Epistle to Acacius Bishop of Verria about Nestorius

In the “Epistle to Acacius Bishop of Verria about Nestorius” (probably 430) St. Cyril of Alexandria expresses deep sorrow over the teachings of Nestorius, which caused confusion in the Church. He condemns the words of Nestorius and his supporters, in particular Bishop Dorotheos, who publicly proclaimed anathema to those who call the Virgin Mary the Mother of God. St. Cyril emphasizes that this contradicts the teaching of the holy fathers, who unanimously confessed Mary as the Mother of God, recognizing Christ as the true God. The saint notes that Nestorius' preaching led to a split among believers: some began to deny the divinity of Christ, while others distorted this teaching, claiming that He was called God only by grace, like people. Cyril reproaches Nestorius for raising questions that only confuse minds, instead of strengthening people in morality and faith. He also talks about the conflict with Nestorius, who, having learned about criticism from St. Kirill, began to turn people against him and even use slanderers. At the end of the message, the saint calls for unity in the true faith and conveys greetings to the brethren. To my master, beloved brother and co-servant Akaki, Cyril wishes every good thing in the Lord. Those who are in great sadness, those whose hearts languish under the weight of worries, find no little consolation when they tell others who agree with them in their feelings about what saddens them. I'm in the same position now. Therefore, I considered it necessary to write to your shrine about the reasons with which I am rightly, as I understand, upset, and from which to this day I am upset. The most venerable Bishop Nestorius was not content to say something in the church that caused confusion in the Church and that destroyed faith in Christ, the Savior of us all, but also allowed Bishop Dorotheus, during a church meeting for public worship, to publicly and insolently say: “Whoever says that Mary is the Mother of God is anathema.” After this, what should we do in the Orthodox Church when anathema is pronounced against us together with the holy fathers? From the writings of the fathers, I see that the ever-memorable Bishop Athanasius often calls her the Mother of God, also our blessed father Theophilus and many other holy bishops who lived at different times, Basil, Gregory, Atticus. None of the Orthodox teachers, of course, were afraid to call her the Mother of God, considering this to be true in the same way as it is true that Emmanuel is God. The anathema is pronounced against the holy fathers who now abide with God, and against all who, following the right dogmas of truth, confess that Christ is God! The disastrous effect of their teaching was not limited to this, but it outraged the minds of the people. It is regrettable to hear that some have reached such unbelief and recklessness that they do not confess Christ as God, while others, although they do not cease to confess Him as God, do not have sound concepts about Him, saying that He is called by this name by the good will and grace of God, just like us. How not to cry, how not to regret it? And what was the need to offer everyone these questions that are insoluble and a mystery to the mind? Wouldn't we bring more benefit to people by explaining moral teaching, when we are still unable to interpret dogmatic teaching with proper fidelity? When the monks living in Egypt and Alexandria were alarmed by his writings or his interpretations and we set out for them the right teaching of the faith, enmity opened up against me, and he became my enemy: he brought against me some wanderers and people who were seen in reprehensible acts, and forced them to slander me among the people. Perhaps we deserve this: if we had zeal for God and if we imitated the fathers in love for God, then we would long ago, led by a sense of piety, pronounce judgment on those who boldly speak against Christ and consign to damnation both us living and the holy fathers who have already gone to God. This trial would, hopefully, serve to heal those people in whom the rightness of their faith has wavered. Say our good wishes to the brothers who are with you; All who are with me greet you in the Lord. You might be interested in: