Cyril of Alexandria

Bishop of Alexandria from 412 and the chief opponent of Nestorius. He insisted that the eternal Word Himself was born of Mary and suffered in the flesh, so that Christ is one person, the Word made flesh. His methods were often forceful: according to the historian Socrates, soon after becoming bishop he closed the Novatianist churches of Alexandria and seized their property. His teaching on the unity of Christ was adopted by the state church councils at Ephesus (431) and Chalcedon (451), and Catholic and Orthodox tradition count him among the church fathers.

Early life

Nephew of Theophilus

Cyril was born in Egypt around 376, the nephew of Theophilus, who became bishop of Alexandria in 385. Theophilus was a forceful prelate. Around 391 he led the destruction of the Serapeum, the great pagan temple of Alexandria, and in 403 he engineered the deposition of John Chrysostom, bishop of Constantinople, at the Synod of the Oak, where young Cyril accompanied him. Cyril received a thorough education in Scripture and Greek learning, perhaps including a period among the monks of the desert.

When Theophilus died in October 412, the city split between supporters of Cyril and of the archdeacon Timothy. After rioting, Cyril was installed as bishop. He would hold the see for thirty-two years.

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