Saint Cyril of Alexandria is one of the great Greek Fathers of the Church who served as Bishop of Alexandria for thirty-two years. In this capacity, he became a champion of the Church and a staunch defender of the Faith against Nestorius, who denied the unity of person in Christ. If this heresy had succeeded, Mary would not be called the Mother of God.
We know little of his early life, other than the fact that he was born in 376 at Alexandria, Egypt. His writings suggest that he received a monastic education. Saint Cyril became patriarch of his birthplace in 412.
The key issue for which the Church honors Saint Cyril of Alexandria is his defense of the nature of Christ. Cyril himself had used, though not created the word “Theotokos” in his earlier writings, which he felt accurately conveyed the truth of Christ’s nature.
Bishop Nestorius, the Patriarch of Constantinople disagreed. He believed that there were two separate persons in Christ; he held that Mary was the mother of the human person but not of the divine person. The Catholic teaching is that while in Christ there are two natures – divine and human – there is in Him only one person: a divine person, the second person of the Blessed Trinity.
Saint Cyril of Alexandria presided over the Ecumenical Council of Ephesus, which defined the inseparable unity of the divine and human natures of Christ, and thus the appropriateness of invoking the Blessed Virgin Mary under the title of “Theotokos” or Mother of God. Saint Cyril died in 444 and was made Doctor of the Church in 1882.
Prayer in Honor of Mary, Mother of God
Hail, Mary, Mother of God, venerable treasure of the whole universe, lamp that is never extinguished, crown of virginity, support of the true faith, indestructible temple, dwelling of him whom no place can contain, O Mother and Virgin! Through you all the holy Gospels call blessed the one whom comes in the name of the Lord.
Hail, Mother of God. You enclosed under your heart the infinite God whom no space can contain. Through you the Most Holy Trinity is adored and glorified; the priceless cross is venerated throughout the universe. Through you the heavens rejoice, and the angels and archangels are filled with gladness. Through you the demons are banished, and the tempter fell from heaven. Through you the fallen human race is admitted to heaven.
Hail, Mother of God. Through you kings rule, and the only-begotten Son of God has become a star of light to those who were sitting in darkness and in the shadow of death.
- Saint Cyril of Alexandria, Bishop and Doctor
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