masterpiece";[1] it became the most important document in all the later controversy.[2]
Nestorius had already written to the Pope (St. Celestin I, 422–432) about the affair. Cyril wrote too, exposing all that had happened and enclosing a number of documents as evidence.[3] Both sides were now heated by the quarrel and were saying strong things about each other. Cyril also wrote to the Emperor (Theodosius II, 408–450), to his wife and sister. The Pope in a synod held in August 430 decided that Nestorius's teaching was heretical; he must retract in ten days or be deposed. Cyril was to carry out this sentence.[4] However, the dispute continues, and is further embittered. Cyril in a synod at Alexandria (430) drew up twelve anathemas against doctrines held by Nestorians: "If anyone does not acknowledge that Emmanuel is truly God, that therefore the Holy Virgin is Mother of God, because she gave birth, according to the flesh, to the Word begotten of God the Father, let him be anathema," and so on.[5] Nestorius answered with twelve counter-anathemas.[6] In many of these he denounces opinions which he attributes falsely to Cyril.
At last the Emperor decided to summon a great council to settle the matter finally. He was inclined towards Nestorius, but saw that nothing but so extreme a measure as a general council could pacify the parties. It was to meet on Whitsunday (June 7) 431, at Ephesus. This is the third general council (Ephesus, 431) which condemned Nestorius. Nestorius arrived first with sixteen bishops and many soldiers. Then came Cyril with fifty bishops. Memnon of Ephesus had already assembled his forty suffragans and twelve Pamphylian bishops. Juvenal of
- ↑ Hist. des Conciles, ii. i. p. 253.
- ↑ It is in P.G. lxxvii. 43–50; or see the summary in Hefele-Leclercq, l.c.
- ↑ Ep. 11 (P.G. lxxvii. 79–86); Hefele-Leclercq: op. cit. pp. 256–257.
- ↑ From this time Cyril considers himself the Pope's representative in the East. He is formally recognized as such by the Council of Ephesus; Mansi iv. 1123: "The Alexandrine Cyril, who also holds the place of Celestin, most holy and most blessed Archbishop of the Roman Church." The Pope's letter had explicitly given to Cyril "the authority of our See." P.G. lxxviii. 93.
- ↑ The twelve anathemas are quoted and explained in Hefele-Leclercq: op. cit. ii. i. pp. 269–278.
- ↑ Ib. pp. 280–284.
