Nestorius

Stake of the debate marial

A debate takes place in Constantinople on the title Theotokos (“mother of God”) given to Marie that others would prefer to see named Anthropotokos (“mother of the man”). Nestorius proposes a compromise solution with Christotokos (“mother of Christ”). It with the advantage of being “founded on the Writings”. Nestorius indeed considered that a woman created could not be the mother of God, “to be par excellence and thus without cause”. However, its solution touched a significant point of the popular religiosity.

The echo of its preachings arrived until in Egypt where Cyrille was patriarch of Alexandria and felt these preachings like an unbearable competition. It thus spreads the Néologisme while taking care well not to say in which context it appeared. Nestorius requests the support of the bishop of Rome, Célestin I {{er}} (422 - 432), hoping to create an axis Rome-Constantinople against Alexandria.

In 429, Cyrille tackles the theses of Nestorius in homélies, then in a Lettre with the monks and finally in a correspondence with Nestorius ( Second Letter of Cyrille with Nestorius ). In 430, Cyrille makes carry by the deacon Posidonius a file christologic translates into Latin with the mission of making pass Nestorius for a adoptianist, i.e. somebody who conceives Jesus-Christ as a man that God would have adopted. On the faith of Jean Cassien, monk Marseilles, good expert of the East, a regional Synode in Rome condemns Nestorius in August and requires a retractation in the ten days. Cyrille thus succeeded in making play an axis Alexandria-Rome against Constantinople.

Nestorius advises with the emperor Théodose II to join together a oecumenical Concile in Éphèse for the Pentecost 431. The notice of meeting dates from the November 19th 430 for a meeting in June 431. During this same November, Cyrille joins together a regional synod in Alexandria which condemns Nestorius and addresses to the patriarch of Constantinople a third letter with twelve unacceptable Anathème S for the Eastern ones. This text will become the proclamation of the Monophysisme.

The council of Éphèse

The notice of meeting required only some bishops so that the service did not suffer from it. Rome sends two bishops, Carthage a deacon, Illyrie, a bishop. Cyrille goes itself in Éphèse with forty bishops. This imposing delegation is present as of on June 7th, day of Pentecost. The plays are made, because the delegation of Palestine arrives only on June 12th and the delegation led by Jean d' Antioche arrives only on June 26th. The Roman delegates arrive deliberately in July because, for them, the question is settled since the Roman regional synod of 430.

The Concile of Éphèse opens on June 22nd with in the chair Cyrille, of which the delegation is most numerous and in the absence of Nestorius which received threats of Memnon, bishop of Éphèse, in favor of Cyrille. Candidien, the representative of Théodose wants to delay the opening but it is put at the door by the partisans of Cyrille.

On arrival of the Palestinian bishops, Théodose takes account of their protest against the process and cancels the meeting of June 22nd which condemns Nestorius. The Cyrillic ones do not hold account of it. On arrival of the Romans, the council recognizes prerogatives in compensation to them of what, they ratify the meeting of June 22nd.

The four last sessions deposit Jean d' Antioche, Théodoret de Cyr and about thirty other bishops.

Consequences of Éphèse

Théodose II locks up Memnon d' Ephèse, Cyrille of Alexandria and Nestorius of Constantinople by summoning them to reconcile itself, without obtaining the least result. One can thus wonder why the emperor was not firmer whereas its predecessors could type on the table when the need was felt some.

It is that the court of Constantinople was divided, because Cyrille, by sumptuous gifts had been acquired the support of the powerful ones. The situation develops in slide in favor of Cyrille, on the one hand because of the consensus obtained by the absence of the contradictors and on the other hand by its generosities.

In October 431, Maximien replaces Nestorius and this one regains its convent of Antioche before being exiled in Pera. As soon as it is certain that Nestorius will not be rehabilitated, loose Cyrille on the doctrines and Théodose obtains the compromise of 433. Officially deposed, Cyrille regains Alexandria triumphantly in October 433.

See too

orthodoxe Church of oecumenical Constantinople
Patriarch
Nestorianisme
late Antiquity

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Nestorius

Stake of the debate marial

The council of Éphèse

Consequences of Éphèse

See too

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