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Feast Days: January 18, June 9 and June 27
Troparion of Saint Cyril, Archbishop of Alexandria, 8th tone:
Rectifier of Orthodoxy, teacher of the right worship of God and of purity, and enlightener of the world, adornment of monks inspired by God, wise Cyril, with your teachings you have enlightened all. Spiritual lyre, pray to Christ God to save our souls.
Kontakion of Saint Cyril, Archbishop of Alexandria, 4th tone
Breaking the tangles of heresies through the power of Christ, with divine words, Cyril, you enriched the Church, cutting off all the weeds of Nestorius, for this reason you stand with the hosts of angels before Christ, praying unceasingly, blessed one, that He may grant forgiveness of sins to all.
Kontakion 1
You showed yourself to be a defender of the faith in times of great trial, protecting Christ’s flock from heresies and the wrath of the Jews, Holy Hierarch Cyril. You who brought due honor to the Most Holy Mother of God in the Church and left us the dogma of the Savior as perfect God and perfect Man, pray also for us who glorify you: Rejoice, Holy Hierarch Cyril, great intercessor with God for us!
Ikos 1
Endowed by God with the bright rays of His grace, you shone like an angel on earth, Holy Cyril, bringing faith in Christ to the hearts of men and preaching the Word of His Truth just like an apostle. Hear us, your supplicants, who bring you songs of praise:
Rejoice, you who are filled with divine light;
Rejoice, guardian of God’s commandments;
Rejoice, you who are filled with zeal and boldness;
Rejoice, destroyer of the lies of heretics;
Rejoice, fierce fighter for the Church of Christ;
Rejoice, lover of truth and pure service;
Rejoice, Holy Hierarch Cyril, great intercessor with God for us!
Kontakion 2
Born in Alexandria to devout parents, you grew up learning philosophy and all the sciences of the world, O Holy Hierarch Cyril, while also being nurtured in the faith by your uncle Saint Theophilus, Patriarch of Alexandria, you became accomplished in both secular and spiritual knowledge, immersing yourself in the study and contemplation of the divine Scriptures: Alleluia!
Ikos 2
Reaching the age of full understanding, you were accepted into the ranks of the clergy, and your holy uncle ordained you archdeacon, for he saw in you great wisdom and good deeds. You rose, therefore, Holy Cyril, like a pure lily in the Church of Christ, and the faithful loved you for the purity of your soul and praised you thus:
Rejoice, divine wise man of right thinking;
Rejoice, you whose mind is set on heaven;
Rejoice, you who are free from the seals of Adam;
Rejoice, conqueror of sin;
Rejoice, faithful to God, not to men;
Rejoice, mighty fighter for the pure Dogma;
Rejoice, Holy Hierarch Cyril, great intercessor with God for us!
Kontakion 3
When Saint Theophilus died, all Christians, clergy and laity alike, chose you as Patriarch of Alexandria, Holy Cyril, and you received this honor as coming from the Hands of God, knowing that much had been given to you and much would be asked of you, and giving thanks to Heaven: Alleluia!
Ikos 3
As soon as you received the priesthood, you eagerly began to clear God’s garden of the deadly thorns of heresy, driving out of the city the sect of Novatus, who called themselves “Novatians” and who, although they called themselves Christians, interpreted the Word of God in a way that led to the destruction of the souls of the faithful.
Rejoice, for you have armed yourself with power from God;
Rejoice, for the followers of heretics have perished with a sound;
Rejoice, for Christ has received your prayers;
Rejoice, for the Novatians have completely disappeared from the city;
Rejoice, for Alexandria has remained pure from heresy;
Rejoice, for the evil spirit has fled in shame;
Rejoice, Holy Hierarch Cyril, great intercessor with God for us!
Kontakion 4
Lending your ear and heart to the sufferings of the people, you armed yourself to drive out the devils that dwelt in the idolatrous shrines of the Egyptians, for these were inhabited by nests of demons and caused great distress to those who called upon you for help, hoping in the mercy of God: Alleluia!
