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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