Commentary on the Gospel of John

Ancient Christian Texts

by Cyril of Alexandria

St. Cyril of Alexandria was born in 376 AD in a small town in Egypt, and later became the Patriarch of Alexandria in 412. A position he held until his death in 444. This was a period of time when the city was at the height of its influence in the Roman Empire.

He wrote a large number of treaties on the Christological controversies which arose during his day, and he was one of the most important figures of the 431 Council of Ephesus, which resulted in the removal of Nestorius as Patriarch of Constantinople.

St. Cyril is considered a Church Father, or "Doctor of the Church". He wrote a number of commentaries, of which, his works on the gospels of John and Luke are his most famous.

Genres: Theology, Christian, Reference

514 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 7, 2013

About the author

Cyril of Alexandria (Greek: Κύριλλος Ἀλεξανδρείας; c. 376 – 444) was the Patriarch of Alexandria from 412. to 444. He was enthroned when the city was at the height of its influence and power within the Roman Empire. Cyril wrote extensively and was a leading protagonist in the Christological controversies of the later 4th and 5th centuries. He was a central figure in the First Council of Ephesus in 431, which led to the deposition of Nestorius as Patriarch of Constantinople.

Cyril is counted among the Church Fathers and the Doctors of the Church, and his reputation within the Christian world has resulted in his titles Pillar of Faith and Seal of all the Fathers, but Theodosius II, the Roman Emperor, condemned him for behaving like a "proud pharaoh", and the Nestorian bishops at the Council of Ephesus declared him a heretic, labelling him as a "monster, born and educated for the destruction of the church."

Cyril is well-known due to his dispute with Nestorius and his supporter Patriarch John of Antioch, whom Cyril excluded from the Council of Ephesus for arriving late. He is also known for his expulsion of Novatians and Jews from Alexandria.

The Roman Catholic Church did not commemorate Saint Cyril in the Tridentine Calendar: it added his feast only in 1882, assigning to it the date of 9 February. The 1969 revision moved it to 27 June, considered to be the day of the saint's death, as celebrated by the Coptic Orthodox Church. The same date has been chosen for the Lutheran calendar. The Eastern Orthodox Church and Eastern Catholic Church celebrate his feast day on 9 June and also, together with Pope Athanasius I of Alexandria, on 18 January.