Saint Cyril of Alexandria

A life of faith

Cyril became patriarch of Alexandria after his uncle Theophilus in 412. His education and early monastic formation supported a long ministry of preaching and biblical interpretation. He played a leading role at the Council of Ephesus in 431, defending the unity of Christ’s person and the Church’s use of the title Theotokos for Mary. The disputes brought imprisonment as well as eventual restoration to his office. His surviving works include commentaries on Scripture and major theological writings. Orthodox Christians remember him among the great teachers of the Church, while his public career also belongs to a difficult and contested period of Alexandrian history.

The Eastern Orthodox Church remembers saints in prayer and commemoration. Their lives offer examples for Christians learning to live their faith.

A reflection

Study a central teaching of the faith carefully. Ask how clear understanding can strengthen prayer and help you explain a difficult question without humiliating another person.

Read the Orthodox source

Feast dates follow the linked source. Local calendars and commemorations may vary. Themes describe a saint’s life; quiz suggestions do not assign a baptismal patron. Discuss choosing a patron saint with your priest.