SOURCE: Prestige, G. L. “Cyril; or, One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism.” In Fathers and Heretics: Six Studies in Dogmatic Faith with Prologue and Epilogue, pp. 150-79. London: S.P.C.K., 1968.

In the following excerpt, originally published in 1940, Prestige offers historical background information on Cyril's activities as archbishop of Alexandria, and analyzes the saint's theological doctrine of the Incarnation.

Cyril, archbishop of Alexandria, after whom this lecture is entitled, was one of those active and strong characters that excite the animosity of less successful controversialists. When his death was announced, in the year 444, one of his critics wrote a letter to a friend, from which the following sentences are quoted: “At last with a final struggle the villain has passed away. … Observing that his malice increased daily and injured the body of the Church, the Governor of our souls has lopped him off like a canker. … His...