   |
Handout #73 |
The Council of Ephesus according to a historian of the time |
| Not long
afterwards a mandate from the emperor directed the bishops in all places
to assemble at Ephesus. Immediately after the festival of Easter,
therefore, Nestorius, escorted by a great crowd of his adherents, went to
Ephesus, and found many of the bishops already there. Cyril, Bishop of
Alexandria, was delayed, and did not arrive till near Pentecost. Five days
after Pentecost, Juvenal, Bishop of Jerusalem, arrived. While John of
Antioch was still absent, those who were now congregated started to
consider the question; and Cyril of Alexandria began a sharp skirmish of
words, aimed at terrifying Nestorius, for he had a strong dislike of him.
When many had declared that Christ was God, Nestorius said: I cannot term
him God who was two or three months old. I am therefore clear of your
blood, and shall in future come no more among you. Having uttered these
words, he left the assembly, and afterwards held meetings with the other
bishops who entertained sentiments similar to his Own. Accordingly those
present were divided into two factions. That section which supported
Cyril, having constituted themselves a council, summoned Nestorius: but he
refused to meet them, and put them off until the arrival of John of
Antioch.
The partisans of Cyril therefore proceeded to the examination of the public discourses of Nestorius which he had preached on the subject in dispute; and after deciding from a repeated perusal of them that they contained distinct blasphemy against the Son of God, they deposed him. This being done, the partisans of Nestorius constituted themselves another council apart, and in it deposed Cyril himself, and together with him Memnon, Bishop of Ephesus. Not long after these events, John Bishop of Antioch made his appearance. Being informed of what had taken place, he pronounced unqualified censure on Cyril as the author of all this confusion, in having so precipitately proceeded to the deposition of Nestorius. Thereupon Cyril combined with Juvenal to revenge themselves on John, and they deposed him also. When affairs reached this confused condition, Nestorius saw that the contention which had been raised was thus tending to the destruction of communion. So in bitter regret he called Mary Theotokos, and cried out: Let Mary be called Theotokos, if you will, and let all disputing cease.' But although he made this recantation, no notice was taken of it, for his deposition was not revoked, and he was banished to the Oasis, where he still remains ...John, having returned to his bishopric and convened several bishops, deposed Cyril, who had also returned to his see: but soon afterwards, having set aside their enmity and accepting each other as friends, they mutually reinstated each other in their episcopal chairs. But after the deposition of Nestorius there was great agitation among the churches of Constantinople. For the people were divided on account of what we have already called his unfortunate utterances; and the clergy unanimously anathematized him. Socrates, Church History, VII, 34. |
