St. Cyril of Alexandria

Feast Day: June 27

“That anyone could doubt the holy Virgin is the Mother of God fills me with astonishment.” —St. Cyril of Alexandria

St. Cyril of Alexandria was one of the greatest theologians of the early Church and a staunch defender of the truth that Jesus Christ is one divine Person, fully God and fully man. As bishop and Doctor of the Church, he led the faithful with courage and clarity during a time of deep theological conflict. His passionate defense of the title “Mother of God” (Theotokos) for the Blessed Virgin Mary helped preserve the full truth of Christ’s incarnation.

Bishop in a Time of Turmoil

Cyril was born in Egypt around the year 376. He received a strong education and entered the service of the Church early in life. In 412, he succeeded his uncle as Patriarch of Alexandria, one of the most prominent sees in the Christian world at that time.

His tenure as bishop was marked by intense theological debates, especially surrounding the nature of Christ. Cyril was a tireless defender of orthodoxy, even when it cost him popularity and brought him into conflict with powerful figures.

Defender of the Faith

The most defining moment of his life came during the Council of Ephesus in 431. The controversy centered on Nestorius, the Patriarch of Constantinople, who claimed that Mary should not be called the “Mother of God” because she was only the mother of Christ’s human nature.

Cyril opposed this teaching fiercely, insisting that Jesus Christ is one Person—true God and true man—and that Mary truly bore God in the flesh. The council upheld Cyril’s teaching, affirming that Mary is rightly called Theotokos, and Cyril was hailed as a champion of the faith.

Legacy and Inspiration

St. Cyril’s writings remain among the most important in Christian theology. He explained the mysteries of the Incarnation and the Eucharist with deep insight, always faithful to the truth handed down from the apostles.

Though known for his firm stance in debate, Cyril also grew in humility and charity in his later years. He died in 444, having served as bishop for over thirty years.

St. Cyril of Alexandria is a Doctor of the Church and one of the most important defenders of Christological doctrine. He reminds us that right belief about Jesus and Mary matters deeply—and that boldness in defense of truth, combined with personal holiness, serves the Church across centuries. His feast day is celebrated on June 27.