Cyril of Jerusalem - On the Holy Spirit

Orthodox Outlet for Dogmatic Enquiries

On Prayer to the Holy Spirit

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Saint Cyril of Jerusalem, on the Holy Spirit :

"And why did He call the grace of the Spirit water? Because by water all things subsist; because water brings forth grass and living things; because the water of the rain comes down from heaven; because it comes down one in form, but works in many forms. For one fountain irrigates the whole of Paradise, and the one and the same rain comes down upon all the world, yet it becomes white in the lily, and red in the rose, and purple in the violets and hyacinths, and it becomes different and varied in several kinds: thus, it is one thing in the palm-tree, and another in the vine, and all in all things; and yet it is one in nature, not diverse from itself; for the rain does not change itself and come down first as one thing, then as another, but adapts itself to the constitution of each thing which receives it; it becomes to each what is suitable. Thus also the Holy Spirit, being one, and of one nature, and indivisible, distributes to each thing His grace, according to His will and, as the dry tree partaking of water puts forth shoots, so also the soul in sin, when it has been through repentance made worthy of the Holy Spirit, brings forth clusters of righteousness. And though He is One in nature, yet many are the virtues which by the will of God and in the Name of Christ He works. For He employs the tongue of one man for wisdom; the soul of another He enlightens by Prophecy; to another He gives power to drive away the demons; to another He gives to interpret the divine Scriptures. He strengthens one man’s self-command; He teaches another the way to give alms; another He teaches to fast and discipline himself; another He teaches to despise the things of the body; another He trains for martyrdom: diverse in different men, yet not diverse from Himself, as it is written, But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given through the Spirit the word of wisdom; and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; to another, faith, in the same Spirit; and to another gifts of healing, in the same Spirit; and to another workings of miracles; and to another prophecy; and to another discernings of spirits; and to another diverse kinds of tongues; and to another the interpretation of tongues: but all these are works by that one and the same Spirit, dividing to every man severally as He will".

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Heavenly King, O Comforter, the Spirit of truth, Who are everywhere present and fills all things, O treasury of every good and Bestower of life: come and dwell in us, and cleanse us from every stain, and save our souls, O Good One. Αmen

Heavenly King, O Comforter, the Spirit of truth

Thou art Holy, come and dwell in us and sanctify us (John 14:17)

Thou art the Guide, lead us to ways of rightness (John 14:17)

Thou art who teacheth us, make us able to be receptive of thy teachings (1 Cor. 2:13)

Thou art the Spirit of the truth, reveal to us the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven (John 14:17)

Thou art the Spirit of wisdom, give us the word of thy wisdom and we shall walk in te law of the Lord (1st Corinthians 12:8/ Psalms 118)

Thou art the Spirit of prudence, lead us to a sound mind (2nd Timothy 1:17)

Thou art the Spirit of rememberance, bring all things to our remembrance, whatsoever our Lord Jesus Christ have said unto His Church (John 14:26)

Thou art the Comforter, give us strength and consolation in the difficulties of life (John 14:17)

Thou art the directing Spirit, christen us with thy directness (Psalms 50:12)

Thou art the Spirit of power, strengthen us when we take up our cross and follow Thee every day (Acts of the Apostles 1:8)

Thou art the Spirit of light, enlighten the darkness of this life

Thou art the Spirit that searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God, endow us with guileless conscience (1st Corinthians 2:10)

Thou art the Spirit of our Father which speaketh in us, speaketh of righteousness in our hearts (Mathew 10:20)

Thou art the Spirit that vivifies us, revive our paralyzed and lifeless members (John 6:13)

Thou art the Spirit with whom the saints are filled, fill our hearts with faith, hope and love (Luke 1:41)

Thou art the Prophet, endow us with freeness of speech as the times are wicked and hard (Acts of Apostles 1:16)

Thou art the Spirit of adoption, endow us with cordial crying Abba, Father (To the Romans 8:15)

Thou art the Lord and the Son and the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty, liberate us from the contemporary idols (2nd Corinthians 3:17)

Thou art the Spirit who helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but Thou maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered (To the Romans 8:26)

We all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the LORD. (2nd Corinthians 8:18)

Amen

Translation-adaptation: Helene