Nicene/Post-Nicene, Series II, Volume 31
Cyril of Jerusalem, circa 315 - 386
15. As the delusion was extending,
Peter and Paul, a noble pair, chief rulers of the Church,
arrived and set the error right ... . And marvellous
though it was, yet no marvel. For Peter was there, who
carrieth the keys of heaven: and nothing wonderful, for
Paul was there, who was caught up to the third heaven,
and into Paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it
is not lawful far a man to utter....
Catechetical Lectures, Lecture VI, § 15
3. ... For the Saviour came, not as having changed the
gentleness of His own nature, but as the strong Lion of
the tribe of Judah, saving them that believe, but
treading down the adversary. He is called a Stone,
not a lifeless stone, cut out by men's hands, but
a chief corner-stone, on whom whosoever believeth
shall not be put to shame.
7. Moreover, that you may be sure that this is He who was
seen of Moses, hear Paul's testimony, when he says, For
they all drank of a spiritual rock that followed
them; and the rock was Christ....
Catechetical Lectures, Lecture X, §§ 3, 7
3. ... Peter, the foremost of the Apostles and chief
herald of the Church ... enlightened in his mind from the
Father, says to Him, Thou art the Christ, not only so,
but the Son of the living God. And there follows a
blessing upon his speech ... that it was the Father who
had revealed it to him. For the Saviour says, Blessed art
thou, Simon Barjona, for flesh and blood hath not
revealed it to thee, but My father which is in heaven....
Catechetical Lectures, Lecture XI, § 3
18. But again thou askest yet another testimony of the
time. The LORD said unto Me, Thou art My Son; this day
have I begotten Thee ... . in relating and interpreting
to Nebuchadnezzar the image of the statue, he tells also
his whole vision concerning it: and that a stone
cut out of a mountain without hands, that is, not set up
by human contrivance, should overpower the whole world
... .
Catechetical Lectures, Lecture XII, § 18
34. The Sun was darkened, because of the Sun of
Righteousness. Rocks were rent, because of the spiritual Rock....
35. ... Tell us, O Prophets, the exact truth concerning
His tomb also, where He is laid, and where we shall seek
Him? And they say, Look into the solid rock which ye have
hewn. Look in and behold. Thou hast in the Gospels In a
sepulchre hewn in stone, which was hewn out of a rock.
And what happens next? What kind of door has the
sepulchre? Again another Prophet says, They cut off My
life in a dungeon, and cast a stone upon Me. I, who am
the Chief corner-stone, the elect, the precious,
lie for a little time within a stone—I who am a stone
of stumbling to the Jews, and of salvation to them who
believe.
Catechetical Lectures, Lecture XIII, §§ 34,
35
... but Peter has the keys of the kingdom of heaven,
having received the words, Whatsoever thou shalt loose on
earth shall be loosed in heaven ... .
Catechetical Lectures, Lecture XIV, § 26
28. The like doctrine thou has also in the interpretation
of the Stone, which was cut out of a mountain
without hands, which is Christ according to the flesh ...
.
Catechetical Lectures, Lecture XV, § 28
27. In the power of the same Holy Spirit Peter also, the
chief of the Apostles and the bearer of the keys of the
kingdom of heaven ... .
Catechetical Lectures, Lecture XVII, § 27
... But after the Jews for the plots which they made
against the Saviour were cast away from His grace, the
Saviour built out of the Gentiles a second Holy Church,
the Church of us Christians, concerning which he said to
Peter, And upon this rock I will build My Church,
and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it....
Catechetical Lectures, Lecture XVIII, § 25
... but escape to the mountain, to Jesus Christ. that stone
hewn without hands, which has filled the world.
Catechetical Lectures, Lecture XIX, § 8
Gregory Nazianzen, circa 329 - 389
98. Who is the man who has never, by
experience and contemplation, traversed the entire series
of the titles and powers of Christ ... viz.: God, the
Son, the Image, the Word, the Wisdom, the Truth, the
Light, the Life ... the Foundation, the Rock ... .
Orations, Oration II, § 98
7. ... when we were cast down, a horn of salvation was
raised up for us, and a chief corner stone,
knitting us to itself and to one another, was laid in due
season ... .
14. And therefore, first in the holy Synod of Nicaea, the
gathering of the three hundred and eighteen chosen men,
united by the Holy Ghost, as far as in him [Athanasius,
bishop of Alexandria] lay, he stayed the disease. Though
not yet ranked among the Bishops, he held the first rank
among the members of the Council, for preference was
given to virtue just as much as to office....
Orations, Oration XXI, §§ 7,
14
III. ... although I was sheltered by the Rock, the
Word that was made flesh for us....
XVIII. ... And Jacob dreamed of a lofty ladder and stair
of Angels, and in a mystery anointed a pillar—perhaps to
signify the Rock that was anointed for our sake
... .
Orations, Oration XXVIII, §§
III, XXVIII
... For, if there were two Christs, there may be two
husbands or two wives; but if Christ is One, one Head of
the Church, let there be also one flesh, and let a second
be rejected ... .
Orations, Oration XXXVII, §
VIII
{Contrary to Rome's claims, Christ is the only Head of the Church.
There is no place for a second in the bishop of Rome.}
... But you are dissatisfied with the syllables, and you
stumble at the word, and it is to you a stone of
stumbling and a rock of offence; for so is Christ
to some minds....
Orations, Oration XLI, § VII
76. He [Basil] emulated the zeal of Peter, the intensity
of Paul, the faith of both these then of name and of
surname, the lofty utterance of the sons of Zebedee, the
frugality and simplicity of all the disciples. Therefore
he was also entrusted with the keys of the heavens, and
not only from Jerusalem and round about unto Illyricum
... .
Orations, Oration XLIII, § 76
{Basil was bishop of Caesarea. This is included in order
to contrast Rome's view that the 'keys' were given
exclusively to Peter and his successors.}
XIX. ... in the Courts of Jerusalem place thy feet; lean
upon the Rock, that thy steps in God be not shaken.
XXIX. Many indeed are the miracles of that time: God
crucified; the sun darkened and again rekindled; for it
was fitting that the creatures should suffer with their
Creator; the veil rent; the Blood and Water shed from His
Side; the one as from a man, the other as above man; the
rocks rent for the Rock's sake ... .
Orations, Oration XLV, §§ XIX,
XXIX
... But, that they may not accuse us of having once
accepted but of now repudiating the faith of their
beloved Vitalius which he handed in in writing at the
request of the blessed Bishop Damasus of Rome, I will
give a short explanation on this point also....
Letters, Division I, Against Apollinarius; The Second Letter to
Cledonius. (Ep. CII.)
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