Cyril of Jerusalem

In his own words on Song of Solomon

• Song of Solomon 3:10-11

  Every king is proclaimed by soldiers. It was fitting that Jesus also, in figure, be crowned by soldiers. For this reason Scripture says in the Canticles: "Daughters of Jerusalem, come forth and look upon King Solomon in the crown with which his mother has crowned him." But the crown was also a mystery, for it was a remission of sins and release from the sentence of condemnation.

  Catechetical Lecture 13:17

• Song of Solomon 4:2

  "Your teeth are like a flock of ewes to be shorn." A sincere confession is a spiritual shearing! And further: "all of them big with twins," signifying the twofold grace, either that perfected by water and the Spirit, or that announced in the Old and in the New Testament.

  Catechetical Lecture 3:16

• Song of Solomon 4:12

  Now who is the "fountain sealed," or who is signified by the "wellspring of living water"? It is the Savior himself, of whom it is written: "For with you is the fountain of life."

  Catechetical Lecture 14:5

• Song of Solomon 4:14

  The place of his burial was a garden.… What is he going to say who was buried in the garden? "I gather my myrrh, and my spices"; and again, "Myrrh and aloes with all the finest spices." These were the tokens of his burial, and in the Gospels it is said, "The women came to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared," and "there also came Nicodemus, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes."

  Catechetical Lecture 14:11

• Song of Solomon 4:15

  Now who is the "fountain sealed," or who is signified by the "wellspring of living water"? It is the Savior himself, of whom it is written: "For with you is the fountain of life."

  Catechetical Lecture 14:5

• Song of Solomon 5:1

  The place of his burial was a garden.… What is he going to say who was buried in the garden? "I gather my myrrh, and my spices"; and again, "Myrrh and aloes with all the finest spices." These were the tokens of his burial, and in the Gospels it is said, "The women came to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared," and "there also came Nicodemus, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes."

  Catechetical Lecture 14:11

• Song of Solomon 5:12

  Perhaps, as some say, it was to reveal an image that he came down in the likeness of a pure, innocent, simple dove, working with prayers for the sons he begot and for the forgiveness of sins; just as in a veiled manner it was foretold that the beauty of Christ's eyes would be manifested in this way.

  Catechetical Lecture 17:9

• Song of Solomon 6:11

  You wish to know the place? He says in the Canticles, "I came down to the nut garden"; for it was a garden where he was crucified.

  Catechetical Lecture 14:5

• Song of Solomon 8:2

  Again, referring to the wine mingled with myrrh, the Canticle says, "I will give you a cup of spiced wine."

  SERMON ON THE PARALYTIC 11

• Song of Solomon 8:7

  Though weak in body the women were courageous in spirit. "Many waters cannot quench charity, neither can floods drown it." He whom they sought was dead, but their hope of the resurrection was not quenched.

  Catechetical Lecture 14:13