21 IV: Juliette Day (University of Helsinki), The contexts and contents of baptismal catechesis in the 4th century

Abstract

The catechetical lectures of Cyril of Jerusalem (d.386) contain a detailed course of instruction on Christian doctrine based upon the creed delivered to those enrolled for baptism in Lent of 351. The authorship, date and place of delivery of the catechesis is not in doubt, however the content appears strangely de-contextualised. Contemporary historians, though, employ a range of contextualisation strategies to make sense of the content: e.g. those internal and external to the text, intertextual, authorial, the explicit and implicit macro- and micro-contexts. The lecture will consider on historians’ priorities when contextualising this late antique catechesis and suggest that Cyril’s decontextualised, yet biblically-saturated instruction, is integral to his pedagogical intentions.