June 27: Saint Cyril of Alexandria. Defense of Mary
PRAISE TO MARY BY SAINT CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA
Hail, O Mary, Mother of God, Virgin and Mother! Morning Star, perfect vessel.
We salute thee, Mother of God. Hail, O Mary, Mother of God! holy temple in which God Himself was conceived.
We salute thee, Mother of God. Hail, O Mary, Mother of God! chaste and pure dove. We salute thee, Mother of God.
Hail, O Mary, Mother of God! ever-effulgent light; from thee proceedeth the Sun of Justice.
We salute thee, Mother of God. Hail, O Mary, Mother of God ! Thou didst enclose in thy sacred womb the One Who cannot be encompassed.
We salute thee, Mother of God. Hail, O Mary, Mother of God! With the shepherds we sing the praise of God, and with the angels the song of thanksgiving:
Glory to God in the highest and peace on earth to men of good will.
We salute thee, Mother of God. Hail, O Mary, Mother of God! Through thee came to us the Conqueror and the triumphant Vanquisher of hell. We salute thee, Mother of God.
Hail, O Mary, Mother of God! Through thee blossoms the splendor of the resurrection.
We salute thee, Mother of God. Hail, O Mary, Mother of God!
Thou hast saved every faithful Christian.
Hail, O Mary, Mother of God! Who can praise thee worthily, O glorious Virgin Mary! We salute thee, Mother of God.
Amen
Saint Cyril of Alexandria
Saint Cyril was born in 370 and lived a monastic life.
He was ordained a priest and succeeded his uncle as bishop of Alexandria in 412.
He had a preeminent role at the ecumenical Council of Ephesus (431); he fought bravely against the doctrines of Nestorius, and wrote many learned works explaining and defending the Catholic and Orthodox Faith.
St. Cyril, Patriarch and POPE of Alexandria, Egypt, presided over the 3rd great Ecumenical Council of the Church which met in 431 AD in Ephesus and which proclaimed Mary as the Theotokos (“God-bearer” or “Mother of God”).
Cyril died in 444. This statement (Pist. 1: PG 77, 14-18, 27-30) strongly is defending the divine motherhood of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Theotokos or GOD-Bearer.
