Letter 18 of St. Cyril of Alexandria to the faithful of Constantinople opposing the heresy of Nestorius

Introduction from The Patrologia Graeca, 177, 124: “A letter of the same Cyril to the clergy and the people of Constantinople, in which he writes so that they not heed the irreverent teaching of the heretical Nestorius and not be in communion with him, if he remains a wolf instead of a shepherd, but rather they should be manly in the Lord and preserve their unwavering faith. Moreover, he writes that they, who were expelled by Nestorius for speaking against his teaching, are in communion with him [Cyril]."

 

To his most beloved and most cherished priests and deacons and people of Constantinople, Cyril, the bishop, and the synod which met in Alexandria of the diocese of Egypt, send greetings in the Lord.

(1) Finally and with difficulty we have arrived at the point at which it were better to start from the beginning, we mean our concern for the salvation of all and for the lack of need to endure disturbance in matters of faith. We speak in defense of ourselves because of the indignities to all of you caused by this. We spent the time just past not without tears and were expecting that the most reverend bishop, Nestorius, would depart from his most discordant teachings because of ecclesiastical counsels and admonitions, and, because of the refutations on the part of all of you, would honor the faith with us which has been handed down to the churches by the holy apostles, evangelists, and all the Sacred Scriptures, sealed by the words of the holy prophets to keep it correct. As a result of what he does not cease saying before you in church, and as a result of his statements in writing, we find that he has erred and to no small degree is acting impiously toward the faith.

(2) We have already been forced to protest solemnly to him through a synodal letter that, if he does not refrain as quickly as possible from his innovations, and within the fixed time appointed by the most holy and most God-fearing Bishop of the Church of Rome, Celestine, anathematize in writing those things which he said in your presence and has placed in books or at least prepared to be placed in books, and these things are even in our hands, he has no place of communion among the bishops of God, but will be a stranger to all.

(3) Let no one blame the delay. For we were not slumbering while so large a flock, or rather peoples and churches everywhere were being disturbed, but we imitated those who have medical experience who do not immediately suggest for the infections which come into our bodies the necessities of knife and cauterizing, but who soothe them at the beginning with gentle drugs awaiting the moment proper for incisions.

(4) Be manly, therefore, in the Lord, and guarding constantly your faith be zealous to be pleasing to Christ, the one and only true Son of God. Remember also our holy Fathers who rightly and with holiness exercised the function of bishops in our midst and who when they were still going about among you called the Holy Virgin the Mother of God. For she bore Emmanuel, who is truly God. "And the Word was made flesh" and was born according to the flesh so that we might be found to be brothers of him who is above all creation. They did not preach to you two christs but one, the same God, Word and man according to flesh from a woman, not a man joined to God by a mere conjunction and as if by a mere equality of honors. These are the cold, unprofitable and barren teachings of that fellow.

(5) Our Fathers said that the same suffered death in his flesh for us, and rose divinely treading upon the power of death, and they said that he will come as the judge of all. Rekindling continually this faith within yourselves, keep spotless and blameless. Do not be in communion with that one mentioned before, nor heed him as pupils, if he remains a wolf instead of a shepherd, and if after this admonition of ours which has been made to him he should choose to hold perverted teachings. To those clerics and laity excommunicated or condemned by him because of their true faith, we join ourselves in communion because we do not agree with his unjust decision, but rather praise those who endured that suffering and say to them, "If you are upbraided in the Lord, blessed will you be; because the power of God and the spirit of God has rested upon you.”

 

 

Source: The Fathers of the Church (Vol. 76): St. Cyril of Alexandria Letters 1-50, translated by John I. McEnerney, Catholic University of America Press, Washington, D.C., 1987, pp. 93-95.