June 27, Feast day of St. Cyril of Alexandria, Bishop and doctor

St. Cyril, Bishop of Alexandria, was born in Egypt in 370. after his ordination he assisted his uncle, the Bishop of Alexandria, whom he succeeded in 412. He was known as the Doctor of incarnation, since he strenuously defended the Divine Maternity of the Blessed Mother against Nestorianism. After Cyril was appointed as Bishop of Constantinople in 428. Nestorius began preaching that there were two distinct persons in Christ, that of God and that of man, joined only by a moral union. Consequently, he denied the Incarnation and the Divine Motherhood of Mary. Cyril presided over the Council of Ephesus in 431, at which Nestorius was excommunicated by order of Pope St. Celestine I. St Cyril spent the rest of his life writing apologetical books in defense of the Catholic Faith. he died in 444, and was ordained a Doctor of the Church in 1882.