Athanasios (or Athanasius), c. 293-373.
Cyril of Alexandria, c. 376-444.
Athanasisus of Alexandria is one of the most influential early church fathers. He was the Bishop of Alexandria, and played a major role in disputing the teachings of Arius, after whom Arianism is named. He was present at the First Council of Nicaea, where the first version of the Nicene Creed was agreed upon. These councils played a major part in the development of the theology of the Trinity. Athanasius is also credited with being the first person to identify the 27 books that are included in the New Testament.
Cyril of Alexandria was the Pope of Alexandria and was involved in his own theological controversy. Throughout the history of the early church, there were competing philosophies developed in Antioch and Alexandria, and Cyril came into conflict with Nestorius, who although he was Archbishop of Constantinople, was from Antioch. Their conflict spanned both Christology and Mariology, and I will include this lengthy quote from Wikipedia, which summarizes it better than I could.
Conflict with Nestorius
Another major conflict was between the Alexandrian and Antiochian schools of ecclesiastical reflection, piety, and discourse. This long running conflict widened with the third canon of theFirst Council of Constantinople which granted the see of Constantinople primacy over the older sees of Alexandria and Antioch. Thus, the struggle between the sees of Alexandria and Antioch now included Constantinople. The conflict came to a head in 428 after Nestorius, who originated in Antioch, was made Archbishop of Constantinople.[9]
Cyril gained an opportunity to restore Alexandria's pre-eminance over both Antioch and Constantinople when an Antiochine priest who was in Constantinople at Nestorius' behest began to preach against calling Mary the "Mother of God". As the term "Mother of God" had long been attached to Mary, the laity in Constantinople complained against the priest. Rather than repudiating the priest, Nestorius intervened on his behalf. Nestorius argued that Mary was neither a "Mother of Man" nor "Mother of God" as these refered to Christ's two natures. Rather, Mary was the "Mother of Christ" which refered the the unified person of Christ. This however only stoked the fires. Eusebius of Dorylaeum went so far as to accuse Nestorius ofadoptionism. By this time, news of the controversy in the capital had reached Alexandria. At Easter 429 A.D., Cyril wrote a letter to the Egyptian monks warning them of Nestorius' views. A copy of this letter reached Constantinople where Nestorius preached a sermon against it. This began a series of letters between Cyril and Nestorius which gradually became more strident in tone. In retrospect it is obvious that both Patriarchs were as much interested in ecclesiastical politics as in the theology of the matter.[10] Finally, Emperor Theodosius II convoked acouncil in Ephesus to solve the dispute. Ephesus was friendly to Cyril[citation needed], Cyril and his supporters started and concluded the Council of Ephesus (in 431) before Nestorius and his supporters had even got there; predictably, the Council ordered the deposition and exile of Nestorius.
However, when John of Antioch and the other pro-Nestorius bishops finally reached Ephesus, they assembled their own Council, condemned Cyril for heresy, deposed him from his see, and labelled him as a monster, born and educated for the destruction of the church[11]. Theodosius, by now old enough to hold power by himself, annulled the verdict of the Council and arrested Cyril, but Cyril eventually escaped. Having fled to Egypt, Cyril bribed Theodosius' courtiers, and sent a mob lead by Dalmatius, a hermit, to besiege Theodosius' palace, and shout abuse; the Emperor eventually gave in, sending Nestorius into minor exile (Upper Egypt)[11]. The events created a major schism, forming the Assyrian Church of the East.
Cyril died about 444, but the controversies were to continue for decades, from the "Robber Synod" of Ephesus (449) to the Council of Chalcedon (451) and beyond.
(Editorial note: if there is anyone reading this who knows of a better or more authoritative online source for this information than Wikipedia, please let me know! I'd be happy to consult it instead if it exists.)
Alexandria, in retrospect, was the home of some very controversial figures and events!
In the Catholic church, today's saint is St. Charles of Sezze, who lived from 1613-1670. St. Charles was a lay Franciscan, and lived a quiet and faithful life of service. He did not hold any high stations, and yet was known well enough in his time to be sought out by the then-dying Pope Clement IX for a blessing. Perhaps more than any other saint that I have written about here, his lifestyle is the most attainable and the most desired. To live a life of simple service is an honor.
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