Fathers of the Third Ecumenical Council in Ephesus

Fathers of the Third Ecumenical Council in Ephesus

January 18th is the commemoration of the Fathers of the Third Holy Ecumenical Council of Ephesus 431, according to the Liturgical Calendar of the Syriac Orthodox Church. By their prayers may we continue to uphold the True Orthodox Faith. The words of St. Cyril of Alexandria in his letter to Succensus (Bishop of Diocaesarea in Isauria), "Therefore, whenever we have these thoughts in no way do we harm the joining into a unity by saying He was of two natures, After the union has occurred, however, we do not divide the natures from one another, nor do we sever the one and indivisible into two sons, but we say that there is One Son, and as the holy Fathers have stated: One Nature of The Word of God Incarnate." (mia physis tou Theou Logou sesarkomene) This faith is affirmed, and the fate of Nestorius the heretic whom opposed St. Cyril is mentioned in the Sh'himo: "Cursed be he who does not assert that Mary brought forth God; and faithless is he who does not confess that He was God and the son of God; the Father begot Him without beginning, and at the end of time He came forth from Mary; from the Father and from Mary, He is but one offspring Whom we worship; cursed be he who questions it." - Qolo II of Wednesday's Saphro "On that rock at the house of Simon, the head of the Apostles, I am built and I am not afraid, the Church answered and said, the waves and tempests beat against me but they do not shake me; the accursed Nestorius fought against me and received a fall." - Qolo of Saturday's Saphro RSoH