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[[Image:StCyril.jpg|right|thumb| Saint Cyril of Alexandria]]
'''Saint Cyril of Alexandria''' (b. 376; d. June 27, 444) was the bishop of Alexandria who zealously defended Christ's divinity against the leading heresy of the day, also known as the champion of orthodoxy. St. Cyril was a monk, as archbishop he was the central figure in overseeing synods, presiding as the pope’s representative. <ref>[http://www.americancatholic.org/Features/SaintOfDay/default.asp?id=1427 St. Cyril of Alexandria] American Catholic</ref> Cyril was a great theologian teacher of the early Church, a man of great courage and force of character. Cyril wrote treatises that clarified the doctrines of the [[Trinity]]. He had an stong devotion to the blessed virgin Mary and defended her divine motherhood and the Incarnation. Served his episcopate for nearly thirty-two years. Saint Cyril was declared a [[Doctor of the Church]] by Pope Leo XIII in 1882.
==Early Life==
Cyril was born at Alexandria, Egypt. He received a classical and theological education at [[Alexandria]] and was ordained by his uncle Theophilus, then Bishop of Alexandria. <ref>[http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=616 St. Cyril of Alexandria] Catholic Online</ref> Cyril would succeed his uncle on Theophilus' death in 412 and only after a riot by the followers of his rival Timotheus.
==Bishop of Alexandria==
As patriarch of Alexandria, Cyril immediately went after the heretics of the [[Novatians]]. One of his first acts was to pillage and shut the churches of the Novatian sect. He would be criticized for violence that took place. Next, he would turn his full attention to the [[Jews]] of Alexandria. The Jews had a flourishing community there ever since [[Alexander the Great]] but they had caused tumults and had massacred [[Christians]]. <ref>[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04592b.htm St. Cyril of Alexandria] Catholic Encyclopedia</ref> Cyril led a mob which drove all Jews away from Alexandria in 415. Cyril took part in a synod and agreed with the premise for the deposing of [[St. John Chrysostom]], who also became a Doctor of the Church. Also, St. Cyril would oppose Roman emperor [[Julian the Apostate]].
==Nestorius==
Cyril is famously known for leading the opposition to bishop Nestorius of Constantinople. Nestorius would not agree to the title Theotokos, “God-bearer” for Mary. He said Mary was not the mother of God but only of the man [[Christ]]. Nestorianism implied that the humanity of Christ was a mere disguise. Cyril represented the [[Pope]] at the Council of Ephesus in 431 and condemned Nestorianism as heresy. In the confusion that followed, supporters of Nestorius would arrange their own synod and Cyril was deposed and imprisoned for three months. Papal legates would confirm the council's actions against Nestorius and declared Cyril innocent of all charges. The result, Nestorius was forced into exile. Cyril died of natural causes in 444 a.d. and his relics remain in Alexandria. <ref>[http://saints.sqpn.com/saintc15.htm Saint Cyril of Alexandria] Star Quest Production Network</ref>
==Works==
Cyril's writings are characterized by accurate thinking, precise exposition, and great reasoning skills. <ref>[http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=616 St. Cyril of Alexandria] Catholic Online</ref>
*Seventeen books "On Adoration in Spirit and in Truth"
*"The Glaphyra", commentaries on Pentateuch
*Expositions of Matthew, Luke, and some of the Epistles
*Commentary on St. John's Gospel
*"Apologia", twenty books against Julian the Apostate
*Theological treatises on the Holy Trinity
*Treatises on dogmatic theology
*Treatises on the Nestorian controversy
*A Thesaurus
*Discourse against Arians
==Quotes==
*By nature, each one of us is enclosed in his own personality, but supernaturally, we are all one. We are made one body in Christ, because we are nourished by one flesh. As Christ is indivisible, we are all one in him. Therefore, He asked His Father "that they may all be One as We also are one."
*Only if it is one and the same Christ who is consubstantial with the Father and with men can he save us, for the meeting ground between God and man is the flesh of Christ. Only if this is God's own flesh can man come into contact with Christ's divinity through his humanity. Because of our kinship with the Word made flesh we are sons of God. The Eucharist consummates our kinship with the word, our communion with the Father, our sharing in the divine nature—there is very real contact between our body and that of the Word.
==References==
==References==
<references/>
[[Category:Saints]]
[[Category:Early Christians]]
[[Category:Early Christians]]