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Bible Encyclopedias
Cyrus (2)
Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
or is the name of several early bishops:
1. Of Bercea, succeeded Eustathius as bishop of that city in 325. He was persecuted, on account of his orthodoxy, by the Arian party, and deposed by Constantius.
2. Bishop of Tyre, was present at the Council of Ephesus in 431. He was a leading member of the party of John of Antioch and the Oriental bishops, against Cyril of Alexandria, and was chosen as one of the deputation to wait on Theodosius II to lay a complaint of the illegality of his proceedings, but being indisposed, Macarius of Laodicea took his place. He was deposed by Cyril in the name of the council.
3. Bishop of Aphrodisias, and metropolitan of Cairo. He was born of Christian parents, and was a monk when elevated to the bishopric. He was conspicuous at the Council of Ephesus, in 431, for his vacillation, signing one day the act for the deposition of Nestorius, and on the next an appeal to the emperors against the legality of the acts of the council. Although still greater weakness of character was shown when, at the "Robber's Synod" in 449, he signed the act of condemnation of Flavian and Eusebius, yet he stood so high that in 456 he was specially exempted from the operation of a general law by the emperor, on account of his great merits.
4. Bishop of Phasis, in Colchis, and afterwards patriarch of Alexandria, 630-641. Although the plans of Heraclius for the union of the monophysite party with the Church were at first unacceptable to him, he afterwards gave them his hearty support, and was rewarded by elevation to the patriarchate of Alexandria. He now succeeded in effecting a temporary union of the Egyptian monophysites, known as Theodosians, with the Catholic body. But the agreement being such that both parties claimed a victory, it could not be lasting. Although counselled by pope Honorius I to give less attention to theological refinements, and more to true godliness, Cyrus called a council at Alexandria, which adopted the Ekthesis published by Heraclius in 639. This met with no better success than the former agreement, and in the midst of these distractions the Saracens invaded Egypt under Amron, in June 638. Heraclius appointed Cyrus prmefect of Egypt. and gave him the conduct of the war. Cyrus prevailed on Amron to withdraw his forces by the promise of an annual tribute, and the hand of the emperor's daughter Eudocia. Indignant at these terms, Heraclius summoned the patriarch to Constantinople. His life would not have been spared but for the siege of Alexandria by Amron. He was sent back to negotiate, but arrived too late The city fell after fourteen months' siege, December 22, 640, and Cyrus died some time in 641.
5. Forty-third patriarch of Constantinople, 705-711. He was formerly a recluse at Amastris, and had predicted to Justinian II his restoration to the imperial dignity. He was deposed by the monothelite emperor Bardanes, on his accession to the throne in 711, and confined in the monastery of Chora, which he had founded.
6. A martyr in 292. He was a wonder-worker, but not mercenary. His death is commemorated January 31, and his translation June 28,
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McClintock, John. Strong, James. Entry for 'Cyrus (2)'. Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature. https://www.studylight.org/encyclopedias/eng/tce/c/cyrus-2.html. Harper & Brothers. New York. 1870.
