Nestorius

NESTORIUS : UNDERSTANDING INCARNATION
PROF. M. M. NINAN
June 21
June 22
June 22
June 26
June 29
July 10
July 11
July 16
July 17
Cyril receives a letter from John of Antioch saying that he hopes to arrive in five or six
days. Alexander of Apamea and Alexander of Hierapolis bring a message from him,
that the Council should not wait for him if he is delayed on his journey.
Nestorius and Candidianus wish to wait for John
But Cyril and Memnon, with the support of their followers and the populace of
Ephesus, have Nestorius summoned, and proceed without delay
Candidianus protests, reads his Imperial instructions, utters his contestatio, and on
being overruled withdraws
The Gospels are placed on the throne, as representing the presence of Christ
Cyril presides, claiming to do so in virtue of Caelestine's letter of August 430; but the
force of his claim is doubtful since the imperial summons to a General Council had
superseded Caelestine's commission to Cyril to deal with Nestorius, and Caelestine
had himself sent legates to the Council.
Session I. Nestorius refuses to attend. The following are read:
(1) The Creed of Nicaea
(2) Cyril Ad Nest. II----received with acclamation |xx
(3) Nestorius Ad Cyrillum II----rejected with anathemas
(4) Caelestine's Letter to Nestorius of August 430.
(5) Cyril Ad Nest. III with the Anathematisms ----received in silence
(6) Testimonies of various bishops concerning conversations with Nestorius
(7) Passages from certain Fathers, including Athanasius, Theophilus, Ambrose,
Gregory Nazianzen, and Gregory of Nyssa
(8) Extracts from the writings of Nestorius
(9) The letter of Capreolus, Primate of Africa.
Nestorius is deposed and excommunicated
Cyril, Nestorius, and Candidianus all write to Emperor
Arrival of John of Antioch and the Easterns
John immediately holds a Council. Forty-three bishops are present, and Candidianus.
They depose Cyril and Memnon, and excommunicate all their adherents who will not
repudiate Cyril's XII Anathematisms
Candidianus sends reports to the Emperor
An Imperial Rescript arrives in which Cyril is rebuked for his haste, and the bishops
are commanded to await the arrival of an Imperial Commissioner in Ephesus
Caelestine's Legates arrive----the bishops Arcadius and Projectus and the priest
Philip
In accordance with Caelestine's instructions they give their support to Cyril.
Session II. Cyril presides. Caelestine's Letter to the Synod, written on 8th May, is
read.
Session III. The minutes of Session I are read. Philip announces Caelestine's assent
to the sentence passed on Nestorius. Letters are sent to the Emperor and to the
Church of Constantinople.
Session IV. John of Antioch and his supporters are summoned, but refuse to attend.
Session V. John sends a message refusing to have anything more to do with the
Cyrillians. |xxi They excommunicate him and his adherents, and send reports to the
Emperor and to Caelestine.
Events in Constantinople in July.
The Cyrillians cannot get their messages through to the Emperor owing to the
activities of Candidianus and Nestorian agents. At last a beggar carries in a cane a
letter from Cyril to the bishops and monks at Constantinople. With the aid of the abbot
Dalmatius they enlist Theodosius' sympathies for Cyril
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