Ikos 4
Praying deeply to God, the angel of the Lord appeared to you in a dream and told you to bring the relics of the Holy Doctors Kyrus and John to the temple, and you, fulfilling the command, built a church on the site of the temple, and immediately the unclean spirits fled.
Rejoice, for the place has become a source of healing;
Rejoice, you who sanctify the earth;
Rejoice, exorcist of our homes and possessions;
Rejoice, savior of those tormented by evil spirits;
Rejoice, you who cleanse places of demons;
Rejoice, you who drive away the devil and break his power over the faithful;
Rejoice, Holy Hierarch Cyril, great intercessor with God for us!
Kontakion 5
The city of Alexandria was greatly troubled by the unclean and Christ-hating Jews who had long lived in the city and did not cease to torment Christians and persecute them with many disturbances and killings. You tried to bring peace, Holy Cyril, calling the Jewish leaders to meetings, but they not only did not wise up, but became worse, for they did not want to bow down to the true God: Alleluia!
Ikos 5
One night, the Jews armed themselves and made a great noise, shouting that the church was on fire, and the Christians immediately ran to put out the fire, but the Jews locked them in the church and attacked them, killing innocent people.
Rejoice, for many Christians came to the Lord that night;
Rejoice, for they died in the Church, for the Church;
Rejoice, for they are now all Holy Martyrs in Heaven;
Rejoice, for when you found out about this, you were greatly distressed;
Rejoice, for you gathered an army of Christians and drove the Jews out of the city;
Rejoice, for you burned their synagogue so that the devil would burn with it;
Rejoice, Holy Hierarch Cyril, great intercessor before God for us!
Kontakion 6
But the devil brought more turmoil, for the Jews sought revenge on a Christian child whom they crucified on a tree, just as they crucified Christ, and the child, dying, became a partaker of the sufferings of the Lord Jesus and now sings His glory in Heaven: Alleluia!
Ikos 6
Grieving greatly, Holy Cyril, and seeing that you found no support from the eparch of the city of Oreste, but rather persecution from him against your family and against Christians, you wrote a letter to the emperor of Rome and asked for justice to be done, and he gave orders for the Jews to be expelled forever from Alexandria and removed Oreste from his office.
Rejoice, for God is just;
Rejoice, for God does not allow himself to be mocked;
Rejoice, for the leaders of the Jews received death as the emperor’s judgment;
Rejoice, for you wept over the cruel end of the philosopher Hypatia, the virgin;
Rejoice, for you prayed to God to stop the bloodshed;
Rejoice, for Alexandria then received peace;
Rejoice, Holy Hierarch Cyril, great intercessor with God for us!
Kontakion 7
For a long time you could not enjoy peace, Holy Hierarch, for a great war and turmoil arose in the Church because of the blasphemer Nestorius, who began to sow heresy like weeds among the wheat, and many began to waver from the true faith, to the sorrow of those who truly believed in God: Alleluia!
Ikos 7
You suffered much humiliation from Nestorius, Holy Cyril, for he slandered you and sent letters throughout Egypt to the priests in the churches and to the monks in the desert, supporting his heresy and accusing you of heresy, saying that you were of one mind with Apollinaris, who rejected the true incarnation of Christ.
Rejoice, for they have slandered you to the emperor with their lies;
Rejoice, for he has set his wrath upon you;
Rejoice, for you have been exiled to Ephesus and imprisoned;
Rejoice, for they have chained you with heavy chains;
Rejoice, that you suffered for the truth together with Memnon, Bishop of Ephesus;
Rejoice, that you rejoiced in suffering for the Name of God;
Rejoice, Holy Hierarch Cyril, great intercessor with God for us!
Kontakion 8
After a while, the emperor was enlightened from above and, investigating thoroughly, found all the slanders to be false. Learning of your innocence, he humbled the heretics, banishing them, and restored you to the seat of Patriarch, praising your patience and gentleness as gifts from the Savior: Alleluia!
Ikos 8
But Nestorius continued his blasphemies against the Most Holy Mother of God and the Lord Jesus Christ, Holy Cyril, and you armed yourself to fight for his expulsion forever. Seeing that your letters of correction to Nestorius were not well received by him, but rather that he became even more deeply entrenched in his wickedness, you wrote to the Patriarch of Rome, Celestine, convening the third Ecumenical Council in 431.
