Cyril was the nephew of Theophilus, patriarch of Alexandria, and succeeded him in 412. He governed a turbulent city with a strong and sometimes heavy hand, and wrote extensively on Scripture, including a great commentary on the Gospel of John.
When Nestorius, archbishop of Constantinople, objected to calling Mary Theotokos (Mother of God), Cyril saw the unity of Christ at stake: if the one born of Mary is not God the Word made flesh, then God has not truly come among us. He led the Council of Ephesus in 431, and in 433 made peace with John of Antioch in the Formula of Reunion. He died in 444.
Cyril of Alexandria in the library (5 works)
- Cyril of Alexandria: Commentary on the Gospel of John, Vol. 1 (chapters 1–8) — 1874
Cyril's great commentary on John, chapters 1–8, defending the full divinity of the Son and the unity of Christ. Scanned text, not proofread. - Cyril of Alexandria: Commentary on the Gospel of John, Vol. 2 (chapters 9–21) — 1885
The rest of Cyril's commentary on John, chapters 9–21; the books on chapters 10–12 survive only in fragments. Scanned text, not proofread. - Cyril of Alexandria: Five Tomes against Nestorius, Scholia on the Incarnation, That Christ Is One — 1881
Cyril's answer to Nestorius before and after the Council of Ephesus: the Word himself became flesh, so Mary is rightly called Theotokos, and Christ is one. Scanned text, not proofread. - Cyril of Alexandria: Commentary on Luke, Vol. 1 — c. 430; translation 1859
Cyril's homilies on St Luke's Gospel, preserved in Syriac: the Incarnation preached verse by verse by the great defender of the Theotokos. - Cyril of Alexandria: Commentary on Luke, Vol. 2 — c. 430; translation 1859
The second half of Cyril's homilies on Luke, to the Passion and Resurrection.