St. Cyril of Alexandria

Who they were

Cyril, patriarch of Alexandria, is the reason the second half of the Hail Mary opens the way it does. When Nestorius of Constantinople taught that Mary should be called the mother only of Christ's humanity, Cyril led the defence of the ancient title Theotokos, God bearer, Mother of God, arguing that the child of Bethlehem is one divine Person, so that his mother is the mother of God the Son and there is nothing to qualify. The Council of Ephesus vindicated the title in 431, and the city celebrated by torchlight. Every Holy Mary, Mother of God prayed since stands on that council.

The man and his era need saying honestly too. His early years as patriarch were combative in a violent city, with expulsions and faction fights, and in 415 the philosopher Hypatia was murdered by a mob of his party, a crime historians do not find that he ordered but agree his climate fed. His mature Christology became the Church's grammar, and he is a Doctor of the Church.

Why people turn to St. Cyril of Alexandria

Anyone who prays the Hail Mary and wants to know why it says what it says. Theologians and writers in genuine controversy, who might ask for his clarity with rather more of St. Hilary of Poitiers' courtesy attached.

How to ask their intercession

Pray the second half of the Hail Mary slowly, once, knowing there was a fight behind the phrase and that people stood in the street with torches when it was won.