The Council of Ephesus (The Third Ecumenical Council)

“We offer our thanks to the holy and venerable synod, that when the writings of our holy and blessed pope had been read to you, the holy members, by our holy voices, you joined yourselves to the holy head also by your holy acclamations. For your blessedness is not ignorant that the head of the whole faith, the head of the apostles, is blessed Peter the apostle. And since now [we], after having been tempest-tossed and much vexed, [have] arrived, we ask that you order that there be laid before us what things were done in this holy synod before our arrival; in order that according to the opinion of our blessed pope and of this present holy assembly, we likewise may ratify their determination’” (Said by the Roman legate Philip, legate of Pope Celestine I at The Third Ecumenical Council, Acts of the Council, Session 2 [A.D. 431]).


‘There is no doubt, and in fact it has been known in all ages, that the holy and most blessed Peter, prince and head of the apostles, pillar of the faith, and foundation of the Catholic Church, received the keys of the kingdom from our Lord Jesus Christ, the Savior and Redeemer of the human race, and that to him was given the power of loosing and binding sins: who down even to today and forever both lives and judges in his successors. The holy and most blessed Pope Celestine, according to due order, is his successor and holds his place in this holy synod, which the most humane and Christian Emperors have commanded to assemble, bearing in mind and continually watching over the Catholic faith..” (Said by the Roman legate Philip during the Acts of the Council, session 3 [A.D. 431]).


“In the most holy church which is called Mary, there were present the bishops Cyril of Alexandria, who also held the place of Celestine, the most holy and devout archbishop of the Roman church….

“Theodotus, bishop of Ancyra, said : "The letter of our most religious and pious father, the bishop Cyril, shows clearly and openly the exposition of the faith by the holy fathers who I met at Nicaea….


“...Taught by the vigour of ancient authority, you have driven from your midst the new doctrines which were not formerly heard by the ears of the Church, and you have withstood any new and similar mistakes. Let not these things be revived which the Church has previously opposed, and, recently rejecting, has defeated by the authority of the aposiolic see, and by the unanimous decision of priests, lest a voice long since swept away might appear to be renewed under the pretext of fresh discussions. . . . For whoever desires that his decrees concerning the catholic faith should be permanent must confirm his opinion, not by his own authority, but by the judgement of the ancient fathers; so that in this way, corroborating his opinions partly by the decrees and sentences of the ancients and partly by those of the moderns, he may show that he asserts, teaches, and holds the one truth of the Church…


“...The holy synod said: "As, in addition to other things, the impious Nestorius has not obeyed our citation, and did not receive the holy bishops who were sent by us to him, we were compelled to examine his ungodly doctrines. We discovered that he had held and published impious doctrines in his letters and treatises, as well as in the discourses which he delivered in this city, and which have been testified. Urged of necessity thereto by the canons, and because of the letter of our most holy father and fellow servant Celestine, the bishop of the Roman church, we have come with many tears to this sorrowful sentence against him, namely that our Lord Jesus Christ, whom he has blasphemed, decrees by the holy synod that Nestorius be excluded from the episcopal dignity, and from all priestly communion. " (Session 1).


“In the episcopal residence of Memnon, there were present the bishops Cyril of Alexandria, who also held the place of , Celestine, the most holy and blessed archbishop of the Roman church ; Juvenal of Jerusalem ; Memnon of Ephesus ; Flavian of Philippi, who also kept the place of Rufus, most reverend bishop of Thessalonica ; and Theodotus of Ancyra in Galatia; and all as related before. Then those who came from the West entered and sat down: the most reverend bishops Arcadius and Projectus, and also the most beloved of God, Philip, a presbyter and legate of the apostolic see. Philip said : "We bless the holy and adorable Trinity that our lowliness has been deemed worthy to attend your holy synod.


“For a long time ago our most holy and blessed Pope Celestine, bishop of the apostolic see, through his letter to the holy and most pious man, Cyril, bishop of Alexandria, gaue judgement concerning the present cause and affair, which letter has been shown to your holy assembly. And now again, for the corroboration of the catholic faith, he has sent through us letters to all your holinesses, which you will bid to be read with I becoming reverence and to be entered on the ecclesiastical minutes." Arcadius and Projectus, bishops and legates of the Roman church, said : "May it please your blessedness to give order that the letter of the holy and ever-to-be-mentioned-with veneration Pope Celestine, bishop of the apostolic see, which has been brought by us be read, from which your reverence will be able to see what care he has for all the churches. . . ." And afterwards the most holy and beloved-of-God Cyril, archbishop of the church at Alexandria, spoke as is next in order. He said: "Let the letter of the most holy and most I blessed Celestine, bishop of the apostolic see of Rome, be read to the holy synod with due honour." Siricius, notary of the holy catholic church of the city of Rome, read it. And after it had been read in Latin . . . all the most reverend bishops asked that it should be read in Greek. . . . Arcadius and Projectus . . . said : "The letter has been translated into Greek, and if you so command, let it be read." . . . Peter, presbyter of Alexandria and senior notary, read :A synod of priests gives witness to the presence of the Holy Ghost. For true is that which we read, since the truth cannot lie, to wit, the promise of the gospel: "Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." And since this is so, if the Holy Ghost is not absent from so small a number, how much more may we believe he is present when so great a multitude of holy ones are assembled together!


