Church Father · c. AD 376–444

Cyril of Alexandria

Patriarch of Alexandria; the chief theological opponent of Nestorius of Constantinople in the controversy that produced the Council of Ephesus (431) and the title Theotokos ("God-bearer") for Mary — a title about the unity of Christ's person, not a separate claim about Mary herself, though later tradition built further Marian doctrine partly on this episode. His own conduct in the controversy (including the political tactics used to secure Nestorius's condemnation) is itself debated by historians, not merely his theology.

Brief introduction from the source collection. A full library biography has not yet been prepared.