“And the Word became flesh and came to live among us”. John 1.14. The verse that has inspired and perplexed Christians for centuries. Since its occurrence, church members and theologians have marveled at the principle of the Incarnation. How could God, perfect, sinless, incapable of suffering, become sinful and corruptible flesh and suffer the ultimate punishment for man's sins? This is the same question that perplexed many of the early church fathers, and that struck Cyril, bishop of Alexandria, most powerfully. This led to intense controversy in the church, leaving Cyril with a legacy and reputation imprinted on him to this day, and leaving another disgraced church leader in the depths of heresy. But before studying Cyril's major theological conflict, one must first understand the circumstances and experiences that brought him to that point. When Cyril was born in 376 AD, he would not have been the first member of his family to become a significant leader in the early church. . His uncle, Theophilus, was Pope of Alexandria at the time, Cyril's predecessor. Cyril eventually assumed leadership, despite the opinions of some politicians in the area (Litfin, 2007), at a turbulent time for Christianity, both in Alexandria and in the Christian world. Growing dissension and violence were rearing its head among Christian and pagan leaders, and among different groups within the church itself. With a sad stain on his legacy, Cyril did not end this tradition. Soon after coming to power, he drove the Jewish population out of Alexandria. Not long after, his followers murdered a popular Neoplatonic philosopher named Hypatia, sparking intense controversy between the city's opposing religious sects (Butler, 2003). However, these controversies would be seven... half of the document ......and of Cyril is not limited to his writings and theology. A careful look at the cause and effect of some of his actions can also provide useful knowledge regarding the realization of the Christian life. Bibliography Butler, A. (2003). Butler's Lives of the Saints. Collegevile, MN: Liturgical Press.Cyril. (c.429). Epistle to Nestorious.Cyril. (c.429). XII Anathematisms against Nestorious.Cyril. (n.d.). On the unity of Christ.Gonzalez, J.L. (1970). A history of Christian thought: from its beginnings to the Council of Chalcedon. Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press. Litfin, B. M. (2007). Getting to know the Church Fathers: an evangelical introduction. Grand Rapids, MI: Brazos Press.McGuckin, J. A. (1995). On the unity of Christ/Saint Cyril of Alexandria. Crestwood, NY: St. Vladimir's Seminary Press. Nestorious. (c.429). Anathematisms against Cyril.