Letter 152

From: The Bishops of the East (including Theodoret) To: Emperor Theodosius II Date: 431 AD Context: An official report from the Eastern bishops at Ephesus, accusing Cyril of Alexandria and Memnon of Ephesus of convening an illegal council before all bishops had arrived, and announcing their deposition. Report of the Bishops of the East to the Emperor, In obedience to the command of your pious letter, we journeyed to the city of Ephesus. There we found the affairs of the Church in confusion, disturbed by internal warfare. The cause is that Cyril of Alexandria and Memnon of Ephesus have banded together, assembled a great mob of local people, and forbidden both the celebration of the great feast of Pentecost and the regular morning and evening services. They have shut the churches and martyrs' shrines. They have assembled separately with the victims of their deceit. They have committed innumerable offenses, trampling underfoot both the canons of the holy Fathers and your own decrees. They took this action despite the express orders -- given both in writing and verbally by the most excellent Count Candidian, your majesty's envoy -- that the council must await the arrival of all the bishops coming from every quarter of the empire, and only then formally assemble according to your commands. Moreover, Cyril himself had written to me, the Bishop of Antioch, just two days before his synod met, that the entire council was awaiting my arrival. We have therefore deposed both Cyril and Memnon, and excluded them from all church services. The rest who participated in their lawlessness we have excommunicated, until they reject and anathematize the Chapters published by Cyril -- which are full of Eunomian and Arian heresies -- and until, in obedience to your piety's command, they assemble with us and, in an orderly manner and with full care, join us in examining the questions at issue and confirming the pious teaching of the holy Fathers. As for the delay in my own arrival: your piety should know that, considering the great distance by the land route -- which was our path -- I traveled very quickly, covering forty stages without stopping to rest, as the inhabitants of the towns along the way can testify. I was also detained many days in Antioch by famine there, by daily popular disturbances, and by unusually severe rains that caused the rivers to swell and threatened the city with flooding.

Letter 152 Please help support the mission of New Advent and get the full contents of this website as an instant download. Includes the Catholic Encyclopedia, Church Fathers, Summa, Bible and more — all for only $19.99... Report of the (Bishops) of the East to the Emperor, giving information of their proceedings, and explaining the cause of the delay in the arrival of the Bishop of Antioch. In obedience to the order of your pious letter we have journeyed to the Ephesian metropolis. There we have found the affairs of the Church in confusion, and disturbed by internecine war. The cause of this is that Cyril of Alexandria and Memnon of Ephesus have banded together and mustered a great mob of rustics, and have forbidden both the celebration of the great feast of Pentecost, and the evening and morning offices. They have shut the sacred churches and martyrs' shrines; they have assembled apart with the victims of their deceit; they have wrought innumerable iniquities, trampling under foot alike the canons of the holy Fathers, and your own decrees. And the action has been taken in face of the order given both in writing and by word of mouth by the most excellent count Candidianus, envoy of your Christ-loving majesty, that the council must await the arrival of the very holy bishops, coming from all quarters of the Empire, and then and not till then formally assemble in obedience to your piety's commands. Moreover Cyril of Alexandria had written to me, the bishop of Antioch, two days before the meeting of their synod, that the whole council was awaiting my arrival. We have therefore deposed both the aforenamed, Cyril and Memnon, and have excluded them from all the services of the church. The rest, who have participated in their iniquity, we have excommunicated, until they shall reject and anathematize the Chapters issued by Cyril, which are full of the Eunomian and Arian heresies, and shall, in obedience to your piety's command, assemble together with us, and shall in an orderly manner and with all exactitude, together with ourselves, examine into the questions at issue, and confirm the pious doctrine of the holy Fathers. As to the delay in my own arrival be it known to your piety that, in consideration of the distance of the way by land — and this was our route — I have come very quickly, I have travelled forty stages without pausing to rest on the way; so your Christian majesty may learn from the inhabitants of the towns on the route. Besides this I was detained many days in Antioch by the famine there; by the daily tumults of the people; and by the unusual severity of the rainy season, which caused the torrents to swell, and threatened danger to the town.