arrived in Ephesus. Nevertheless, when given the opportunity to defend his
teachings he remained obstinate in his error. Defending the decrees of the
Council of Ephesus even in the face of imperial opposition and
imprisonment became thereafter St. Cyril’s life work. John of Antioch and
his supporters were reconciled in 433, while Nestorius died miserable and
impenitent in his place of exile in the deserts of Upper Egypt.
St. Cyril was a prolific writer and a thorough theologian. He possessed
great penetration and force in his thinking which earned him wide influence
and recognition as an official authority. Pope Celestine called him “The
generous defender of the Church and faith, the Catholic Doctor, and an
apostolic man.” He made it a rule never to promote a doctrine that he had
not learned from the ancient Fathers. Though much has been lost, his extant
works, which include the exegetical, the apologetical, the dogmatic,
homilies and letters, still comprise ten volumes.
St. Cyril died a pious death on 28th June, 444. He is affectionately known as
Kerlos and proclaimed throughout the East as “Doctor of the World.”
Extracts
Worship and Adoration in Spirit and in Truth (Inter 412-429 AD):
6
“But you, if some part of your body is suffering, and you really believe that saying
the words ‘Lord Sabaoth!’ or some such appellation which divine Scripture
attributes to God in respect to this nature has the power to drive that evil from you,
go ahead and pronounce those words, making them a prayer for yourself...I recall
also the saying in the divinely inspired Scripture: ‘Is anyone among you ill? Let
him call in the Presbyters of the Church...and if he be in sins they shall be forgiven
him’.”
Treasury of the Holy Trinity (Inter 423-425 AD):
Thesis 34
“Since the Holy Spirit when He is in us effects our being conformed to God, and
He actually proceeds from the Father and Son, it is abundantly clear that He is of
the divine essence, in it in essence and proceeding from it.”
Commentary on the Psalms (Ante 429 AD):
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