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 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 pillaged and closed the churches of
the Novatian heretics, participated in the deposing of St. John Chrysostom
and confiscated Jewish property, expelling the Jews from Alexandria in
retaliation for their attacks on Christians.
Cyril’s importance for theology and Church history lies in his championing
the cause of orthodoxy against the heresy of Nestorius.
The controversy centered around the two natures in Christ. Nestorius would
not agree to the title “God-bearer” for Mary. He preferred “Christ-bearer,”
saying there are two distinct persons in Christ (divine and human) joined
only by a moral union. He said 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 the pope’s representative at the Council of Ephesus (431),
Cyril condemned Nestorianism and proclaimed Mary truly the “God-bearer” (the
mother of the one 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 welcomed back to Alexandria as a second Athanasius (the
champion against Arianism).
Besides needing to soften some of his opposition to those who had sided with
Nestorius, Cyril had difficulties with some of his own allies, who thought
he had gone too far, sacrificing not only language but orthodoxy. Until his
death, his policy of moderation kept his extreme partisans under control. On
his deathbed, despite pressure, he refused to condemn the teacher of
Nestorius.
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