaimed him Doctor of the Church.