Cyril of Alexandria (d. 444)

Importance

•          Known for his controversies with Nestorius concerning the person of Christ

•          Accused Nestorius of heresy because Nestorius insisted that Mary could be called Christotokos but not Theotokos

•          He condemned Nestorius at Council of Ephesus (431)

•          Saw a “hypostatic union” where humanity and divinity of Christ are viewed as two distinct, inseparable natures