"Hallowed by the Divine Spirit, like a pure vessel of Heaven, giving off a sweet scent to all the faithful, our wonderful Bishop Cyril, the pride and jewel of the Belarusian land, pray for all who remember you with love."
(Sticheron at “Lord, I Have Cried,” Tone 8)
Among countless holy men whose godly lives have shone brightly in the Belarusian land, Saint Cyril of Turov has stood out for nine centuries, lighting the people’s path to salvation. This guide to goodness, this gifted speaker, deep thinker and Bible teacher, this steadfast monk, scholar, poet and speaker — widely known as the "Russian Chrysostom" — knew the Scriptures and the early Church Fathers like few others. Among the early East Slavs, no one matched his work in God's field, planting seeds of virtue that grew a hundredfold in faithful hearts. Even today, his prayers, sermons and writings still share the Gospel message.
The lands of the Turov Principality
As one of the most learned men of his age, Saint Cyril, his biographer reports, wrote books “drawn from Gospel and prophetic readings, which are read on the Lord’s feast days, and many other words helpful for the soul, and prayers to the Lord, and praises for many saints. He passed all these and many other writings to the Church. And he wrote a great canon of repentance to the Lord, arranged according to the letters of the alphabet.” Today, we have Saint Cyril’s sermons for the feasts around Easter and Pentecost, for Theophany (Epiphany), and for Meatfare Sunday, but he likely wrote sermons for all twelve Great Feasts. His sermons reached far beyond everyday worries and must have seemed quite remarkable to people at the time. The bishop from Turov saw his books copied by hand and shared widely; later, they were printed in volume. Thanks to this care, over 60 of his works — an almost incredible number for a writer back then — have lasted to our day.
Saint Cyril of Turov’s book, ‘Prayers for the Days of Easter Week’
In his stirring works, Saint Cyril calls his flock towards a godly life and the noble effort to save their souls. He encourages God’s people to read ‘holy books in church and at home,’ instructing them that one needs a heart “free from anger, drunkenness, and pride” to understand them rightly. He speaks out firmly against pagan practices and superstitious ideas, warning of the dangers lurking in ‘forbidden books’ — dream guides, star charts, fortune-telling and the like. Many of his sermons speak of the soul’s eternal destiny and the roadblocks to the Kingdom of Heaven. Speaking about the dreadful possibility of endless suffering, the saint exclaims: “How could we possibly bear the fire of hell, when we can barely stand the heat of a bathhouse! How could we endure the sting of the poisonous worm, when we flinch from the bite of a mosquito or a fly!”
Icon of Saint Cyril of Turov
Saint Cyril reminds his flock that the Lord made man for Himself, but the devil tempted him and drew him away. He prays that his listeners will find their way to God through good works and turn away from frivolous revelries and idle amusements. He taught them to keep the holy days "not with drunken games or feasting, but by coming to church, caring for orphans and the poor, helping those in need, and respecting God's servants." Saint Cyril’s forthright preaching did not always find favour, and this teacher of righteousness often faced opposition. You can hear the pain woven through some of his prayers and writings. “If I were handing out honey or beer in church,” he cries out with a touch of bitter irony, “how quickly you would all rush here, tripping over each other to get in! Yet I proclaim in church the Word of God, sweeter than beer and honey!"
Perhaps the finest work Saint Cyril wrote is his “Prayers for the Whole Week.” “Give Your holy seed,” Saint Cyril prays, “water it with the dew of Your grace, that it may bring You the fruit of repentance. Help my feet stand firm on the solid foundation — the strong rock of faith!” Also from the pen of the ‘Russian Chrysostom’ came the “Daily Confession and Commemoration” and three canons: one of prayerful request, one of repentance, and one dedicated to Princess Olga (which the saint likely wrote around the 200th anniversary of her passing). No wonder these prayers were so loved in ancient Rus’. Even now, his prayer books speak to the needs of the Christian heart. Filled with heartfelt sorrow and gentle compassion, they call to mind the venerable Ephrem the Syrian, while their style recalls Saint Andrew of Crete. This profound Christian love shines through, for example, in his daily remembrance: “Save, Lord, and have mercy on those who hate and hurt me, who oppose me and wish me ill, who insult and slander me. Let none of them suffer any harm because of me, unclean as I am, either now or in the life to come. Instead, O Good One, cleanse them by Your kindness, and cover them with Your grace.”
Fresco depicting the life of Saint Cyril in Turov Cathedral
Sadly, very few details about Saint Cyril's life have reached us — far fewer than those we have about his writings, which glow with God's truth, revealing his wisdom, deep thought, and loving heart. We do not know his baptismal name or his exact date of birth, though it is thought he was born sometime in the 1110s. The saint’s hometown was Turov, situated on the Pripyat River. Saint Cyril came from a well-off family and received a good education. From his earliest years, he eagerly read the holy books, digging deep into their meaning, and came to understand them very well. In those days, Turov hosted forty monasteries and numerous churches, drawing young people eager for Christian wisdom. He learned not only from Russian teachers, but Greek ones, too. He knew the Greek language and could read the original writings of the Church Fathers, including Saints John Chrysostom, Gregory the Theologian, Cyril of Alexandria, Epiphanius of Cyprus, and others.
