Cyril of Alexandria

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this lesson is to learn about the life of Cyril of Alexandria, the 24th Patriarch of Alexandria.

INTRODUCTION & HOOK - 5 Minutes

  • A student was asked to give a presentation on a significant day in history.
  • The problem was that the student never lived through this day and couldn't understand it
  • The student told his parents about the project, and his parents in turn told them that they had lived through this event in history
  • The student began asking them many thoughtful questions, causing the parents to open up regarding their experiences
  • Moved by these strong words, the student gave a very heartfelt presentation on the event
  • Just as our own limited knowledge may cause us to seek after the wisdom of the more knowledgeable person, so did fathers like Cyril of Alexandria spend much time learning from patriarchs and monks the true Orthodox faith

HOLY SCRIPTURE - 5 Minutes

20 "I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; 21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. 22 And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: 23 I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me. 24 "Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. 25 O righteous Father The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me. 26 And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them." (John 17:20-26)

Memory Verse: And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them. (Jn. 17:26)

CONTENT - 15 Minutes

Early Years

  • Cyril was born in Lower Egypt in 378, and his family eventually moved to Alexandria
  • His uncle Theophilus was ordained patriarch in 385
  • His uncle took very good care of Cyril and enrolled him in the theological school
  • Cyril studied rhetoric, grammar, and philosophy, then later studied the Holy Bible, Theology, and Patristics, especially the writings of Athanasius
  • When Cyril was 24, Theophilus sent him to the desert to be the disciple of Abba Serapion for five years
  • In 403 he was ordained a reader and followed his uncle Theophilus as Athanasius had followed Alexander

Ordination and Early Papacy before Nestorius

  • In 412, Theophilus resposed and Cyril was consecrated Twenty-Fourth Patriarch of Alexandria
  • Between 412 and 428, Cyril wrote many commentaries on the Old Testament, a commentary on John, a study on Athanasius' discourses against the Arians, and a dialogue about the Trinity
  • During this time, local heresies began spreading, which Cyril refuted
  • Malicious Jews in Alexandria spread a false rumor that one of the churches was on fire, then attacked the Christians that went to see whether the church was burning
    • Cyril reasoned with the Christians to handle the situation peacefully and not to allow the mob to incite further violence
  • Although Alexandria had dealt extremely harshly against John Chrysostom in the past, Cyril led a movement to restore him in the Church and recite his name in the liturgy

Nestorian Controversy

Nestorius was the Bishop of Constantinople and a heretic who claimed the divinity could not unite with the humanity of Christ

  • Therefore Virgin Mary is not Theotokos (Bearer of God) but Christotokos (Bearer of Christ)

When Nestorius' heresy began to gain traction in Egypt, Cyril spent all his time and effort defending the faith and trying to convince Nestorius of the true faith

  • Cyril sent many letters to Nestorius, outlining the correct Orthodox understanding
  • Cyril convened bishops in Alexandria and sent a synodal letter to Nestorius as well as "The Twelve Anathemas"
  • Cyril got help from the Pope of Rome, who studied both Nestorius' and Cyril's position and arrived to the conclusion that Cyril declared the true faith while Nestorius declared heresy
  • The Pope of Rome tried to convince Nestorius to repent, but the heretic refused

When the Emperor learned of the controversy, he called together an Ecumnical Council to meet in Ephesus in 431

  • Cyril presided over the council and brought along his deacon Dioscorus
  • Nestorius refused to attend, believing it to be a sham
  • The 200 bishops at Ephesus examined the doctrine of Nestorius and compared it to Patristic texts such as those of Athanasius to determine its Orthodoxy
  • Cyril and the Council deposed Nestorius
  • Nestorius refused the council, and eventually got himself, Cyril, and the Bishop of Ephesus put under house arrest until the matter could be settled
  • Finally, Nestorius was excommunicated, and Cyril was able to work on reconciling the Church and her position regarding the "Hypostatic Union" (the union of the Divinity and Humanity of Christ in One-Unique Nature)

At the end of his life, Cyril composed at least four major works. He departed on June 27, 444 AD.

DISCUSSION (Challenge)-10 Minutes

  • Compare Athanasius to Cyril:
    • How was Athanasius' relationship to Alexander similar to Cyril's relationship with Theophilus?
    • How was Athanasius' relationship with Abba Antony similar to Cyril's relationship with Abba Serapion?
    • How do you think these experiences helped prepare them for the work God had in store?
  • Why did Cyril spend so much time studying the writings of Athanasius and the Fathers of the Church before attending the Council of Ephesus?
  • Why was it so important for Cyril to preserve the true Apostolic Orthodox faith?

LIFE APPLICATION - 10 Minutes

Our upbringing prepares us for the work God has in store for us

  • As Athanasius and Cyril learned from Alexander and Theophilus, respectively, we learn from our spiritual fathers as well as the servants the character and attitude of Christ passed down by the Church
  • These Fathers didn't just study theology, but also lived lives of prayer and asceticism, demonstrating that the successful Christian disciplines his body and spends time nourishing the soul with spiritual works and time spent with Jesus

Cyril showed us how important it is to study the Church Fathers

  • Cyril is one of the greatest and most remarkable Church Fathers, and it's no wonder since he spent so much time studying the Fathers before him
  • We are called to learn from those who came before us, and, through God's grace, echo the ancient orthodox teachings in the tongue of the present century
  • Although teaching may not be our calling, we may provide an example of pure Christian living through our character and behavior which demonstrates the virtue and humility of Christ

The orthodox faith is a gift given by Christ by which He reveals Himself to us

  • In an age of individualism, many claim they reject dogmas and creeds in preference of reading the Bible and having their own understanding of God
  • However, the Church has handed to us teachings regarding Christ, which are accurate and reliable for us to learn and memorize
  • As Christ taught the Apostles, and as the Apostles passed these down to the Fathers, so it is the duty of the Fathers and for Christians to preserve these teachings so that we may not lose what Christ has revealed to us through His Church

ACTIVITY - 15 Minutes

Materials: ball, bowl, pen/pencil.

  • Encourage the students to write any questions on several pieces of paper about the faith, and what they don't understand.
  • One question per piece of paper.
  • Give them time to write their questions.
  • Have them in a bowl and shuffle them around.
  • Pick a piece of paper from the bowl, and answer it. Answer as many as you like.
  • You can keep this as a tradition at every start of class and one question at the end of the class for each week of this module.

SERVANT RESOURCES

PARENTS CORNER/HOMEWORK

  • Encourage the students to write church-related questions that come to mind during the week. They may write it on a piece of paper or on their mobile device.
  • These questions may come from bible ready, church attendance, liturgies, spiritual books they are reading, etc.
  • Then, they may ask a servant or a priest whenever they see them at church, during confession, etc.
  • They may also make a habit of setting a specific weekly time aside to call their servant or priest.
  • It helps to write down the answers so that they may answer these questions for other youth.