Cyril's ascension to the position of Patriarch marked a significant turning point. He was known for his strong stance against paganism and his efforts to assert the authority of the Church in Alexandria.

A power struggle developed between Orestes, the Roman prefect of Alexandria, and Cyril, the patriarch. Orestes represented secular authority, while Cyril represented religious power. Their conflicting interests led to escalating tensions within the city. Orestes, who had pagan leanings, opposed Cyril's policies, leading to conflicts over jurisdiction and influence.

Hypatia was associated with Orestes, as she was known to advise him. This association made her a target for Cyril's supporters, who saw her as an obstacle to their goal of consolidating religious authority in Alexandria. She was perceived to be influencing Orestes against Cyril.

In March 415 AD, a mob of Christian zealots, possibly influenced by Cyril's rhetoric, brutally murdered Hypatia. Her death was a culmination of the political and religious tensions that had been brewing in Alexandria for years. She was dragged from her chariot, stripped naked, and murdered in a church. Afterwards, her body was dismembered and burned.