Letter 163: First Letter of the Eastern Commissioners from Chalcedon,

First Letter of the Eastern Commissioners from Chalcedon, On our arrival at Chalcedon -- for neither we nor our opponents were permitted to enter Constantinople, on account of the riots by the monks -- we learned that eight days before our arrival (such is the justice of our most pious prince!) the lord Nestorius was dismissed from Ephesus, free to go where he wished. We are deeply distressed, since deeds done illegally and without proper procedure now seem to carry official weight. But rest assured, your holiness, that we will eagerly join the battle for the faith and are prepared to fight even to the death. Today, the eleventh of Gorpiaeus [September], we expect our most pious emperor to cross over to the Rufinianum [an imperial estate near Chalcedon], where he will hear the case. We beg your holiness to pray that the Lord Christ may help us confirm the faith of the holy Fathers and uproot these Chapters [Cyril's Twelve Anathemas] which have sprouted to the Church's damage. We implore you to think and act with us, and to persevere in your devotion to the orthodox faith. When this letter was written, the lord Himerius had not yet reached us, perhaps delayed on the road. But do not let this trouble you. Only let your piety support us vigorously, and we trust that the gloom will disappear and the truth will shine forth.

Letter 163