The Festival of St. Cyril of Alexandria, Bishop, Confessor, and Doctor
Posted on February 9, 2026 by under
Scripture: Isaiah 50:4-10 (NKJV)
50:4 “The Lord God has given Me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him who is weary. He awakens Me morning by morning, He awakens My ear to hear as the learned.
5 “The Lord God has opened My ear; And I was not rebellious, nor did I turn away.
6 “I gave My back to those who struck Me, and My cheeks to those who plucked out the beard; I did not hide My face from shame and spitting.
7 “For the Lord God will help Me; Therefore I will not be disgraced; Therefore I have set My face like a flint, and I know that I will not be ashamed.
8 “He is near who justifies Me; Who will contend with Me? Let us stand together. Who is My adversary? Let him come near Me.
9 “Surely the Lord God will help Me; Who is he who will condemn Me? Indeed they will all grow old like a garment; The moth will eat them up.
10 “Who among you fears the Lord? Who obeys the voice of His Servant? Who walks in darkness and has no light? Let him trust in the name of the Lord and rely upon his God.”
Devotion
This is the third of the four servant songs. The speaker is given the tongue of those who are taught, that He may know how to sustain with a word him who is weary. Awakening morning after morning throughout time to teach and lead, the Lord awakens His ear to hear as those who are taught. The speaker can only be the Servant, identified by name in 42:1; 49:6.
While rebellious Israel turned a deaf ear to God, Jesus could claim to “speak as the Father taught” Him (John 8:27–29). Therefore a word from Him sufficed to sustain him that is weary, and to give rest to “all who labor and are heavy laden.” Jesus’ determination to fulfill everything written by the prophets leads Him to offer His back to repeated blows and suffering. Charged with the sins of the world, yet vindicated and acquitted when He was raised from the dead, He is at the right hand of God, defending the imputed innocence of all who appeal to Him for justification. The Lord will find Him righteous. Because Christ was sinless, He also atones for the charges brought against any who believe in Him as their Redeemer.
Collect: O Lord God, Who seest that we put not our trust in anything that we do: Mercifully grant that by Thy power we may be defended against all adversity; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Collect for the Festival of St. Cyril of Alexandria, Bishop, Confessor, and Doctor
O God, Who didst give St. Cyril as a faithful teacher of the saving truth in a time of great trial, grant to Thy people zeal for Thy Word and faithful teachers for Thy Church, that they may stand steadfast against all error; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