Rejoice, for you were the representative of the Patriarch of Rome, speaking on his behalf;
Rejoice, for the Council established that Christ is fully God and fully Man;
Rejoice, for the Most Holy Virgin Mary is truly the Mother of God;
Rejoice, for the Holy Spirit has spoken all these things;
Rejoice, for you have cast Nestorius out of the Church as a heretic and blasphemer;
Rejoice, for while in exile, his tongue and body rotted, and then he died by the sword of the angel;
Rejoice, Holy Hierarch Cyril, great intercessor with God for us!
Kontakion 9
You received great honor from the Third Ecumenical Council, Holy Cyril, being called “judge of the world” because you united all Christians in the true faith, and you were allowed to wear a thin shroud like a kerchief on your head during the Divine Liturgy as a sign of your mind enlightened by the Holy Spirit: Alleluia!
Ikos 9
Since then, it has remained the custom for the Patriarchs of Alexandria to wear two crowns and two epitrachelia at the Holy Liturgy in memory of the veil you wore on your head, as a sign of the union of the hypostasis of Christ’s nature: that of God and Man, and we pray:
Rejoice, you who bring righteous judgment;
Rejoice, for God hears your prayers;
Rejoice, for you still defeat heresy and heresies today with the power of a holy bishop;
Rejoice, great lover of pure Dogma;
Rejoice, fierce defender of the Truth;
Rejoice, corrector of those who have strayed from the faith;
Rejoice, Holy Hierarch Cyril, great intercessor with God for us!
Kontakion 10
You were the perfect friend of Christ and great in holiness, blessed Cyril, but you had a certain reproach in you, believing in the erroneous thoughts that Saint Theophilus, your uncle, had spoken out of ignorance and excessive zeal against Saint John Chrysostom, doing this not out of malice but out of ignorance of the truth, for it is written: “The man without malice believes every word,” but God did not leave you in this error: Alleluia!
Ikos 10
You had a dream in which many Holy Prophets and glorious men of the Old Testament appeared to you, and the Most Holy Mother of God was in unspeakable glory in a church, surrounded by angels. You also saw St. John Chrysostom standing near the Mother of God with great honor, but when you wanted to approach Her, the Angels took out their spears and drove you away because of St. John Chrysostom’s anger.
Rejoice, for the Most Holy Mother of God asked Saint John Chrysostom to forgive you;
Rejoice, for he did not want to, but the Mother of God asked him again;
Rejoice, for because of Her love, you were forgiven;
Rejoice, for you had the goodwill of the Mother of God, for whose righteous honor you fought;
Rejoice, for you teach us not to judge anyone;
Rejoice, for you drive away condemnation and reveal the truth about the purity of persecuted souls;
Rejoice, Holy Hierarch Cyril, great intercessor with God for us!
Kontakion 11
Awakening from your dream, you repented that you had vain passion against a most holy man and pleasing to God, and immediately you gathered all the Bishops of Egypt and made a great feast and celebration in honor of Saint John Chrysostom, making icons of him and commemorating him together with the great saints every year for the glory of God: Alleluia!
Ikos 11
God raised you from the sin of condemnation, Holy Cyril, and you teach us that it is right for each of us not to condemn one another and not to fall into the snares of the devil, who, through false imagination and feelings, leads us to destruction, but rather it is right to keep our judgment clear and to seek through prayer to clarify for ourselves what others say.
Rejoice, you who drive away slander;
Rejoice, you who reveal the light in man;
Rejoice, you who destroy the false image created by the devil;
Rejoice, you who do not allow us to accept the evil deeds of those around us as good;
Rejoice, you who restore honor to the dishonest man;
Rejoice, you place us back in the place appointed for us from Above;
Rejoice, Holy Hierarch Cyril, great intercessor with God for us!
Kontakion 12
Waging the battle within yourself, you overcame the wiles of the cunning devils, Holy Cyril, and then lived your life in wisdom and prayer, shepherding Christ’s flock with counsel for salvation and turning back from the devil’s deception those who had been led astray: Alleluia!
