Conversation given in Ephesus before he was taken by the committee and imprisoned

St. Cyril of Alexandria owns 8 homilies, pronounced in Ephesus in the summer of 431 during the Third Ecumenical Council and preserved as part of the council’s acts. The conversations are anti-Nestorian in nature. They touch upon questions of dogmatic content: St. Cyril expounds the doctrine of the Incarnation, the Face of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Mother of God, and also concerns the events that took place at the Council. The “Conversation delivered in Ephesus before he was taken by the committee and taken into custody,” presented in this publication, is the 7th of the “Ephesian” homilies of St. Cyril of Alexandria. It was pronounced immediately before the arrest of the saint and his imprisonment in early August 431. The blessed prophet David calls those who trust in the Lord undaunted, saying: “Take courage, and let your heart be strong, as you trust in the Lord” (Psalm 30:5). For just as plants in gardens, irrigated by abundant streams of water, become stronger, greener and reach great heights, so the soul of a person, through the consolations of the Holy Spirit, grows in piety, is confirmed in faith and acquires indestructible patience, which Blessed Paul marvels at above all other virtues, saying: not exactly, but we also boast in tribulations, knowing that tribulation makes forbearance, patience is skill, and skill is hope; but hope does not put you to shame” (Rom. 5:3). So patience is the source of all good, the path to achieving glory and strengthening the hope of eternal life. And how it is acquired, Scripture teaches us this, which says: “child, if you begin to work for the Lord God, prepare your soul for temptation, guide your heart, and be patient” (Sir. 2:1-2). But perhaps someone will say: is there no other way to achieve life, and is it possible to acquire blessings without difficulty? No way. But why? Because very many saints are subject to misfortune and are pursued everywhere by cruel enmity. Therefore, the Savior himself said: “You will be in a world of sorrow: but be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). So, since many adversities befall the saints from everywhere, it is necessary to courageously resist temptations and always remember the words of the disciple (Christ): “Blessed is the man who, having endured temptation, having already been skilled, receives the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love Him” (James 1:12). But I want to cite something from ancient examples so that you know the purpose of spiritual courage. The Babylonian tyrants and the people who ruled the kingdom in this people, always in some way inclined to cruelty, arrogance and pride, went beyond the limits assigned to human nature and wanted to take upon themselves the honor due to God alone. The wicked Nebuchadnezzar erected a golden statue and, with the sound of musical instruments, forced all the peoples under his control to worship it. They, accustomed to serving creatures more than the creator God, with all readiness prostrated themselves before her and “changed the glory of the incorruptible God into the likeness of the image of corruptible man” (Rom. 1:23). Then the Babylonians brought the Jewish youths Ananias, Azarias and Mishael, ordering them to worship the golden statue and encouraging this glorious and God-loving people to the same wickedness into which they themselves fell, to worship the golden statue; but they were not at all successful in this. Defeated by their piety, they subjected them to fiery torment, and their fault was firmness in faith, constancy in piety, rejection of human service and the fact that they did not want to admit what offended the divine being. But when they were thrown into the fiery furnace, then a great action of ineffable power appeared. For the power of the elements changed into something that was contrary to its nature, the fire obeyed the will of the Creator, and the flame turned into cool dew. When the young men noticed the presence of heavenly help, they sang in the fiery cave, and tamed the power of the flame with divine songs. This cave was an image of the Church, which has not only people singing, but also angels. Having marveled at the virtue of these men, praising their patience and piety, let us now look at the circumstances in which we find ourselves. They lived under barbarian tyrants, and we under the scepter of a pious empire, having the most pious rulers over all affairs; Why should we give in to our enemies? Even if they kindle the furnace of intrigues and stir up an evil flame, bringing to us human service, then we have God in heaven and we worship Him. For He, God in essence, became like us, not putting aside His divinity, but honoring human nature: He is able to deliver us. Imitating the faith of the most pious emperors and relying on their great meekness, we will not endure the wickedness of our opponents, and we confess that Immanuel is God in essence. By confessing and affirming this, we will receive a great reward, which Christ himself tells us about: “Everyone who has confessed Me before men, we will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven. And whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 10:32-33). And the one who confesses Christ is the one who calls Him the true God and denounces non-believers; and Christ is again rejected by the one who does not recognize Him as the true God and persecutes those who confess this. So he rejects them, but the Savior of all recognizes us as his own, through whom and with whom belongs to God the Father with the Holy Spirit glory and power forever. Amen.