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Nor long time elapsed before 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, repaired to Ephesus, and found many of the bishops
already there. Cyril bishop of Alexandria making some delay, 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 entered into the consideration
of the question; and Cyril of Alexandria began a sharp skirmish of
words, with the design of terrifying Nestorius, for he had a strong
dislike for him. When many had declared that Christ was God,
Nestorius said: 'I cannot term him God who was two and 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 therein deposed Cyril himself,
and together with him Memnon bishop of Ephesus. Not long after these
events, John bishop of Antioch made his appearance; and 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. Upon this 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, in bitter regret he called Mary Theotocos,
and cried out: 'Let Mary be called Theotocos, 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. Such was the
conclusion of this Synod. These things were done on the 28th of
June, under the consulate of Bassus and Antiochus. John when he
had returned to his bishopric, having 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 a mighty agitation
prevailed through the churches of Constantinople. For the people was
divided on account of what we have already called his unfortunate
utterances; and the clergy unanimously anathematized him. For such is
the sentence which we Christians are accustomed to pronounce on those
who have advanced any blasphemous doctrines, when we set up their
impiety that it may be publicly exposed, as it were, on a pillar, to
universal execration.
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