Cyril, the Bishop of Alexandria, was born of noble parents . He was nephew, on the father's side, of Theophilus, then Bishop of Alexandria, who sent the youth to Athens to pursue his studies. There Cyril made marked progress, and afterwards sought out John, the Bishop of Jerusalem, that he might be thoroughly instructed in the perfection of Christian life. Strenghtened by his intercourse with the Bishop, Cyril retired to Mount Carmel, where he led for some time the life of heaven upon earth...Later he returned to Alexandria, his native city, and was ordained a priest of the church. Shortly afterwards Theophilus died, who was Bishop, as well as Cyril's uncle, and Cyril was raised to the vacant seat by general consent. As Bishop he gave himself up wholly to the duties of the episcopal charge....He attacked the Nestorian heretics, and he was therefore appointed the legate of Celestine the First, at the Council of Ephesus, where he uprooted almost entirely the baneful dogma of the Nestorians, and proved the Blessed Virgin Mary to be the true mother of God.
Antiphon
O Blessed Cyril! Great Doctor, Light of the Holy Church, Lover of God's law, implore the Son of God in our behalf.
Prayer
Father of heavenly light! who, with the light of wisdom and of the mind of Blessed Cyril, thy Confessor and Pontiff, that he might defend the honour of Mary, the Mother of Thy Son and ever Virgin, from the errors of heretics; grant, through his intercession, that the hearts of them that go astray may return to the unity of Thy truth, and that we may be one in obedience to Thy will. Through our Lord..
Text based on the Proper Offices of the Saints in Discaled Carmelite Breviary, 1896 edition.
Posts
