How to Benefit from the Holy Liturgy - Pope Kirillos Scientific Family

“…The three hundred and eighteen fathers assembled at
Nicea…”, the Council of Nicea was the first Ecumenical
Council, and was held in the year 325 AD. Its aim was to
defeat the heresy of Arius. The members were three hundred
and eighteen who rejected the heresy and defended the true
Orthodox faith. St. Athanasius was the great hero of the
Council and he instituted the scripts of the Nicean Creed of
Faith. “…The one hundred and fifty at
Constantinople…”, this was the second Ecumenical
Council, which was held in the year 381 AD, to condemn
Macedonius the enemy of the Holy Spirit and other heretics.
Their heresies were rejected by the Council, and the last
section of the Creed was instituted, beginning with, "Truly
we believe in the Holy Spirit…". “…and the two hundred
at Ephesus...” The Council of Ephesus is the third
Ecumenical Council, which was held in the year 431 AD to
condemn the heresies of Nestorius and Pilagius. They were
rejected by the Council and excommunicated. The
introduction to the Creed was instituted during this Council,
which begins with, "We honour you mother of true
light…" Pope Cyril the Alexandrian was the bright star at
that Council.
“…Our righteous father the great Abba Anthony…”, who
was distinguished by his quiet, spiritual bravery which
penetrated deep within the wilderness. Despite fierce Satanic
wars, he was victorious, through the strength and providence
of the Lord, and so established a great spiritual monastic
system in Egypt, earning the title of ‘the father of all monks
in the whole world’. St. Anthony cared to keep the divine
commandments and fulfill them. He advised all his disciples
the monks to live according to the commandments and to
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