Extracts from
the Acts.
Session I.
(Continued).
(Labbe and Cossart,
Concilia
, Tom. III., col.
462.)
And after the letter was read, Cyril, the bishop of
Alexandria, said: This holy and great Synod has heard what I
wrote to the most religious Nestorius, defending the right faith.
I think that I have in no respect departed from the true statement of
the faith, that is from the creed set forth by the holy and great synod
formerly assembled at Nice. Wherefore I desire your holiness
[i.e. the Council] to say whether rightly and blamelessly and in
accordance with that holy synod I have written these things or no.
[
A number of bishops then gave their opinion, all
favourable to Cyril; after these individual opinions the Acts
continue
(col. 491):]
And all the rest of the bishops in the order of their
rank deposed to the same things, and so believed, according as the
Fathers had set forth, and as the Epistle of the most holy Archbishop
Cyril to Nestorius the bishop declared.
Palladius, the bishop of Amasea, said, The next thing to
be done is to read the letter of the most reverend Nestorius, of which
the most religious presbyter Peter made mention; so that we may
understand whether or no it agrees with the exposition of the Nicene
fathers.…
And after this letter was read, Cyril, the bishop of
Alexandria, said, What seems good to this holy and great synod with
regard to the letter just read? Does it also seem to be consonant
to the faith set forth by the holy Synod assembled in the city of
Nice?
[
The bishops, then as before, individually express
their opinion, and at last the Acts continue
(col. 502):]
All the bishops cried out together: Whoever does
not anathematize Nestorius let him be anathema. Such an one the
right faith anathematizes; such an one the holy Synod
anathematizes. Whoever communicates with Nestorius let him be
anathema! We anathematize all the apostles of Nestorius: we
all anathematize Nestorius as a heretic: let all such as
communicate with Nestorius be anathema, etc., etc.
Juvenal, the bishop of Jerusalem said: Let the
letter of the most holy and reverend Cælestine, archbishop of the
Church of Rome, be read, which he wrote concerning the faith.
[
The letter of Cælestine was read and no opinion
expressed
.]
Peter the presbyter of Alexandria, and primicerius of
the notaries said: Altogether in agreement with the things just
read are those which his holiness Cyril our most pious bishop wrote,
which I now have at hand, and will read if your piety so shall
order.
[
The letter was read which begins thus
:]
Τοῦ
Σωτῆρος ἡμῶν
λέγοντος
ἐναργῶς,
κ.τ.λ
.
Cum Salvator noster, etc.