The Theology of St. Cyril of Alexandria: A Critical Appreciation

by Thomas G. Weinandy (Editor), Daniel A. Keating (Editor)

There is no book in English that treats the whole of Cyril's theological thought. In the past scholars have normally focused on Cyril's Christology and left largely unexamined the remainder of his theological thought. Thus the English-speaking scholarly community has never fully appreciated the breadth, the depth and the immense significance of Cyril's theology. This book is therefore unique. The editors have brought together many of the foremost experts on Cyril. This international team examines all the major facets of his theology, and here for the first time reveals the theology of Cyril of Alexandria as a magisterial whole.

Hardcover

First published June 1, 2003

About the author

Thomas G. Weinandy was born January 12, 1946, in Delphos, Ohio. He entered the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin in 1966, was solemnly professed in 1970, and was ordained to the priesthood in 1972.

He earned a B.A. in Philosophy at St. Fidelis College, Herman, Pennsylvania in 1969, an M.A. in Systematic Theology at Washington Theological Union in 1972, and a Doctorate in Historical Theology at King’s College, University of London, in 1975.

Father Weinandy’s major fields of specialty are History of Christology, especially Patristic, Medieval and Contemporary, History of Trinitarian Theology, History of Soteriology, and Philosophical Notions of God.

He has held academic positions at Georgetown University, Mount St. Mary’s College, Emmitsburg, Maryland, Franciscan University of Steubenville, and Loyola College, Baltimore. Father Weinandy has served at the University of Oxford since 1991. He is the Warden of Greyfriars and tutor and lecturer in History and Doctrine in the Faculty of Theology. He was Chairman of the Faculty of Theology from 1997 to 1999. He also administers the Greyfriars Year Abroad Program.

Father Weinandy is a member of the Catholic Theological Society of America, the Fellowship of Catholic Scholars, the Catholic Theological Society of Great Britain, the North American Patristics Society, and the Association Internationale D’Etudes Patristiques.

His books include Does God Change? The Word’s Becoming in the Incarnation, which has been translated into Romanian; In the Likeness of Sinful Flesh: An Essay on the Humanity of Christ; The Father’s Spirit of Sonship: Reconceiving the Trinity; Does God Suffer, which has been translated into Polish; The Lord Jesus Christ: An Introduction to Christology and Soteriology; Jesus the Christ; Receiving the Promise: The Spirit’s Work of Conversion; Be Reconciled to God: A Family Guide to Confession; and Sacrament of Mercy: A Spiritual and Practical Guide to Confession.

Father Weinandy has published scholarly articles in such journals as The Thomist, New Blackfriars, Communio, First Things, Pro Ecclesia, Logos: A Journal of Catholic Thought and Culture, and the International Journal of Systematic Theology. His popular articles include those written for New Covenant, National Catholic Register, Pastoral Life, Canadian Catholic Review, New Oxford Review, the Arlington Catholic Herald, and The Family.

Reviews

[Cody Edds · Rating 4 out of 5]

This volume is expansive! Robert Wilken's chapter on Cyril as Interpreter of the Old Testament is a great introduction to what Cyril himself most likely believed to be his greatest endeavor: Old Testament exegesis. Weinandy's chapter on Cyril and the Incarnation shows that Cyril's Christology was profoundly insightful, deep, and already present before the Nestorious controversy. Young's chapter is a very unique contribution to what Cyril is generally most known for: Mary and Theotokos. Young seeks to place Cyril's Mariology with the broader theological context of his Biblical Theology—a Biblical Theology of Fall and Redemption. Boulnois' chapter on Cyril's Trinitarian theology is an absolute must-read. So much of Cyril's theology is grounded in Trinitarian reflection. Cyril's Trinitarian theology is hardly ever talked about and his two giant tomes on the Trinity have yet to even be published in English. Boulnois helps us to see that Cyril's Trinitarian theology was not only orthodox but an important contribution to the Early Church, the very same could be said of Daley's chapter on the Holy Spirit. Keating's chapter on Cyril's doctrine of participation is a great summary of his larger work (see my review there). O'Keefe's chapter is another must-read in this volume as it presents Cyril as not just a man of Christology but one of Eschatology, who saw the incarnation, life, death, and resurrection of Christ as the inauguration of the Eschaton. The last two chapters are summaries of McGuckin's work on Cyril and Russell's seminal book as well. They are wonderful conclusions to a great introduction to Cyril's theology.

[Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Essential book contra miaphysites.