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Relevant
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John McGuckin
Saint Cyril of Alexandria and The Christological Controversy ---------- 
Richard Price and Thomas Graumann
The Council of Ephesus 431
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Susan Wessel
Cyril of Alexandria and The Nestorian Controversy |
From John to my lord Cyril, a fellow minister who is truly
God-loving and holy, greetings in the Lord.
A little while ago a decree was issued by our most pious emperors that a synod
of truly God-loving bishops should assemble at the metropolitan city of Ephesus
to deal with ecclesiastical business and questions about the true faith. After
we had reached the aforementioned city and then returned without mutual
conversation (it is superfluous now, in a time of peace, to speak about the
reasons for disagreement) the churches suffered, as we know, severe
disagreement. It was of paramount important that all should consider how they
could be united, with all disagreement set aside. Our most pious and Christ
loving emperors had specifically decreed that the churches should be united and
for this very purpose had sent my lord, the remarkable and much admired tribune
and secretary Aristolaus. He brought a devout written communication from the
emperors exhorting us now to proceed to meet together, to put obstacles to one
side and to find a resolution to every cause of tumult and grief. Responding
appropriately to this devout written communication without delay we immediately
sent my master, who loves God in all things, the most holy bishop Paul. This was
also pleasing to our most holy and devout father, bishop Acacius and to our
fellow fellow God-loving bishops. We did this so as to act swiftly, because, in
short, we were not able to meet together face to face to carry out what had been
ordered by our most pious emperors. We have instructed him, in our place, on our
behalf and in our name, to reach a formula for peace, which is the priority, and
to place into the hands of your reverence our exposition concerning the
incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ which is in harmony with your
understanding. We sent this to your reverence through the previously mentioned
God-loving man. It is as follows:-
Concerning the Virgin Mary, Mother of God, and what we think and say, and
concerning the manner of the incarnation of the only-begotten Son of God, the
essence of our faith, not by way of some addition, but in the form of certainty
- what we have received and have held from the start both from the divine
scriptures and from the tradition of the holy Fathers - we will state briefly,
adding nothing at all to the faith of the holy Fathers as set out at Nicaea. We
have said all along that this is sufficient for the knowledge of all piety, and
for the rejection of all misguided heretical opinions. Our statement will not
recklessly speak of what is unattainable, but through a confession of our own
weakness we will exclude those who wish to intrude into areas where what we
examine is beyond human understanding.
So we confess our Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, fully God and
fully human through a soul endowed with reason and a physical body, begotten of
the Father before the ages in respect of his divinity. begotten of the Virgin
Mary in the last days in respect of his humanity for us and for our salvation.
He is of the same substance as the Father in respect of his divinity, and of the
same substance as us with respect to his humanity. For there was a uniting of
two natures. Therefore we confess one Christ, one Son, one Lord. In accordance
with this insight about the unconfused union we confess the holy Virgin as the
Mother of God, because God the Word became flesh and became human. From the
moment of his conception he united to himself the temple which was taken from
her. With regard to the testimonies of the gospels and apostles concerning the
Lord, we know that theologians consider some as shared by the natures, as there
is one person, and consider others as distinct, as there are two natures. They
ascribe those that are fitting for divinity to the divinity of Christ, and those
that are lowly to his humanity.
With this faith accepted it has pleased us to consider Nestorius as deposed who
was once bishop of Constantinople. This should lead to the end of all strife, to
a decision being made for peace throughout the world for the holy churches of
God, and to all stumbling blocks which have arisen being removed. We
anathematize his inferior and profane empty talk. For the holy churches of God
among us have adhered to the true and wholesome faith. They guard this and hand
it on to the people, just as is the case with your holiness. We are in agreement
with the consecration of the most holy and God-fearing Maximan as bishop of the
holy Church of God in Constantinople. Furthermore we are in communion with all
the God-fearing bishops throughout the entire world, all those who adhere to and
proclaim the true and undefiled faith. Farewell, most God-loving and holy lord
and continue in prayer for us. You are the most genuine brother of all to me.
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