St Cyril of Alexandria, Against Nestorius I

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His earthly future, after the Council was over, remained for some time in the balance. Candidian sent to the Emperor an adverse report [185]; John's Conciliabulum sent their complaints [186], as if they had been the Council; Nestorius sent his account [187]; S. Cyril was not heard. Theodosius first condemned the condemnation of Nestorius; annulled the proceedings of the Council; forbade any Bishop to leave Ephesus, to come to his Court or to return home [188]. The adherents of Nestorius in Constantinople hindered any tidings of his deposition coming both by sea and by land [189]: Candidian precluded access at a distance [190]. S. Cyril's deposition by John's Conciliabulum was reported at Constantinople, as if it were the act of the Council [191]; it was (S. Cyril understood) consequently deliberated at Court, whether he should not be banished [192].

His deposition was accepted, and he himself put under a guard of soldiers placed even at his bedroom door. Memnon wrote [193], that they were sometimes deprived of necessaries [194], were insulted by the rustics and the rabble which Nestorius had brought. S. Cyril was at peace. He wrote,

'[195] Since the letter of the most religious and Christ-loving Emperors has been read, in which it was said that the deposing of the three was to be accepted, we have been kept in ward, not knowing what will be the issue. But we give thanks to God, if we be thought worthy for His Name's sake not to be prisoners only, but also to endure all besides. For it is not without its reward.----As the blessed David says, "I am ready for the scourge." '

At the wish of the Council, he employed the leisure of his imprisonment in explaining his Anathematisms [196].

The Conciliabulum, in transmitting 'the Alexandrian's new exposition of the heretical chapters,' said that he 'thereby shewed his impiety more evidently [197].' They even wondered at the perseverance of the Council, notwithstanding the imprisonment of Cyril and Memnon. They write as a Synod,

'[198] Count John holds in most guarded custody Cyril and Memnon, thrusting [detrudens] each apart, and placing a multitude of soldiers around the house of each. Yet not even thus are they still, who turn every thing upside down and have filled the world with confusion and sedition, but acting as usual, make a confusion, and set in motion a rule against themselves. For, being excommunicated, they have audaciously assumed to themselves the ministry of the priesthood, &c.'

185. [u] Acta Conciliab. init. (post Conc. Eph. Act. i.)

186. [x] Lit. Conciliab. ad Imperat. l. c.

187. [y] Nest. &c. Relat. ad Imp., Conc. Eph. Act. i. n. 6.

188. [z] Sacra, ap. Acta Conciliab. post Conc. Eph. Act. vi. n. 3.

189. [a] Rescript. Epp. Const., Conc. Eph. Act. vi. n. 9

190. [b] Relat. Conc. Ib. n. 8.

191. [c] Relat. Synod. ad Imp. l. c. Act. v. n. 1. and more fully Relat. 2. Act. vi. n. 12.

192. [d] Epist. S. Cyr. ad cler. et pop. Const. Act. vi. n. 13.

193. [e] Ep. Memnon. ib. n. 14.

194. [f] πάντων ὁμοῦ τῶν ἐπιτηδείων.

195. [g] Ep. ad Theopempt. Ib. Act. vi. n. 18.

196. [h] Conc. Eph. P. iii. n. 1.