Discourse delivered in Ephesus on the day of the holy Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian

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 on the Day of the Holy Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian” presented in this publication is the second of the “Ephesian” homilies of the saint. Its title states: “ἐν τῷ ἁγίῳ ᾿Ιωάννῃ τῷ εὐαγγελιστῇ,” which was understood as “on the day of the holy Apostle and Evangelist John,” dating it to the day of the saint’s memory (September 26). However, at this time St. Cyril was in custody, and the title should read: “in the Basilica of St. John.” No word is sufficient to express the glory and dignity of the saints. For they appear in the world as “luminaries holding the word of the living” (Phil. 2:15-16), as the Scripture says. And when they preach the Divine Mysteries, it is fitting to say to them on behalf of everyone: “You are not the ones who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you” (Matthew 10:20). They proclaimed to us Jesus, the true light and eternal life, to whom we say in the words of blessed David: “Let all the earth worship You and sing to Your name, O Most High” (Ps. 65:4). When the law, promulgated through Moses still has its power and the Gospel had not yet been proclaimed, then “God was known to Judah, His great name is in Israel” (Ps. 75:2). Moses was weak in voice and tongue-tied, therefore the law was heard only in Judea. But when the true light shone and God the Word, as one of us, took on flesh and blood (Heb. 2:14), then everything was fulfilled by Him - everywhere are churches and altars, everywhere are gatherings of the triumphant, worshipers, good shepherds and flocks of spiritual sheep, filling the sacred havens in great numbers. Before the coming of our Savior, the human race wandered across the earth, people “served the creature instead of the Creator” (Rom. 1:25), worshiped the works of their own hands, and everyone who was deluded by God had what he liked. But, as I said, the only begotten Word of God, the good Shepherd, the true Lamb, appeared to us. The holy and inexperienced Mother of God Mary gave birth from a virgin’s womb, as a life-giving seed, to God incarnate, free in the form of a slave, likened to us for our sake and the highest of all creation, the One who humbled Himself for our sake and appeared in divine glory - the One who humbled Himself and sits on the throne with the Father, the One who exhausted Himself He shares himself from his fullness with those worthy of good, the One who, in humanity, creates worship with you and, as God, serves as an object of worship not only on earth, but also in heaven. For, according to the word of God, “when He brings the Firstborn into the universe, He says: And let all the angels of God worship Him” (Heb. 1:6; Ps. 96:7). How was He introduced into the universe? Reveal this secret to me, Evangelist, tell me, Saint John, called the son of thunder, you, striking the universe with a great and unusually strong sound, possessing an immortal voice! This is the congregation of shepherds that has come to you; Roll away the stone for us, like St. Jacob to the shepherds (Gen. 29:10); open to us the well of life, so that we too can now draw from the sources of salvation; especially offer us your source of life. So, listen to his words: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was to God, and God was the Word, from the beginning he was to God” (John 1:1-2). That the only begotten Son of God was born from the Father in an inexpressible way, this we have believed from ancient times; You, evangelist, add the rest to this. So, listen again to his words: “And the Word became flesh” (John 1:14), did not dwell in man, but became flesh, i.e. person. The Only Begotten Word of God became man, not ceasing to be God, but even in the incarnation remaining what it was. For the nature of the Word is unchangeable. There is not even a shadow of change in him. This is how the holy evangelist taught us to think - this truly great and brightest star, the most saving star, not for those who swim across this sensual sea, but for those who strive for piety, who love the truth and want to have a right faith that is free from error. So, whoever wants to swim in this way, let him imprint on his mind the words of this theologian, like a star; then he will overcome the fierce waves of heresies, sail to a quiet refuge and reach the truth itself, i.e. Christ, in whom to the Father with the Holy Spirit be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. You might be interested in: