• June 27th - St Cyril of Alexandria

    From rich@1:396/4 to All on Tue Jun 26 10:09:47 2018
    From: rich <richarra@gmail.com>

    June 27th - St Cyril of Alexandria

    (b. 376 at Alexandria, Egypt. d. 444 at Alexandria, Egypt of natural
    causes, his relics are in Alexandria). Bishop, Confessor, Writer,
    Defender of the Faith.

    On June 27, Roman Catholics honour St. Cyril of Alexandria. An
    Egyptian bishop and theologian, he is best known for his role in the
    Council of Ephesus, where the Church confirmed that Christ is both God
    and man in one person.

    Cyril was most likely born in Alexandria, the metropolis of ancient
    Egypt, between 370 and 380. From his writings, it appears he received
    a solid literary and theological education. Along with his uncle,
    Patriarch Theophilus of Alexandria, he played a role in an early
    fifth-century dispute between the Egyptian and Greek churches. There
    is evidence he may have been a monk before becoming a bishop.

    When Theophilus died in 412, Cyril was chosen to succeed him at the
    head of the Egyptian Church. He continued his uncle's policy of
    insisting on Alexandria's preeminence within the Church over
    Constantinople, despite the political prominence of the imperial
    capital. The two Eastern churches eventually re-established communion
    in approximately 418.

    Ten years later, however, a theological dispute caused a new break
    between Alexandria and Constantinople. Cyril's reputation as a
    theologian, and later Doctor of the Church, arose from his defense of
    Catholic orthodoxy during this time.

    In 428, a monk named Nestorius became the new Patriarch of
    Constantinople. It became clear that Nestorius was not willing to use
    the term =E2=80=9CMother of God=E2=80=9D (=E2=80=9CTheotokos=E2=80=9D) to d= escribe the Virgin Mary.
    Instead, he insisted on the term =E2=80=9CMother of Christ=E2=80=9D (=E2=80= =9CChristotokos=E2=80=9D).
    During the fourth century, the Greek Church had already held two
    ecumenical councils to confirm Christ's eternal preexistence as God
    prior to his incarnation as a man. From this perennial belief, it
    followed logically that Mary was the mother of God. Veneration of Mary
    as =E2=80=9CTheotokos=E2=80=9D confirmed the doctrine of the incarnation, a=
    nd Christ's
    status as equal to the God the Father. Nestorius insisted that he,
    too, held these doctrines. But to Cyril, and many others, his refusal
    to acknowledge Mary as the Mother of God seemed to reveal a heretical
    view of Christ which would split him into two united but distinct
    persons: one fully human and born of Mary, the other fully divine and
    not subject to birth or death.

    Cyril responded to this heretical tendency first through a series of
    letters to Nestorius (which are still in existence and studied today),
    then through an appeal to the Pope, and finally through the summoning
    of an ecumenical council in 431. Cyril presided over this council,
    stating that he was =E2=80=9Cfilling the place of the most holy and blessed Archbishop of the Roman Church,=E2=80=9D Pope Celestine, who had authorised
    it.

    The council was a tumultuous affair. Patriarch John of Antioch, a
    friend of Nestorius, came to the city and convened a rival council
    which sought to condemn and depose Cyril. Tension between the
    advocates of Cyril and Nestorius erupted into physical violence at
    times and both parties sought to convince the emperor in
    Constantinople to back their position.

    During the council, which ran from June 22 to July 31 of the year 431,
    Cyril brilliantly defended the orthodox belief in Christ as a single
    eternally divine person who also became incarnate as a man. The
    council condemned Nestorius, who was deposed as patriarch and later
    suffered exile. Cyril, however, reconciled with John and many of the
    other Antiochian theologians who once supported Nestorius.

    St. Cyril of Alexandria died on June 27, 444, having been a bishop for
    nearly 32 years. Long celebrated as a saint, particularly in the
    Eastern Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches, he was declared a
    Doctor of the Church in 1883.

    Attributes =E2=80=93 book, pen or scroll, indicative of his work as a writ= er,
    the Blessed Virgin Mary holding the Child Jesus, representing his
    advocacy of the doctrine of Mary as Mother of God.
    Patron of Alexandria, Egypt.
    By Anastpaul


    Bible Quote:
    Do you not see that your bodies are members of Christ? [1 Cor 7:15]

    REFLECTION
    =E2=80=9CAll of us are united with Christ inasmuch as we have received Him
    Who is one and indivisible in our bodies. Therefore, we owe the
    service of our members to Him rather than to ourselves.=E2=80=9D
    --St Cyril of Alexandria (376-444) Doctor and Father of the Church

    PRAYER
    Almighty God and Father, help me to put all my faculties at the
    disposal of Christ so as to be His link to others and with the world
    around me. Let me give myself wholly to Him this day and every day. St
    Cyril of Alexandria, defender of the divinity of Christ and the Mother
    of God, intercede for us, amen.

    <><><><>
    PRAYER TO THE IMMACULATE QUEEN OF PEACE

    Most holy and immaculate Virgin,
    Mother of Jesus and our loving Mother,
    being his Mother,
    you shared in His universal kingship.
    The prophets and angels proclaimed Him King of peace.
    With loving fervour in our hearts
    we salute and honor you as Queen of peace.

    We pray that your intercession
    may protect us and all people from hate and discord,
    and direct our hearts into the ways of peace and justice
    which your Son taught and exemplified.
    We ask your maternal care for our Holy Father
    who works to reconcile the nations in peace.
    We seek your guidance for our Head of State
    and other Leaders as they strive for world peace.

    Glorious Queen of peace,
    grant us peace in our hearts,
    harmony in our families
    and concord throughout the world.
    Immaculate Mother,

    as patroness of our beloved country,
    watch over us and protect us
    with your motherly love.

    Amen.
    --- NewsGate v1.0 gamma 2
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