Letter 153

From: The Bishops of the East (including Theodoret) To: Empresses Pulcheria and Eudoxia Date: 431 AD Context: A parallel report to the imperial women, describing Cyril and Memnon's illegal proceedings at Ephesus and their deposition by the Eastern bishops. Report of the Bishops of the East to the Empresses Pulcheria and Eudoxia, We had hoped to report to your pious majesties in very different terms, but we are now forced to make known the following facts, driven by the irregular and despotic behavior of Cyril of Alexandria and Memnon of Ephesus. The proper course, in accordance with both church law and your pious majesties' commands, would have been to wait for the arrival of the bishops still on the road, examine the questions of the true faith together with them, investigate the points under discussion, and, after careful inquiry, confirm the teaching of the apostles. Cyril and Memnon had written to me that they would wait for our arrival. They knew we were only three stages away. Yet they assembled an illegitimate council on their own and ventured on proceedings that were iniquitous, irregular, and full of absurdities -- despite the express instructions of the most honorable Count Candidian, sent by your majesties to maintain order, who charged them in writing and in person to wait for all the bishops and to introduce no innovation into the faith. In defiance of the imperial letter and the count's directives, they disregarded all proper procedure. As the prophet says: "They hatch vipers' eggs and weave spiders' webs; anyone who eats their eggs finds rottenness, and in it a viper" [Isaiah 59:5]. We cry out confidently: "Their webs shall not become garments, nor shall they cover themselves with their works" [Isaiah 59:6]. They have shut the churches and martyrs' shrines. They have forbidden the celebration of Pentecost. They have sent agents of their lawless tyranny into bishops' private lodgings, making shocking threats and forcing them to sign illegal decrees. We have therefore deposed Cyril and Memnon and stripped them of their episcopate. Their accomplices -- whether they acted out of flattery or fear -- we have excommunicated, until they recognize their own wounds, truly repent, anathematize Cyril's heretical Chapters, and agree to join us in an orderly and careful investigation of the questions at issue.

Letter 153 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 same to the Empresses Pulcheria and Eudoxia. We had expected to be able to report to your pious majesties in different terms, but we are now compelled to make known to you the following facts, forced as we are by the irregular exercise of despotic power by Cyril of Alexandria and Memnon of Ephesus. The proper course to have been pursued, in accordance with the laws of the Church, and the command of your pious majesties, would have been to wait for the arrival of the godly bishops on the road, and in common with them to examine into the questions at issue concerning the true faith, and investigate the point offered for discussion, and, after exact enquiry, to confirm the doctrines of the apostles. They had written to me that they would wait for our arrival. They heard that we were only three stages off. Then they assembled an unconstitutional council by themselves, and have ventured on proceedings iniquitous, irregular, and bristling with absurdities. And this they have done though the most honourable count Candidianus, sent by your pious and Christian majesties for good order's sake, expressly charged them, alike in writing and by word of mouth, to wait for the arrival of the godly bishops who had been convened, and to attempt no innovation on the true faith, but to take their stand on the directions of our godly-minded sovereigns. Now in spite of their having heard the imperial letter and the advice of the most honourable count Candidianus, they have nevertheless made naught of due order. As the prophet says They hatch cockatrice' eggs, and weave the spider's web; and he that would eat of their eggs when he breaks them finds rottenness, and therein is a viper, Wherefore we confidently cry Their webs shall not become garments, neither shall they cover themselves with their works. They have shut the churches and the martyrs' shrines; they have forbidden the celebration of the holy feast of Pentecost; besides this they have sent the minions of their disorderly despotism into bishops' private houses, uttering shocking threats, and forcing them to affix their signatures to illegal acts. We therefore considering all their preposterous conduct, have deposed the aforenamed Cyril and Memnon, and deprived them of their episcopate. Their associates in irregularity, whether influenced by sycophancy or by fear, we have excommunicated, until, coming to a knowledge of their own wounds, they shall heartily repent, shall anathematize the heretical Chapters of Cyril, which are tainted with the heresy of Apollinarius, Arius, and Eunomius, shall recover the faith of the Fathers in Council at Nicæa, and, in obedience to the pious commands of our Christian sovereigns, shall, peacefully and without any tumult, assemble in synod, be willing to examine with care the questions submitted to them, and honestly protect the purity of the faith of the Gospel.