Born in 378 AD his maternal uncle, Theophilus, was the Patriarch of Alexandria and the primary guide to Cyril’s education. 

When Theophilus died in 412, Cyril was made Patriarch but not without controversy. In fact, there was a riot between those supporting him and others who wanted Timotheus. 

Cyril was also involved in a long-running and often violent dispute with Orestes, Prefect of Egypt. 

In 430, Cyril began to confront Nestorius, Patriarch of Constantinople, who claimed Jesus was two people; one human and the other Divine, and that Mary was not the mother of Jesus because of His divinity. 

Cyril convinced Pope Celestine to convoke a synod in Rome which condemned Nestorius. He then led the Third General Council of Alexandra, which condemned all tenets of Nestorius, but that was not the end of the controversy. 

Archbishop John of Egypt had Cyril arrested and declared Nestorius innocent. 

Cyril was released only after a Papal legate arrived and freed him and then re-established the condemnation of Nestorius. 

Cyril went on to write a treatise on the Trinity, and the Incarnation, and to continue his fight against Nestorianism and other heresies. 

He was declared a Doctor of the Church in 1882 by Pope Leo XIII. 

St. Cyril of Alexandra, please pray for us.