Saint Cyril of Alexandria, Saint of the day for June 27th

(378 - 27 June 444)

The story of San Cirillo di Alessandria

Saints are not born with halos around their heads. Cyril, recognized as a great teacher of the Church, began his career as archbishop of Alexandria, Egypt, with impulsive, often violent, actions. He sacked and closed the churches of the Novatian heretics - who required that those who denied the faith be renamed - participated in the depot of St. John Chrysostom and confiscated the Jewish properties, expelling the Jews from Alexandria in retaliation for their attacks on Christians.

Cyril's importance for the theology and history of the Church lies in his support for the cause of orthodoxy against Nestorius' heresy, who taught that in Christ there were two people, one human and one divine.

The controversy centered on the two natures in Christ. Nestorius would not accept the title of "bearer of God" for Mary. He preferred the "bearer of Christ", saying that in Christ there are two distinct persons, divine and human, united only by a moral union. He said that Mary was not the mother of God, but only of the man Christ, whose humanity was only a temple of God. Nestorianism implied that the humanity of Christ was a mere disguise.

Presiding as Pope's representative in the Council of Ephesus in 431, Cyril condemned Nestorianism and truly proclaimed Mary the "bearer of God", the mother of the only Person who is truly God and truly human. In the confusion that followed, Cyril was deposed and imprisoned for three months, after which he was again welcomed in Alexandria.

In addition to having to soften part of his opposition to those who had sided with Nestorius, Cyril had difficulties with some of his own allies, who thought they had gone too far, sacrificing not only language but orthodoxy. Until his death, his moderation policy kept his extreme partisans in check. On his deathbed, despite pressure, he refused to condemn Nestorius' teacher.

Reflection
The lives of the saints are precious not only for the virtue they reveal, but also for the less admirable qualities that also appear. Holiness is a gift from God to us as human beings. Life is a process We respond to the gift of God, but sometimes with a lot of zigzags. If Cyril had been more patient and diplomatic, the Nestorian church could not have risen and maintained power for so long. But even the saints must grow from immaturity, narrowness and selfishness. It is because they - and we - grow up, that we are truly holy, people who live the life of God.