14. And when the Exorcism has been done,
until the others who are being exorcised have come From S. Augustine, de
Symbolo, i. 1 (Migne T. vi. p. 930), we learn that the Candidates
were brought in before the Congregation one by one for exorcism; and
so, as Cyril here shews, they had to wait outside till the others
returned.,
let men be with men, and women with women. For now I need the
example of Noah’s ark: in which were Noah and his sons, and
his wife and his sons’ wives. For though the ark was one,
and the door was shut, yet had things been suitably arranged. If
the Church is shut, and you are all inside, yet let there be a
separation, men with men, and women with women Chrys. in Matt.
Hom. lxxiv. § 3: “You ought to have within you the
wall that separates you from the women: but since ye will not,
our fathers have thought it necessary to separate you at least by these
boards; for I have heard from my elders that there were not these walls
in old times.” These barriers had not yet been introduced
at Jerusalem, or Cyril’s admonition would have been
needless. Compare Apostolic Constitutions, II.
57.: lest the pretext of salvation become
an occasion of destruction. Even if there be a fair pretext for
sitting near each other, let passions be put away. Further, let
the men when sitting have a useful book; and let one read, and another
listen: and if there be no book, let one pray, and another speak
something useful. And again let the party of young women sit
together in like manner, either singing or reading quietly, so that
their lips speak, but others’ ears catch not the sound:
for I suffer not a woman to speak in the Church 1 Cor. xiv. 34; 1 Tim. ii. 12.. And let the married woman also follow
the same example, and pray; and let her lips move, but her voice be
unheard, that a Samuel 1 Sam. i. 13, 20. On the various
interpretations of the name Samuel, see Dict. Bib.
“Samuel,” and Driver on the passage. Cyril adopts the
meaning “heard of God.” may come, and thy
barren soul give birth to the salvation of “God who hath heard
thy prayer;” for this is the interpretation of the name
Samuel.