Message to the clergy and people of Constantinople

In the “Epistle to the clergy and people of Constantinople” (presumably 430-431), St. Cyril of Alexandria, together with the Council of Bishops of Egypt, addresses the clergy and laity of Constantinople, expressing deep sorrow over the heresy of Nestorius and calling on them to firmly adhere to the true faith. St. Cyril reports that the Church for a long time tolerated the errors of Nestorius, hoping for his repentance. However, since he continues to preach the denial of the Mother of God and the division of Christ into two persons, the saint warns Nestorius that if he does not renounce his views within the time appointed by the Roman Bishop Celestine, then “he will be deprived of all communication with the priests of God and will be alienated from everyone.” St. Kirill defends Orthodox teaching and reminds that the true faith was transmitted by the apostles and holy fathers, who always confessed: - Theotokos – as the one who gave birth to the true God (Immanuel); - One Christ – God the Word, incarnate and made man, and not “divided” into God and man (as the Nestorians teach); - suffering, death and resurrection as the actions of one and the same God-man. The saint compares his struggle with medical practice: at first the Church tried to gently reason with Nestorius, but now, if he does not repent, spiritual cutting off will follow. The letter ends with a call to believers not to communicate with Nestorius if he remains in heresy, and also to support the clergy and laity expelled for Orthodoxy, comforting them with the words of Scripture: “If you are reviled for the Lord’s sake, you are blessed” (1 Peter 4:14). To the beloved and most cherished brethren, presbyters, deacons and people of Constantinople, Bishop Cyril and the council, which met in Alexandria from the Egyptian district, wish every good thing for the Lord. Late and with difficulty we came to what it would have been better to turn to at the beginning, namely, to take care of the salvation of you all and to get rid of confusion regarding faith. However, we sympathize with your general grief over this incident. For we spent the past time not without tears. But we expected that the most venerable Bishop Nestorius, as a result of the advice and convictions of the Church and as a result of the denunciations on the part of all of you, would abandon his vile teaching and, together with us, would honor the faith that was delivered to the churches by the holy apostles and evangelists and the entire consecrated council, and by the sayings of the holy prophets was sealed in its truth. But both from his speeches, which he never ceases to speak in your churches, and from his written explanations, we see him as erring and immensely wicked regarding the faith: therefore, finally, we are forced to testify to him by a conciliar letter that if he does not quickly renounce his innovations and within the time appointed by the most holy and pious Celestinus, bishop of the Roman Church, he will not write in writing. if he curses what he spoke to you and set out in books, or at least prepared for publication, which we also have, he will be deprived of all communication with the priests of God and will be alienated from everyone. However, no one accuses us of being slow. For we were not careless when such a great flock and even the nations and churches in all places were in turmoil. But we imitated experienced doctors who do not immediately extinguish painful attacks in the body with the application of iron and fire, but at the beginning weaken them with mild medicines, waiting for a time suitable for sections. So, be courageous in the Lord, and, keeping your faith unchanged, try to please Christ, the one and only true Son of God, remembering our holy fathers, who rightly and holyly served as priests among you, who during their lifetime called the Holy Virgin Theotokos. For she gave birth to Immanuel, who is the true God. The Word became flesh and was carnally born of a woman, so that we might become brethren of Him who is above every creature. They preached to you not two Christs, but one, the same - God the Word and at the same time a man in the flesh from his wife, a man united with God not by simple contact and, as it were, only by equality (such a cold, fruitless and stupid teaching belongs to him (Nestorius). They said that the same Christ suffered death for us in the flesh and was resurrected by divinity, trampling the power of death, and He will come as the Judge of all. Always warming keep this faith in yourself, keep yourself undefiled and immaculate, do not have communication with the mentioned person, do not listen to his teaching, if instead of a shepherd he remains a wolf and if, after such our admonition, he still decides to philosophize incorrectly, with those of the clergy or laity who were excommunicated or cast out by him (Nestorius) for the Orthodox faith, we have communication, we do not approve of his unjust decision, but we especially encourage the victims, telling them. and then: if you are reviled for the Lord’s sake, then you are blessed: for the Spirit of power and “God rests on you” (1 Peter 4:14). You might be interested in: