CYRIL, BISHOP, or, as subsequently styled, PATRIARCH of Alexandria, from A.D. 312 to A.D. 344 (Socrates H E. vii. 7 ; Cone. Chalc. Act. iii. ; Harduin Ada. Cone., vol. ii. p. 331). During the greater part of this period he was engaged in a stormy controversy with Nestorius of Constan tinople and others holding the same or similar opinions. Although, in consequence, involved in an extensive correspondence, and a writer of numerous theological treatises, Cyril was the author of a large number of exegetical works. Of these, until recently, the following only were known to be extant. I. De adoratione et delta in spiritu et veritate Libb. xvii. This is an elaborate treatise, in the form of dialogues, on the precepts and institu tions of the laws of Moses, their figurative significa tion, and their fulfilment in the Christian economy. It has been described as a `treasure of allegorical interpretation.' 2. Glaphyra in Pentatenchum, or Polished Discourses on the Pentateuch. This is not a continuous commentary, but a series of ex pository dissertations on topics suggested by the Scripture narrative. Although each exposition, with a few exceptions, closes with the doxology, it is clear from the prefatory remarks to books i. and ii. that they were not oral discourses. 3. Corn mentor/us in Isaianz Libb. v. 4. Commentarius in duodecim Prophetas minores. 5. Comnzentarius in 7oannis Evanselium Libb. xii. By the re
searches of Cardinal Mai, several other works by Cyril have been brought to light and published in the Bibliotheca Patrunz Sandorum Nova, Roane, 1844-45. Amongst these are Explanatio irz Psalmos, containing expositions of Ps. 1 to HS inclusive; In P uli Epistolas quatuor, containing considerable portions of commentaries on Romans, First and Second Corinthians, and Hebrews ; and Commentarins in Lucarn, consisting of fragments gathered from twelve different cateme. More re cently still the commentary on Luke has been dis covered in Syriac, and published both in Syriac and in English by Payne Smith (Oxford 1859). It is in the form of short sermons, which were preached extemporaneously (see Sermons 3, 68, SS). Various fragments also are given by Mai, of Commentaries on Kings, Proverbs, Canticles, Yere miah, Baruch, Daniel, Matthew, Acts, Galatians, Colossians, and the Catholic Epistles. Cyril was unacquainted with Hebrew, and in the interpreta tion of the 0. T. follows the allegorizing method of the Alexandrian School. In his commentaries on the books of the N. T., he is commonly literal and practical; that on the Gospel of John is marked by a strong doctrinal bias. The most complete edition of his works is that published by Migne in his Patrologize Cursus, Series Grava. Paris 1859, in to vols.—S. N.