“For he wills that all of us should form that office which he thus entrusted in common to all. We must needs follow our predecessors. Let us all, then, undertake their labours, since we are the successors in their honour. And we show forth our diligence in preaching the same doctrines that they taught, besides which, according to the admonition of the apostle, we are forbidden to add aught. For the office of keeping what is committed to our trust is no less dignified than handing it down. . . . We must strive in common to keep the faith which has come down to us to-day through the apostolic succession. For we are expected to walk according to the apostle. For now, not our appearance, but our faith is called in question.


“Let us be unanimous, thinking the same thing, for this is expedient; let us do nothing out of contention, nothing out of vain glory; let us be in all things of one mind, of one heart, when the faith which is one is attacked.


“Owing to our anxiety, we have sent our holy brethren and fellow priests, who are at one with us and are most approved men, Arcadius and Projectus, the bishops, and our presbyter, Philip, that they may be present at what is done and may carry out what things have been already decreed by us. To the performing of which we have no doubt that your holinesses will assent when it is seen that what has been decreed is for the security of the whole Church.


“And all the most reverend bishops at the same time cried out : "This is a just judgement. To Celestine, the modern Paul! To Celestine, the guardian of the faith! To Celestine, of one mind with the synod! To Celestine the whole Synod offers its thanks One Celestine! One Cyril! One faith of the Synod! One faith of the world! " Projectus, the most reverend bishop and legate, said : " Let your holinesses consider the form of the writings of the holy and reverend Pope Celestine, the bishop, who has exhorted your holinesses (not asif teaching theignorant, but as reminding them that know) that those things which he has long ago dejined, and now thinks it right to remind you of, you may command to be carried out to the uttermost, according to the canon of the common faith, and according to the use of the Catholic Church." Firmus, the bishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia, said : "The apostolic and holy see of the most holy bishop Celestine has previously given a decision and formula in this matter, through the writings which were sent to the most God-beloved bishops, to wit, to Cyril of Alexandria,' and to Juvenal of Jerusalem, and to Rufus of Thessalonica, and to the holy churches both of Constantinople and of Antioch. This we have also followed and . . . we carried into effect the formula, having pronounced against him a canonical and apostolic judgement." Arcadius, the most reverend bishop and legate, said: " Although our sailing was slow, and contrary winds hindered us, so that we did not know whether we should arrive at our destination as we hoped, nevertheless by God's good providence . . . "


“Wherefore we desire to ask your blessedness that you command that we be taught what has been already decreed by your holinesses. " Philip, presbyter and legate of the apostolic see, said : "We offer thanks to the holy and venerable synod, that when the letter of our holy and blessed Pope had been read to you, you holy members by your holy voices joined yourselves to the holy head also by your holy acclamations. For your blessedness is not ignorant that the blessed apostle Peter is head of the apostles and of the whole faith. We insignificant ones have now arrived after a stormy voyage and much hardship, and we request you give an order that those matters dealt with in this holy synod before our arrival be put before us, so that we too may ratify the decisions, in agreement with the opinion of our blessed Pope and of this holy assembly here present."


“Theodotus, bishop of Ancyra, said : "By the letter of the most religious bishop Celestine, and by the coming of your holinesses, the God of the universe has shown the sentence of the synod to bejust. For you have shown the zeal of the most holy and reverend bishop Celestine, and his care for the pious faith. And since, very reasonably, your reverence wishes to learn, from the minutes of the acts, what has been done about the deposition of Nestorius, your reverence will be fully convinced of the justice of the sentence, and of the zeal of the holy synod, and the harmony of the faith which the most pious and holy bishop Celestine has proclaimed with a great voice. Of course, after your full conviction, the rest shall be added to the acts." (Session 2)


“Philip, presbyter and legate of the apostolic see, said : "We have read the acts and we have learnt what your holy synod has done in the case of Nestorius. From the minutes we find that everything has been carried out according to the canons and the discipline of the Church. And although it may be useless, we also seek from your honour that the documents read in your synod may now again be read to us also, so that we may follow the formula of the most holy Pope Celestine (who committed this care to us) and of your holiness, and may be able to confirm the decisions.


