Books of the Coptic Orthodox Church

September 22, 2024 - Tout 12, 1741

Assembly of the Third General Council at Ephesus for Trying Nestor, Archbishop of Constantinople

On this day of the year 431 A.D. assembled the Holy Council at Ephesus which was attended by two hundred bishops. It was the third of the Ecumenical Councils. This was in the twentieth year of the reign of Theodosius the Small, the Son of Arcadius, the son of Theodosius the Great.

They assembled because of the heresy of Nestor who was Archbishop of Constantinople. He believed that St. Mary did not give birth to the incarnated God, but only to a man, and that afterwards the Son of God dwelt in him, not the dwelling of unity but just the dwelling of desire and will, and therefore, Christ had two Natures and two Wills.

So these fathers convened and they debated that with him, and they showed him the He, was born of the Virgin, was the incarnated God, as the angel said, God be with thee; He who shall be born of thee is Holy and shall be called the Son of the Highest. (Luke 1:28-32) And according to the saying of Isaiah, Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Emmanuel, (Isaiah 7:14) and also, His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father. (Isaiah 9:6) St.Cyril discussed this with him saying, Natures cannot be separated after they have become one by their unity, and we believe that the Word of God which became man has One Nature only. But Nestor would not turn from his teaching nor change his mind. St.Cyril with the whole Council rebuked him and threatened that they would excommunicate him. He would not accept the words of the Council, and they therefore excommunicated him and exiled him from his chair.

They confirmed that the Virgin St. Mary had given birth to the Incarnated God thw Word. They drew up the Canon and laid down the Laws. These are the laws of the faithful till this day. If it is said that the Nestorians do not say that today, we reply saying because they have mingled with the Christians of the East, and that some of them have turned from their erroneous opinion.We beseech our God and our Lord and our Savior Jesus Christ to guide us in the way of salvation - to whom be praise and glory and worship now and ever. Amen.

Transfer of Relics of St. Aklimos and His Companions

On this day also we celebrate the transfer of the relics of St. Aklimos the amrtyr and his companions to the city of Alexandria. May their prayers and blessings be with us all, and Glory be to God forever. Amen.