Archbishop
Saint Cyril of Alexandria was the nephew of Patriarch Theophilos. Having received an excellent education, he became archdeacon. After the death of his uncle, he was unanimously elected as his successor to the patriarchal throne.
He confronted heresies with courage and defeated their supporters. Among other things, he expelled unclean spirits from a region tormented by demonic presence, after bringing there the holy relics of the martyrs Kyros and Ioannis. From that moment, numerous miracles began to take place. He also struggled against the Jews, who were persecuting Christians and attacking their churches.
Saint Cyril opposed the heresy of Nestorianism, which denied the divine nature of Christ. He wrote important works arguing against this anti-dogmatic teaching, using concrete statements in defense of the orthodox faith and calling to repentance all who had embraced opposing doctrines. In 431, at the Ecumenical Council of Ephesus, Nestorianism was condemned, and Saint Cyril emerged as one of the foremost defenders of orthodoxy.
He passed away, leaving to the church a great spiritual legacy.
