Nestorian controversy 1. Dramatis personae: Nestorius & Cyril. 2. Approaches to controversy. 3. Council of Ephesus, Christologies of Nestorius & Cyril (seminar). Cyril of Alexandria

Nestorius of Constantinople (d. 451) Student of Theodore of Mopsuestia Student of Theodore of Mopsuestia Elected bishop of Constantinople in 428 Elected bishop of Constantinople in 428 Denied that Mary was Theotokos, ‘Godbearer’ Denied that Mary was Theotokos, ‘Godbearer’ Popular unrest in Constantinople Popular unrest in Constantinople Clash with Pulcheria, sister of Theodosius II Clash with Pulcheria, sister of Theodosius II Pulcheria (d. 453)

Empress Eudoxia crowned by God Crowned by God As Goddess Victory bearing the labarum

Cyril of Alexandria (d. 444) His first years in Alexandria His first years in Alexandria Mob violence against prefect Orestes & philosopher Hypatia Mob violence against prefect Orestes & philosopher Hypatia Defended the title “Theotokos” against Nestorius Defended the title “Theotokos” against Nestorius Theology of the divine kenosis (self-emptying) in Philippians 2:5-11 and in the creed Theology of the divine kenosis (self-emptying) in Philippians 2:5-11 and in the creed

Approaches to controversy 1. Episcopal power-play. 2. Logomachy. 3. Two competing exegetical schools. 4. The ‘how?’ of the union. 5. Two different starting points.

The range of arguments deployed in the Nestorian Controversy: 1. Terminological issues: physis, hypostasis, prosopon; types of union & conjunction; titles ‘Theotokos’, ‘Christotokos’, ‘anthropotokos’. 2. Interpretation of the Bible: two-fold or single subject of miracles/ sufferings? 3. Metaphysical assumptions regarding divine transcendence and divine action. 4. The appeal to the Nicene creed and to the writings of the Fathers. 5. The implicit theologies of the Eucharistic ‘body’ of Christ. 6. The logic of salvation and God’s involvement in Christ’s suffering. 7. Reductio ad heresim, ad hominem arguments, mutual accusations of immorality, political pressure.

Philippians 2: 5-11 Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death-- even death on a cross. Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Second article of the Creed And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father; by whom all things were made; Who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary, and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; he suffered and was buried… WHO? DIVINE SUBJECT DID WHAT? HUMAN CHARACTERISTICS

Acts of the Council of Ephesus in 431. In Coptic. Österreichische Nationalbibliothek, Austria

Chalcedonian Definition, 451 Christ is one person in two natures Christ is one person in two natures Without confusion Without confusion Without change Without change Without division Without division Without separation Without separation

Historical consequences of the councils of Ephesus & Chalcedon Persian Christians who did not accept the council of Ephesus formed Assyrian Church of the East (patriarch currently residing in Tehran, Iran) Persian Christians who did not accept the council of Ephesus formed Assyrian Church of the East (patriarch currently residing in Tehran, Iran) Non-Chalcedonian churches: Coptic, Ethiopian, Syrian Orthodox, Malankar Syrian, Armenian Non-Chalcedonian churches: Coptic, Ethiopian, Syrian Orthodox, Malankar Syrian, Armenian