Who Was St. Cyril of Alexandria?

Defender of the Faith and the Incarnation

When we talk about the big questions of the faith—like who Jesus is, or how God became man—few names are more important in our tradition than St. Cyril of Alexandria. He wasn’t just a bishop or a theologian. He was a true defender of the Church and a pillar of Orthodox belief.

A Strong Voice in a Time of Confusion

St. Cyril lived in the early 400s, during a time when many people misunderstood or distorted the truth about Jesus. Some said He wasn’t really God. Others said He wasn’t truly human. One of the most dangerous ideas came from a bishop named Nestorius, who refused to call the Virgin Mary Theotokos, meaning “God-bearer” or “Mother of God.”

Cyril knew this wasn’t just about Mary—it was about Jesus. If Mary didn’t give birth to God in the flesh, then who was Jesus? Just a man? A messenger? That would destroy the whole meaning of the Incarnation.

Theotokos: More Than a Title

St. Cyril defended the title Theotokos not as a way to glorify Mary by herself, but to protect the truth of who Jesus is. He taught that Jesus Christ is one Person, the Word of God made flesh, fully divine and fully human.

This is what he meant when he said Christ is “one incarnate nature of God the Word”—not a mixture, not divided, but fully united.

His Role at the Council of Ephesus (431 AD)

Because of Cyril’s strong teaching and leadership, the Council of Ephesus upheld the truth that Mary is truly Theotokos, and that Christ is one person, not two. His work there became the foundation of what we, as Oriental Orthodox Christians, continue to believe today.

Why He Still Matters

• Cyril’s theology shapes our Church: His teachings guide our liturgy, our prayers, and our Christology.

• He reminds us to be clear and faithful: In a world full of confusion, he stood firm for truth, with humility and courage.

• He defended Christ so we could know Him: Because of Cyril’s faithfulness, we can be confident in the One we worship—Jesus Christ, fully God and fully man.

  
  

How to Respond

When you pray or go to Liturgy, remember that you’re standing in the faith passed down by saints like St. Cyril. Let his clarity inspire your confidence in Christ. Let his courage strengthen your own witness in a world that still asks, “Who is Jesus?”