St. Cyril of Alexandria: Defender of Mary, Mother of God
Quick answer
St. Cyril (about 376–444) was patriarch of Alexandria in Egypt. He is honored above all for defending the truth that Jesus is one divine Person, true God and true man, and therefore that Mary is truly the Mother of God, Theotokos. He presided over the Council of Ephesus in 431, which confirmed this teaching. A forceful and at times harsh leader, he grew in moderation and made peace with the bishops of Antioch. He is a Doctor of the Church. His feast is June 27.
Key takeaways
- He succeeded his uncle Theophilus as patriarch of Alexandria in 412.
- Nestorius, archbishop of Constantinople, objected to calling Mary "Mother of God."
- The Council of Ephesus in 431 upheld the title Theotokos.
- In 433 he reached an agreement with John of Antioch, the Formula of Union.
When we pray “Holy Mary, Mother of God,” we use a title that St. Cyril of Alexandria fought hard to defend. For him, it was not just about honoring Mary. It was about who Jesus is.
Patriarch of Alexandria
Cyril was born around 376 in Egypt. His uncle, Theophilus, was patriarch of Alexandria, one of the great centers of Christian life and learning. Cyril studied there and lived for a time with the desert monks. In 412 he succeeded his uncle as patriarch.
His early years in office were turbulent. Alexandria was a large city full of rival factions, and there were violent clashes. Cyril could be hard and forceful, and historians have criticized aspects of his leadership in this period.
The Question About Christ
Around 428, Nestorius, the new archbishop of Constantinople, began teaching that Mary should not be called Theotokos, “God-bearer” or Mother of God, but only Christotokos, Mother of Christ. His teaching seemed to divide Jesus into two persons, a divine Son and a human son joined together.
Cyril saw that this undermined the faith. If Jesus is not one Person who is truly God and truly man, then God did not truly become one of us, suffer and die for us. He wrote to Nestorius and appealed to Pope Celestine I, who supported him.
The Council of Ephesus
In 431 the emperor called a council at Ephesus, where tradition holds that Mary had lived with St. John. Cyril presided. The council condemned Nestorius’s teaching and affirmed that Mary is truly the Mother of God. The people of Ephesus celebrated in the streets with torches.
Making Peace
Bishops from Antioch had arrived late and held their own meeting, and for a time there was bitter division. Cyril grew in moderation. In 433 he and John of Antioch agreed on the Formula of Union, a statement of faith in Christ both sides could accept.
Cyril’s writings on Christ and the Eucharist influenced the later Council of Chalcedon (451). He died in 444 and was declared a Doctor of the Church in 1882.
What He Teaches Us
The Catechism explains that Mary is truly Mother of God because she is the mother of the eternal Son made man (CCC 495). Cyril reminds us that devotion to Mary always leads to Christ.
A Prayer to the Mother of God (Original Prayer)
Holy Mary, Mother of God, you bore the Son of God made man. Help me believe firmly in Jesus, true God and true man, and love Him as you love Him. Amen.
Continue Reading
Read what the Church believes about Mary, about St. Cyril of Jerusalem, or St. John Damascene.
Frequently asked questions
When is the feast of St. Cyril of Alexandria?
June 27.
Why does it matter that Mary is called Mother of God?
Because the One she bore is God the Son made man, one Person. To deny that she is Mother of God would divide Christ into two persons. The title protects the truth about Jesus (CCC 495).
Was St. Cyril a perfect man?
No. He could be forceful and severe, and his time as patriarch included violent conflicts in Alexandria. The Church honors his teaching and his holiness while recognizing his faults, as with many saints.
Sources
- St. Cyril of Alexandria, Letters to Nestorius; Commentary on John
- Council of Ephesus (431), Acts
- Catechism of the Catholic Church, nos. 466, 495
- Pope Benedict XVI, General Audience on St. Cyril of Alexandria (October 3, 2007)
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