Participation in Psalmody and Church Membership in Cyril of Jerusalem

Abstract

Cyril of Jerusalem’s notion of ecclesiastical music and praise has received very little attention in academic research. When mapping this territory, I found that the Cyrilline gradation between each stage of the ecclesial initiatory process was reflected in the author’s view of the ability of the catechetical audience to participate in psalmody. First, the early-stage catechumens were not mentioned as participants in psalmody or praise. Secondly, the baptismal candidates were exhorted to magnify the Lord. Nevertheless, at the pre-baptismal stage, candidates were mainly regarded as “students” of psalmody. Thirdly, psalmody and praise were discussed chiefly in the context of the congregation of baptized Christians. In Cyril’s view, the Hagiopolite liturgies of baptism and eucharist included a celestial dimension as well. In the liturgies, the fully initiated members of the church—neophytes and authorized cantors alike—were, in effect, granted participation in celestial doxology in the presence of angels. This article fills a significant gap in the research on the mid-to-late fourth century theology of psalmody. It reveals a Patristic view of the relationship between participation in psalmody and church membership, thus emphasizing the markedly ecclesiastical nature of Christian song.