hand, it was especially the popularity of these two which caused the spread of Nestorianism in East Syria. Of Nestorius himself the theologians of Edessa and Nisibis knew little; nor did they care much about him. But in the movement against him, in the decrees of Ephesus, they saw an attack against their revered masters, Diodore and Theodore; they were (rightly) conscious of defending these. Often in later ages the Nestorians have protested that they are not the school of Nestorius, they are the school of Diodore and Theodore, of which Nestorius was also a pupil They stand for the old school of Antioch; it is a mere coincidence that one disciple of that school once became Patriarch of Constantinople, and there got into trouble with Cyril of Alexandria and his council at Ephesus. Still, among the Nestorians "Theodore the Interpreter" is the honoured master against whom they will allow no accusation.
Nestorius came to Constantinople from Antioch. He brought with him the ideas of his native city; it was the clash of these with the traditions of Alexandria[1] that caused the Nestorian controversy. Now that we have cleared the ground, we may pass more quickly over the well-known incidents of the story. Nestorius had been a monk at the monastery of Euprepios; then deacon, priest and preacher at the chief church of Antioch. He had a beautiful voice, was a famous preacher, and was known as an ardent disciple of Theodore of Mopsuestia. When Sisinios I of Constantinople (425–427) died, Nestorius's already great reputation secured to him the succession of the Imperial See. The people thought they had secured from Antioch a second Chrysostom. Hardly was he consecrated when he showed great zeal against heretics—Arians, Macedonians, Novatians, Quartodecimans, and such like,—little thinking that his own name was to go down to history as that of a notorious arch-heretic. Already he had managed to offend many people[2] when the storm began. A priest, Anastasius, brought by Nestorius from Antioch, preached against our Lady's
- ↑ St. Cyril was very conscious that he only maintained and applied the principles of his great predecessor Athanasius (328–373). So he always appeals to and quotes Athanasius.
- ↑ Nestorius's tactlessness was one cause of his fall. He had offended the Pope (St. Celestine I, 422–432), by receiving the Pelagian leaders and demanding explanations of their condemnation.
