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[[Image:0118cyril-alexandria.jpg|right|thumb|210px|St. Cyril of Alexandria]]
Our father among the [[saint]]s '''Cyril of Alexandria''' was the [[Pope]] of Alexandria at the time Alexandria was at its height in influence and power within the Roman Empire. Cyril wrote extensively and was a leading protagonist in the [[Christology|Christological]] controversies of the 4th and 5th centuries. He was a central figure in the [[Third Ecumenical Council|Council of Ephesus]] in 431 which led to the [[deposition ]] of [[Nestorius]] as Archbishop of Constantinople. Cyril is among the patristic fathers, and his reputation within the Orthodox Christian world has led to his acquiring the title "Seal of all the Fathers." His [[feast day]] is celebrated on [[June 9]] and, with St. [[Athanasius of Alexandria]], on [[January 18]].
== Life ==
[[Image:Chiril-al-alexandriei-rasca.JPG|left|thumb|250px|'''St. Cyril of Alexandria'''<br>Fresco at Râşca Monastery (Romania)]]Cyril was born about 378 in the small town of Theodosios, Egypt, near modern day Malalla el Kobra. His mother's brother, [[Theophilus of Alexandria|Theophilus]], was a [[priest]] who rose to the powerful position of Pope of Alexandria. His mother remained close to her brother and under his guidance Cyril was well educated. His education showed through his knowledge, in his writings, of Christian writers of his day, including [[Eusebius of Caesarea|Eusebius]], [[Origen]], [[Didymus the Blind|Didymus]], and writers of the Alexandrian church. He showed a knowledge of Latin through his extensive correspondence with the [[Bishop]] of Rome, [[Pope]] Celestine. His formal education appeared normal for his day: 390-392 grammatical studies at ages 12 to 14, 393-397 Rhetoric/Humanities at ages 15 to 20, and 398-402 Christian theology and biblical studies.
He was [[tonsure]]d a [[reader]] by his uncle, Theophilus, in the [[Church of Alexandria]] and under his uncle's guidance advanced in knowledge and position. He supported his uncle in the removal of St. [[John Chrysostom]] as [[archbishop]] of Constantinople, although this was justified as an administrative, not doctrinal, issue, as later Cyril supported John's return as when he contrasted Nestorius' unorthodoxy to Chrysostom's purity of doctrine to the imperial court.
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{{succession|
before=[[Theophilus of Alexandria|Theophilos I]]|
title=[[Patriarch of Alexandria]]|
years=412-444|
==External links==
*[http://www.monachos.net/patristics/christology/cyril_writings.shtml Life and Writings of Cyril of Alexandria] as relates to the Christological Controversy
*[http://www.comeandseeiconsgoarch.comorg/cchapel/cap25.htm Icon and Story of St. saints_view?contentid=81 Cyril , Patriarch of Alexandria]
===Works===
* ''[http://www.monachos.net/patristics/christology/cyril_to_nestorius_2.shtml Second Epistle of Cyril to Nestorius]''
[[Category:Bishops]]
[[Category:5th-century bishops]]
[[Category:Church Fathers]]
[[Category:Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers]]
[[Category:Saints]]
[[Category:Byzantine Saints]]
[[Category:Egyptian Saints]]
[[Category:Patriarchs of Alexandria]]
[[Category:5th-century saints]]
[[fr:Cyrille d'Alexandrie]]
[[ro:Chiril al Alexandriei]]