“The
person meant by Cyril, though he withholds the name, is Marcellus of
Ancyra; who having written a book against the Arian Sophist Asterius to
explain the Apostle’s statement concerning the subjection of the
Son to the Father, was thought to be renewing the heresy of Paul of
Samosata. On this account he was reproved by the Bishops at the
Council of Jerusalem, a.d. 335, for holding
false opinions, and being ordered to recant his opinions promised to
burn his book. Afterwards he applied to Constantine, by whom he
was remitted to the Council of Constantinople, a.d. 336, and deposed by the Bishops. As however he
was acquitted by the Councils of Rome, a.d.
342, and of Sardica, a.d. 347, it became a
matter of dispute whether he was really heretical.…From the
fragments of his books transcribed by Eusebius, you may possibly acquit
him of the Sabellian heresy and the confusion of the Father and the
Son, but certainly not of the heresy concerning the end of
Christ’s kingdom, and the abandonment by the Word of the human
nature which He assumed for our sake; so express are his words recorded
by Eusebius in the beginning of the 2nd Book Contra
Marcellum, pp. 50, 51.” (Ben. Ed.) Cf.
Dict. Chr. Biogr. “Eusebius of Cæsarea,” p.
341; and note 3 on § 9 above.