CIRIO, CATHOLICUS: V. CURION CATHOLICUS.
CIRIO, Greek Monophysite patriarch of ALEXANDRIA. — He lived at the beginning of the 7th century and died in Alexandria on 24 March 642. In 631 he was elected by Emperor Heraclius as patriarch of Alexandria with temporal power as well. He remained always most faithful to the Monothelite doctrines.
In his last years he had to defend Alexandria against the Arabs; but as his conduct did not please Constantinople he was deposed twice (640 and 641). After his return to his see he died having witnessed the capture of the city. Three letters of his to Sergius of Constantinople and the *Kecžáza*, a dogmatic treatise, remain (Mansi, X, 1003-1006; XI, 559-64).
BIBL.: Krümbacher, pp. 60 sg., 950 sg.; Bardenhewer, V, pp. 27-28; A. Butler, *The arab conquest of Egypt*, London 1902, passim; S. Vailhé, *Sofronio il sofista e Sofronio il patriarca*, in *Revue de l'Orient chrét.*, 7 (1902), pp. 36-41.
Francesco Saverio Pericoli Ridolfani