Saint Cyril, Archbishop of Alexandria

Cyril was a nephew of Theophilus, archbishop of Alexandria, and succeeded him in 412. He was a vigorous and often harsh leader of the Egyptian church; the monk Isidore of Pelusium wrote to warn him against acting from passion. He is remembered above all as a theologian: he wrote commentaries on the Gospels and on the prophets, and defended the title Theotokos, «Mother of God», for the Virgin Mary.

When Nestorius, archbishop of Constantinople, objected to that title, Cyril led the opposition to him and presided over the Council of Ephesus in 431, which deposed Nestorius. In 433 he reached an agreement with John of Antioch. He died in 444.