Turov 150 years ago. Artist Napoleon Orda, 1875.
Soon, likely after the passing of his parents, this future luminary of the Church gave up his inheritance and became a monk in one of Turov's monasteries, receiving the name Cyril. About this chapter of his life, his biographer writes:
“He withdrew into the monastery and became a monk. More than anyone, he dedicated himself fully to God, disciplining his body with fasting and chanting, and made himself a pure vessel for the Holy Spirit. He was a help to many, teaching and guiding the monks to obey their abbot.”
We know of a series of works he wrote about monastic life, including four sermons: “A discourse explaining the origins of the celibate life among people,” “On the Monastic Order,” “To Abbot Vasily concerning the white-robed clergy and monasticism,” and “To Abbot Vasily concerning the Great Schema.” Saint Cyril never stopped his spiritual discipline. In 1148, he willingly stepped down as abbot and went into seclusion. Following the example of holy monks from Byzantium and the Middle East who practised asceticism on pillars above ground, Cyril chose a similar path. It seems, however, that the saint carried out this discipline not on a purpose-built pillar, but by shutting himself away inside a tower-like cell. It was here that he wrote some of his works. Many people sought his guidance on spiritual matters.
Cathedral of Saints Cyril and Lavrenty in Turov
People noticed Cyril's holy life and great learning, and in 1158 he was selected as the Bishop of Turov. His biographer notes how skillfully the saint guided the diocese, fostered church growth, watched over the city's monasteries, and taught both townsfolk and clergy through his inspiring sermons.
Monument to Saint Cyril of Turov in the town of Turov
In 1169, Saint Cyril participated in a church council that condemned Fedorets, an abbot from Suzdal who had deceitfully secured appointment as Bishop of Rostov without the consent of the Metropolitan of Kiev and tried to break away from the Kiev Metropolis. Saint Cyril spoke out against Fedorets's errors and wrote many letters to the pious Prince Andrei Bogolyubsky. In these, he offered teaching and guidance regarding the church situation in the Rostov region. Drawn by his love for solitude, Saint Cyril eventually gave up his position to devote himself entirely to writing spiritual works.
The most complete collection of Saint Cyril of Turov's writings, published by Bishop Eugene of Turov in 1880.
As a theologian, Saint Cyril saw his calling quite clearly: to unveil the true, hidden meaning within every passage of Holy Scripture.
Order of Saint Cyril of Turov. This distinct honour is awarded for exceptional work done for God’s glory and for the benefit of the Belarusian Orthodox Church.
Saint Cyril departed on 28 April, around the year 1183. Veneration of the saint within the Church began soon after his blessed end. Saint Cyril's skill with words was greatly appreciated by people of his own time and by later generations. His ‘Sermons’ and teachings appear in many collections (including the Torzhestvennik) alongside works by Byzantine theologians and preachers. People across Russia learned from his writings and found inspiration in them. His works were also copied, read, and used in prayer throughout other Slavic lands. Although people called the saint the ‘Russian Chrysostom,’ he humbly said of himself: “I am not a reaper, but one who gleans the stalks; I am no master craftsman in writing books.” Yet, aware of the high calling of a bishop’s service, to which the Lord had appointed him, the saint declared: “If I were speaking my own words, you would be right not to come to church. But I proclaim the Lord’s Word to you; I read Christ’s own message to you… I share God’s words; more to be desired are they than gold… Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb, and you miss out on them by not coming to church… But as for you who do come, I praise and bless you.”
Churches dedicated to him stand in Belarus, Russia, America, Canada and Britain. Monuments honour him in Turov, Gomel, and Minsk; the Minsk Theological Academy carries his name; and near the National Library building, a street bears his name too.
O wonderful ascetic, most glorious bishop, golden-tongued teacher of the Russian land, great saint pleasing to God, Cyril! You yourself behold the land where you were born and worked so hard; you see the people you enlightened long ago. You know what we need; you know our weaknesses and failings. Be our helper, protector, defender, and the guide of our lives. So that under your protection and defence, we may worthily glorify the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, now and forever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.
Material prepared by the team of obitel-minsk.ru
Images from the Internet
Sources:
1. Assembly of Belarusian Saints | Cyril of Turov | Icons
2. Reconstruction of the Turov Cross: ancient traditions and preaching for today | Church and society | Belarusian Orthodox Church | News | Official portal of the Belarusian Orthodox Church
3. Saint Cyril, Bishop of Turov | Official website of the Turov Diocese (turov.by)
4. St. Cyril of Turov. Life. | Website of the Ivatsevichy Deanery (hram-derjavny.by)
5. For the Pilgrim's Instruction (palomnik.by)
6. Saint Cyril of Turov (circa 1130 – 1182) and his life path | zviazda.by
