St. Cyril, Patriarch of Alexandria for thirty-two years in the first half of the fifth century, was a great champion of the faith against heresy; he opposed Novatianism, Neoplatonism, and Judaism. His principal struggle, however, was with Nestorius, Patriarch of Constantinople. Cyril vehemently defended the application of the word Theotokos, which means 'Godbearer', to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Nestorius, representative of the Antiochene theological school, held that the Blessed Virgin was the mother only of the humanity of Christ. This great Christological controversy and the Council of Ephesus that was convened in 431 to resolve it provide the subject matter for the entire collection of letters in this volume. Letter 1 is Cyril's response to a group of monks under his jurisdiction who ask for guidance in the Nestorian debate. His remarks take us straight to the heart of the matter: "Therefore, I am amazed if some should question at all whether the Holy Virgin should be called the Mother of God." Through Letter 32 we are involved with the controversy and its development down to and including the Council of Ephesus. Letter 4, addressed to Nestorius, has been called the dogmatic letter, and the Council of Ephesus approved it as maintaining the teaching of Nicaea. Letter 17 is considered an epitome of Cyril's faith. Along with twelve anathemas it condemned Nestorius in the name of the synod convened by Pope Celestine in Rome and later was added to the Acts of the Council of Ephesus Letters 33 to 50 concern the question of John, Bishop of Antioch and a personal friend of Cyril through a longstanding correspondence. When John and his bishops arrived at Ephesus, they set up a rival council and issued a decree of deposition and excommunication against Cyril and Memnon, Bishop of Ephesus. After the Council of Ephesus it was Cyril's task to reconcile the Antiochene bishops who had formed the Conciliabulum with John to restore peace to the Churches in the East. Letter 39 reveals his joy in achieving this reconciliation and in regaining his friendship with John. Together with Letters 4 and 17, Letter 39 has been called ecumenical. Letter 41 is exegetically important for its long discussion of the work "scapegoat," and Letter 45, which contains Cyril's famous formula, for it's doctrinal and theological content.
Author(s): Cyril of Alexandria, John I. McEnerney (Translator)
Series: The Fathers of the Church Patristic Series, 76
Publisher: The Catholic University of America Press
Year: 2007
Language: English
Pages: 254
Acknowledgments
Select Bibliography
Abbreviations
Introduction
Letters
CONTENTS
ix
xi
xv
1 Cyril to monks in Egypt 13
2 To Nestorius 34
3 Nestorius to Cyril 37
4 To Nestorius 38
5 Nestorius to Cyril 43
6 and 7 To Nestorius 49
8 To certain accusers 51
9 To a devotee of Nestorius 53
10 To clerics at Constantinople 55
II To Celestine 60
l1a Memorandum to Posidonius, the deacon 65
12 Celestine to Cyril 67
13 To John of Antioch 71
14 To Acacius of Beroea 73
15 Acacius of Beroea to Cyril 75
16 To Juvenal of Jerusalem 78
17 Cyril and his synod to Nestorius 80
18 Cyril and his synod to the clergy and people of
Constantinople 93
19 Cyril and his synod to the monks in Constantinople 96
20 To the clergy and laity of Alexandria 98
21 To the same 100
22 John of Antioch to Cyril 102
23 To Komarius, Potamon and others 103
24 To the clergy and laity of Alexandria 107
25 To the same 108
26 To the fathers of monks 110
27 To the clergy and laity of Constantinople 112
28 To Theopemptus, Potamon and Daniel 115
29 Alypius to Cyril 117
30 Maximian to Cyril 119
31 To Maximian 121
32 To Juvenal and other legates of the Council sent to
Constantinople 126
33 To Acacius of Beroea 128
34 To Rabbula of Edessa 136
35 John of Antioch to Sixtus, Cyril and Maximian 138
36 Paul of Emesa to Cyril 140
37 To Theognostus and Charmosynus, priests; and to
Leontius, the deacon 142
38 John of Antioch to Cyril 144
39 To John of Antioch 147
40 To Acacius of Melitene 153
41 To Acacius, Bishop of Scythopolis 168
42 To Rufus of Thessalonica 183
43 To the same 184
44 To Eulogius, a priest 186
45 To Succensus, Bishop of Diocaesarea 190
46 To the same 198
47 John of Antioch to Cyril 205
48 To Dynatus of Nikopolis 207
49 To Maximian of Constantinople 210
50 To Valerian, Bishop of Iconium 212
General Index 229
Index of the Holy Scripture 232