“Philip, presbyter and legate of the apostolic see, said : " There is no doubt, and in fact it has been known in all ages, that the holy and most blessed Peter, prince and head of the apostles, pillar of the faith, and foundation of the Catholic Church, received the keyr of the kingdom from our Lord Jesus Christ, the Saviour and Redeemer of the human race, and that to him was given the power of loosing and binding sins: who, even to this time and always, lives and judges in his successors. Our hob and most blessed Pope Celestine the bishop is according to due order his successor and holds his place, and he sent us to supply his presence in this holy synod which the most humane and Christian emperors have convened, bearing in mind and continually guarding the catholic faith. For they both have kept and are now keeping intact the apostolic doctrine handed down to them from their most pious and humane grandfathers and fathers of holy memory. . . . Accordingly the decision of all the churches is-firm, for the priests of the eastern and western churches are present in this priestly gathering either themselves or certainly by their legates. . . . 'And his bishopric, another will take'. Wherefore Nestorius knows that he is alienated from the communion of the priests of the Catholic Church.


“Cyril, bishop of Alexandria, said : " The professions which have been made by Arcadius and Projectus, the most holy and pious bishops, and also by Philip, the most religious presbyter of the Roman church, are clear to the holy synod. For they have made their profession in the place of the apostolic see, and of the whole of the holy synod of the God-beloved and most holy bishops of the West. Consequently let those things which were defrned by the most holy Celestine, the God-beloved bishop, be carried into effect, and the vote cast against Nestorius the heretic by the holy synod which met in the metropolis of Ephesus be agreed to unanimously; for this purpose let there be added to the acts already prepared the proceedings of yesterday and to-day, and let them be shown to their holinesses, so that by their subscriptions according to custom, their canonical agreement with all of us may be shown." Arcadius, the most reverend bishop and legate of the Roman church, said: "According to the acts of this holy synod, we necessarily confirm their doctrines with our signatures.'' The holy synod said : "Since Arcadius and Projectus, the most reverend and most religious bishops and legates, and Philip, the presbyter and legate of the apostolic see, have said that they are of the same mind with us, it only remains that they redeem their promises and confirm the acts with their signatures, and then let the minutes of the acts be shown to them." Philip, presbyter and legate of the apostolic see: "I have undersigned the minutes." Arcadius, bishop and legate of the apostolic see: "I have signed the sentence against Nestorius which pronounces him to be the author of schism and heresy and every blasphemy and impiety." Proiectus, bishop and legate of the apostolic see : " I have signalled the just judgement of this holy and ecumenical synod, assenting to - - all things. " just as we have been informed through the acts., concerning the deposition of the impious Nestorius." (Third Session).


“The holy synod which by the grace of God was assembled at Ephesus, to the most holy and reverend fellow minister Celestine, health in the Lord. The zeal of your holiness for piety, and your care for the right faith, so dear and pleasing to God the Saviour of us all, are worthy of all admiration. For it is your custom in such great matters to make trial of all things, and to support the churches which you have made your orun care. But since it is right that all things which have taken place should be brought to the knowledge of your holiness, we are writing of necessity to inform you that, by the will of Christ, the Saviour of us all, and in accordance with the orders of the most pious and Christloving emperors, we assembled together in the metropolis of the Ephesians. . . . . . . There were sitting with us the most reverend bishops Arcadius and Projectus, and with them the most holy presbyter Philip, all of whom were sent by your holiness, who gave to us your presence and filled the place of the apostolic see. .When there had been read in the holy synod what had been done touching the deposition of the most irreligious Pelagians . . . and those inclined to like errors, we also considered it right that the decisions of your reuerence concerning them should stand strong andfrm.1 And we are unanimous in holding them deposed. And, that you may know accurately all things that have been done, we have sent you a copy of the acts and of the subscriptions of the synod. We pray that you, dearly beloved and most longed-for, may be strong and mindful of us in the Lord.” (To Pope Celestine [A.D. July 17th, 431].

“...assembled together, the most holy and pious Celestine, bishop of great Rome, presiding. And now they have approved with one accord our sentence concerning the faith, and those who differed they have pronounced to be cut off from the priesthood. And before the assembly of this synod, Celestine, bishop of great Rome, showed [the same opinion by his letter to Cyril, beloved of God, bishop of the great city of Alexandria, whom he appointed to act in his place. And now once more he has conjrmed this by another letter which he sent to the holy I synod convened by Your Majesties in the city of Ephesus. He sent this letter by Arcadius and Projectus, most holy bishops, and Philip, most religious presbyter of great Rome, who represent Bishop Celestine. Moreover these men who came imade known to us, by a letter to this our synod, the opinion of the holy council of the whole West; they declared that they were likeminded with us in faith and religion, and they decreed the same as we and put it in writing. We inform. Your Majesties of their agreement with us, that your pieties may rest assured that the judgement which went out from us is the one common sentence of the whole world.” (Letter to the Emperors Theodosius and Valentinian [A.D. 431].