Mar Athanasius and Mar Cyril of Alexandria

Word for the day

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” John 1:1

Life

On 18 January the Syriac tradition honours together two great bishops of Alexandria in Egypt, Athanasius and Cyril. A century apart, both defended the same truth: that Jesus Christ, born of the Virgin Mary, is truly God, the eternal Word made flesh for our salvation.

Athanasius was born around 296 in Alexandria. As a young deacon he accompanied his bishop Alexander to the Council of Nicaea in 325, which professed that the Son is of one substance with the Father against the teaching of Arius. In 328 he became bishop of Alexandria. Because he would not compromise the faith of Nicaea, he was driven into exile five times by emperors and opponents, spending about seventeen years away from his flock. He wrote On the Incarnation, the Life of St Antony, and in his Easter letter of 367 he listed the twenty-seven books of the New Testament as we have them today. He died on 2 May 373.

Cyril, born around 376, was the nephew of Theophilus, bishop of Alexandria, and succeeded him in 412. His early years as bishop were marked by harsh conflicts in the city, including the murder of the philosopher Hypatia by a Christian mob in 415; historians still debate how far Cyril bore responsibility. His great service came later, when Nestorius, archbishop of Constantinople, objected to calling Mary Theotokos, Mother of God. Cyril defended the title, because the child born of Mary is the one divine Person of the Word. The Council of Ephesus in 431 confirmed this faith, and in 433 Cyril was reconciled with the bishops of Antioch. He died in 444.

Both are Doctors of the Church. Athanasius and Cyril are names often taken by bishops of the Syriac and Malankara traditions, a sign of how much these two teachers of the Incarnation are loved in our Church.

Lessons

Jesus is truly God

The faith of Nicaea is the faith of our Creed.

Mary, Mother of God

Honouring Mary protects the truth about her Son.

Faithful in exile

Athanasius suffered rather than betray the truth.

Truth and charity together

Cyril's story shows that zeal needs to be joined to love and reconciliation.

Stories

Five exiles (history)

Athanasius was sent away from Alexandria five times between 335 and 366. Each time he returned, and his people welcomed him back.

Athanasius against the world (tradition)

A later saying describes him as Athanasius against the world, because for a time it seemed that almost everyone in power had abandoned the faith of Nicaea, while he held firm.

Theotokos at Ephesus (tradition)

When the Council of Ephesus in 431 confirmed that Mary is Mother of God, the people of Ephesus are said to have escorted the bishops through the streets with torches and rejoicing.

Words of the saint

He became man that we might become God.
St Athanasius, On the Incarnation 54, in substance

Homily

1. The Word was God

The heart of their teaching (John 1:1).

2. Mother of God

What we say of Mary protects what we believe of Jesus.

3. Turning back to God

The Ninevite fast calls us to faith that changes life.

Dear friends, today, on the first day of the fast of the Ninevites, our Church remembers two great bishops of Alexandria, Mar Athanasius and Mar Cyril. They lived a hundred years apart, but they defended the same truth: Jesus Christ is truly God.

St John begins his Gospel: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God (John 1:1). Athanasius held to this faith of Nicaea through five exiles. He taught that the Son of God became man so that we might share in the life of God.

Cyril defended the title Mother of God for Mary. He was not simply praising Mary; he was protecting the truth that the child in her arms is God the Son. When we call Mary Theotokos, we confess who Jesus is.

As we keep the Ninevite fast, let us not only fast from food, but turn our minds and hearts to the truth of Christ. When we pray the Creed in the Holy Qurbono, let us say it slowly and with love, thanking God for these teachers of the faith. Amen.

Prayer

Lord God, you gave your Church Mar Athanasius and Mar Cyril as faithful witnesses to the divinity of your Son and to the honour of His Mother; through their prayers keep us firm in the true faith and make us one in love. Amen.