Portal:Catholic Church/Patron Archive/June 27 2007

Cyril of Alexandria (ca. 378 - ca. 444) was the Pope of Alexandria when the city was at its height in influence and power within the Roman Empire. Cyril wrote extensively and was a leading protagonist in the Christological controversies of the 4th and 5th centuries. He was a central figure in the Council of Ephesus in 431 which led to the deposition of Nestorius as Archbishop of Constantinople. Cyril is among the patristic fathers, and the Doctors of the Church, and his reputation within the Christian world has led to his acquiring the title "Seal of all the Fathers." His feast day is celebrated on June 9 and, with St. Athanasius of Alexandria, on January 18.

Cyril was born about 378 in the small town of Theodosios, Egypt, near modern day El-Mahalla El-Kubra (المحلة الكبرى (al-Maḥallätu l-Kubrà)). His mother’s brother, Theophilus, was a priest who rose to the powerful position of Pope of Alexandria. His mother remained close to her brother and under his guidance Cyril was well educated. His education showed through his knowledge, in his writings, of Christian writers of his day, including Eusebius, Origen, Didymus, and writers of the Alexandrian church. His formal education appeared normal for his day: 390-392 grammatical studies at ages 12 to 14, 393-397 Rhetoric/Humanities at ages 15 to 20, and 398-402 Christian theology and biblical studies.

He was tonsured a reader by his uncle, Theophilus, in the Church of Alexandria and under his uncle's guidance advanced in knowledge and position. He supported his uncle in the removal of St. John Chrysostom as archbishop of Constantinople, although this was justified as an administrative, not doctrinal, issue. Later Cyril celebrated John's return as when he contrasted Nestorius' unorthodoxy to Chrysostom's purity of doctrine to the imperial court.

Theophilus died on October 15, 412, and Cyril was made pope on October 18, 412, over stiff opposition by the party for the incumbent Archdeacon Timothy in a volatile Alexandrian atmosphere. Thus, Cyril followed first Athanasius and then Theophilus as the Pope of Alexandria in the position that had become powerful and influential, rivaling that of the city Prefect (mayor or official). Alexandria being a city of pagan, Jewish, and Christians got the reputation as a city that was known to be in turmoil.

His early years as patriarch were caught up in the problems of a cosmopolitan city where the animosities among the various Christian factions, Jews, and pagans brought frequent violence. He began to exert his authority by causing the churches of the Novatians to be closed and their sacred vessels to be seized. According to some historians, Cyril also demanded all Jews be removed from the city.

Some of the tensions between Jews and Christians was prompted by a slaughter of Christians at the hands of Alexandrian Jews.

Cyril led a mob of Christians against the Jews in the city, plundering and destroying the synagogues as well as killing Orestes..

In addition to his animosity with Orestes, there was the rivalry between Alexandria and Constantine I of Constantinople and a clash between Alexandrian and Antiochian schools of ecclesiastical reflection, piety, and discourse. These issues came to a head in 428 when the See of Constantinople became vacant. Nestorius, from the Antiochian party, was made Archbishop of Constantinople on April 10, 428, and stoked the fires by denouncing the use of the term Theotokos as not a proper rendition of Mary’s position in relation to Christ. Thus, Cyril and the Alexandrian party crossed swords with those of the Antiochene party in the imperial home court. To rid himself of Cyril, Nestorius recommended to the emperor a council in Constantinople. But, when Theodosius called the council it was in Ephesus, an area friendly to Cyril. After months of maneuvering the Council of 431 ended with Nestorius being removed from office and sent into exile.

Cyril died on about 444, but the controversies were to continue for decades, from the Second Council of Ephesus in 449 to the Council of Chalcedon in 451 and beyond. Attributes: Patronage: Prayer: