[[Image:0118cyril-alexandria.jpg|right|thumb|210px|St. Cyril of Alexandria]]Our father among the saints, Archbishop [[saint]]s '''Cyril of Alexandria''' was the Archbishop [[Pope]] of Alexandria at the time Alexandria was at its height in influence and power within the Roman Empire. Cyril wrote extensively and was a leading protagonist in the [[Christology|Christological ]] controversies of the 4th and 5th centuries. He was a central figure in the [[Third Ecumenical Council|Council of Ephesus ]] in 431 which led to disposing the [[deposition]] of [[Nestorius ]] as Archbishop of Constantinople. Cyril is among the patristic fathers , and his reputation within the Orthodox Christian world has led to him his acquiring the title ‘Seal "Seal of all the Fathers.’" His [[feast day]] is celebrated on [[June 9]] and, with St. [[Athanasius of Alexandria]], on [[January 18]].

Cyril He was born, about 378, in the small town of Theodosios, Egypt, near modern day Malalla el Kobra. His mother’s brother, Theophilus, was a priest who rose to a position of [[tonsure]]d a powerful Archbishop 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 Eusebeus, [[Origenreader]], Didimus, and writers of the Alexandrian church. He show an apparent knowledge of Latin through his extensive correspondence with the Bishop of Rome, Pope Celestine. 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 ordained Lector by his uncle, Theophilus, in the [[Church of Alexandria ]] and, under his uncle 's guidance advanced in knowledge and position. He supported in his uncle in the removal of St. [[John Chrysostom ]] as Archbishop [[archbishop]] of Constantinople, although this was justified as an administrative, not doctrinal, issue, as later Cyril supported John’s rehabilitation John's return as when he contrasted to the imperial court Nestorius’ Nestorius' unorthodoxy to John’s Chrysostom's purity of doctrineto the imperial court.

Theophilus died on [[October 15]], 412 , and Cyril was made archbishop 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 Archbishop Pope of Alexandria in the position that had become powerful and influential, rivaling that of the city Prefect.

His early years as Archbishop was pope were caught up in the problems of a cosmopolitan city where the animosities among the various Christian factions, [[Judaism|Jews]], and pagans brought frequent violence. In addition, there was the rivalry between Alexandria and Constantinople and a clash between [[Alexandrian school|Alexandrian]] and [[Antiochian school|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''[[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 Antiochian party in the imperial home court. After much in-fighting, Augusta [[Pulcheria the Empress|Pulcheria]], older sister of the Emperor Theodosius II, sided with Cyril against Nestorius. To rid himself of Cyril, Nestorius recommended to the emperor a [[Ecumenical Councils|council]] in Constantinople. But, when Theodosius called the council it was in Ephesus, an area friendly to Cyril. After months of manuevering the [[Third Ecumenical Council|Council of 431]] ended with Nestorius being removed from office and sent into exile.  Cyril died on [[June 27]], 444, but the controversies were to continue for decades, from the [[Robber Council of Ephesus]] in 449 to the [[Fourth Ecumenical Council|Council of Chalcedon]] in 451 and beyond. == Legacy ==As noted above, Cyril was a scholarly archbishop and a prolific writer. In the early years of his active life in the Church he wrote several exegeses. Among these were: ''Commentaries on the [[Old Testament]]'', ''Thesaurus'', ''Discourse Against [[Arianism|Arians]]'', ''Commentary on [[Gospel of John|St. John's Gospel]]'', and ''Dialogues on the [[Trinity]]''. In 429 as the Christological controversies increased, his output of writings was that which his opponents could not match. His writings and his theology have remained central to tradition of the Fathers and to all Orthodox even up today. {{start box}}{{succession|before=[[Theophilus of Alexandria|Theophilos I]]|title=[[Patriarch of Alexandria]]|years=412-444|after=[[Dioscorus of Alexandria|Dioscorus I]]|}}{{end box}} == Source ==*[[John Anthony McGuckin|McGuckin, John A.]], ''St. Cyril of Alexandria and the Christological Controversy''. Crestwood, NY: St. Vladimir's Seminary Press, 2004. ISBN 0-88141-259-7  ==External links==*[http://www.monachos.net/patristics/christology/cyril_writings.shtml Life and Writings of Cyril of Alexandria] as relates to the Christological Controversy*[http://www.comeandseeicons.com/c/cap25.htm Icon and Story of St. Cyril of Alexandria]===Works===* ''[http://www.monachos.net/patristics/christology/cyril_to_nestorius_2.shtml Second Epistle of Cyril to Nestorius]''* ''[http://www.monachos.net/patristics/christology/cyril_to_nestorius_3.shtml Third Epistle of Cyril to Nestorius (containing the twelve anathemas)]''* ''[http://www.monachos.net/patristics/christology/cyril_john_union.shtml Formula of Reunion: In Brief (A summation of the reunion between Cyril and John of Antioch)]''* ''[http://www.monachos.net/patristics/christology/cyril_johnantioch.shtml The 'Formula of Reunion' between Cyril and John of Antioch]'' [[Category:Bishops]][[Category:5th-century bishops]][[Category:Church Fathers]][[Category:Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers]][[Category:Saints]][[Category:Byzantine Saints]][[Category:Egyptian Saints]][[Category:Patriarchs of Alexandria]][[Category:5th-century saints]] [[ro:Chiril al Alexandriei]]