A blessed St. Cyril's day

[Anglian]

This is one of the days on which the Church celebrates the memory and achievements of the great St. Cyril of Alexandria, the twenty fourth Pope and patriarch of the great city of Alexandria and the hammer of Nestorius.

May His blessings abide with us always,

Peace,

Anglian

[Protoevangel]

In the Eastern Orthodox Church, we celebrate St. Cyril of Alexandria on the 9th of June. But whichever day he is celebrated, one thing is certian, he is worthy of that celebration!

Here is a short reading from the Prologue of Ochrid:

Saint Cyril, Archbishop Of Alexandria

Cyril was of noble birth and a close relative of Theophilus, Patriarch of Alexandria, after whose death he was consecrated as patriarch. During his lifetime, he led three bitter struggles: with the Novatian heretics, with the heretic Nestor and with the Jews in Alexandria. The Novatianists had their origin in Rome and were named after Novatian the presbyter and leader of the heresy. They took pride in their virtues, walked about dressed in white garments, forbade a second marriage, held that prayers should not be said for those who committed a mortal sin, nor to receive back into the Church those who, at one time, had fallen away from the Church even though they bitterly repented. Cyril defeated them and drove them out of Alexandria together with their bishop. The struggle with the Jews was more difficult and bloodier. Since Alexander the Great founded that city, the Jews from the beginning, became strong in Alexandria. Their hatred toward Christians was vicious and insane. They killed Christians by treachery, by poisoning and by crucifying them on a cross. After a long and difficult struggle, Cyril succeeded with Emperor Theodosius the Younger to drive the Jews out of Alexandria. However, his struggle against Nestor, the Patriarch of Constantinople, was resolved at the Third Ecumenical Council [Ephesus 431 A.D]. Cyril himself presided at this Council and, at the same time, represented Celestine the Pope of Rome at his request who was unable to attend the Council because of old age. Nestorius was condemned, anathematized and was banished by the emperor to the eastern boundary of the empire where he died a horrible death (for worms consumed his tongue by which he had blasphemed the Birth-giver of God calling her the Birth-giver of Christ). After the completion of this struggle, Cyril lived in peace and zealously tended Christ's flock. He presented himself to the Lord in the year 444 A.D. It is said that he composed the prayer: "Rejoice, O Virgin Birth-giver of God, Mary full of grace!" [The Hail Mary].

[ProScribe]

I have his Troparion:

Cyril's feast day is celebrated on June 9 and again on January 18, in the company of St. Athanasius.

His festal Troparion acclaims him in the following terms:
Hail Translucent star,
defending warrior to the Holy Virgin
who shouted out above all the hierarchs at Ephesus
that she was the Mother of God ...
Rejoice most blessed Cyril,
spring of the theology and
river of the knowledge of God.
Never cease to intercede with Christ on our behalf.

. . :liturgy: