When growing affluence, Christian evangelism, and
the formidable Roman highway system encouraged greater travel to Jerusalem
during the days leading up to Easter Sunday, the bishop, in order to give the
pilgrims who were filling his city something constructive and reverent to do,
developed a series of liturgies specific to the days of Holy Week, each based
on an event leading to the resurrection.
So popular did these proper liturgies become that pilgrims brought them
back to their home congregations upon their return, thus ensuring that, over
time, these liturgical practices would become universally engaged. Thus, Cyril is recognized as the creator of the Holy Week liturgies: Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and the Great Vigil of Easter.
More of him may be found here.
Strengthen, O Lord, the bishops of your Church in their
special calling to be teachers and ministers of the Sacraments, so that they,
like your servant Cyril of Jerusalem, may effectively instruct your people in
Christian faith and practice; and that we, taught by them, may enter more fully
into the celebration of the Paschal mystery; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who
lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
Amen.