ABSTRACT
We have already hinted that we think that the baptismal rite in MC is different from that which Cyril describes in Cats; but what caused the Jerusalem church to revise its rite both structurally and theologically? It does not seem adequate to attribute this to the liturgical creativity of one man, namely Bishop Cyril given that, as we shall see, these new features are found elsewhere even if not presented in the same way as MC. A synchronic comparative analysis with rites from neighbouring provinces will allow us to identify more clearly whether Jerusalem was a leader or follower of fashion, to assess the creativity of Cyril and the Jerusalem church, and to note in broad terms when and how a province might have incorporated particular new liturgical elements. In this chapter we will present the arguments already made for Syrian or Egyptian influence upon the Jerusalem rite, introduce the sources from these provinces and suggest some indicators of the Syrian and Egyptian patterns.
