5th century
Saint Cyril of Alexandria
Archbishop of Alexandria (412–444) who led the Third Ecumenical Council at Ephesus.
Biography
Cyril was born around 370 in Alexandria. A nephew of Patriarch Theophilus, he received a thorough theological education and succeeded him on the city's archiepiscopal throne in 412.
In 431 he presided over the Third Ecumenical Council at Ephesus, which condemned the teaching of Nestorius on the person of Christ and established the title "Theotokos" for the Virgin Mary.
He left an extensive body of theological writing and died in 444. The Church honors him as a "Pillar of Faith" and "Seal of the Fathers".