Ikos 12
You explained to the old monk that Melchizedek is not the Son of God, you performed many miracles, healing the sick and healing souls tormented by sin, you wrote books of church dogma and cleansed the Church of Christ of heresies, and you gave your holy soul into the hands of God, falling asleep in peace and having a pious end.
Rejoice, for at your death the Mother of God herself visited you;
Rejoice, for you ascended with her to Heaven;
Rejoice, for now you rejoice in the sweetness of Paradise together with St. John Chrysostom;
Rejoice, for She and him are your friends;
Rejoice, for we call upon you to fight for us sinners;
Rejoice, for we have great hope in you;
Rejoice, Holy Hierarch Cyril, great intercessor before God for us!
Kontakion 13
Holy Hierarch Cyril, we pray that you help us, your supplicants, to prevail in the fierce battle that the enemy devil has waged against us; drive away the demons from our homes and courtyards, give us strength in prayer, and lift the veil from the minds and hearts of those around us, that they may not condemn us unjustly but come to the knowledge of the truth, for the glory of God: Alleluia!
This Kontakion is said 3 times.
Ikos 1
Endowed by God with the bright rays of His grace, you shone like an angel on earth, Holy Cyril, bringing faith in Christ to the hearts of men and preaching the Word of His Truth just like an apostle. Hear us, your supplicants, who bring you songs of praise:
Rejoice, you who are filled with divine light;
Rejoice, guardian of God’s commandments;
Rejoice, you who are filled with zeal and boldness;
Rejoice, destroyer of the lies of heretics;
Rejoice, fierce fighter for the Church of Christ;
Rejoice, lover of truth and pure service;
Rejoice, Holy Hierarch Cyril, great intercessor with God for us!
Kontakion 1
You showed yourself to be a defender of the faith in times of great trial, protecting Christ’s flock from heresies and the wrath of the Jews, Holy Hierarch Cyril. You who brought due honor to the Most Holy Mother of God in the Church and left us the dogma of the Savior as perfect God and perfect Man, pray also for us who glorify you: Rejoice, Holy Hierarch Cyril, great intercessor with God for us!
Prayer:
By striving with good will during your life, Holy Patriarch Cyril, you delivered the city of Alexandria from heresies, Jews, and devils. You reconciled the world and calmed it from turmoil, and for all your labors you received the crown prepared by Christ the Lord.
Pray for us unceasingly to the Most Holy Mother of God and to the Holy Trinity, that we may live a Christian life, protected from falling into heresy and from the devil’s schemes.
Open our eyes so that the veils of condemnation and injustice may fall, enlighten our minds so that we may see the truth, cleanse our hearts so that we may feel the way of God, and fill us with grace so that we may delight in pure prayer and attain the Kingdom of Heaven, where we may rejoice with you and all the Saints in the Glory of God, now and forever and ever. Amen.
A CONTEMPORARY MIRACLE OF SAINT CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA
Mrs. Vasiliki from Germany testifies to the following miracle. With prayer and faith, Saint Cyril of Alexandria healed her child from an incurable disease and while she had been paralyzed, she was suddenly able to move her arms and legs normally. My name is Vasiliki and I live in Germany. Saint Cyril visited my house and my faith became even stronger. About a year ago I gave birth to a healthy baby girl, I baptized her and called her Marina. She was a child full of energy, health and vivacity. But suddenly, when she was eight months old, she became paralyzed. She could not move her arms or legs and was seized with convulsions. I took her to the hospital, the doctors could not find where she got this incurable disease. I did not stop burning the lamp of Saint Cyril and on my child’s nightstand where I had the icon of the Saint and I begged him day and night for my child. After 7 months I took the icon of the Saint and put it on her. Immediately at this moment she started to move her arms and legs! The doctors could not explain it and they asked me which Saint he was and what was his name and I told them the whole story of Saint Cyril and the miracle. I praise God because the grace of the Saint made my child well. May the grace of the Holy One cover the whole world.
Source: https://www.mystagogyresourcecenter.com/2023/01/saint-cyril-of-alexandria-heals.html
