Council of Ephesus | Church Councils Explained (Part 3 of 21)

An in-depth look into the events in Christian history that led to the Council of Ephesus and a complete explanation of the Theotokos, Hypostatic Union, 12 anathemas, epistles, and other matters.

0:00 Opening Prayer
0:45 Decline and Decadence
9:17 The God-man
14:02 A Heated Rivalry
24:00 The Theotokos
27:51 The Council of Ephesus (3 Letters of Cyril and Nestorius, 12 Canons, Judgment Against Nestorius, Expulsion of Eastern Bishops, Definition of the Nicene Faith, Against the Messalians, Cyprus Ordinations, Formula of Union Between Cyril and John of Antioch, Letter of Cyril to John of Antioch)
2:08:34 Legacy of the Council
2:11:00 Closing Prayer

SUMMARY:
The Council of Ephesus has the unsavory distinction of being one of the worst councils ever held due to its circus-like atmosphere. However, with the support of the four most important churches in the world—Rome, Alexandria, Constantinople, and Antioch—its status as an ecumenical council was never in doubt.

Notwithstanding the questionable methods of Cyril, whom his opponents named a “monster, born and educated for the destruction of the church,” the Council’s results were essential for Christology. The Nestorian heresy applied not only to Mary but also to Jesus. Nestorius failed to foresee that his refusal to call Mary the Mother of God ultimately meant a denial of the complete hypostatic union in the incarnation and the salvific effects of the Cross.

Today, Nestorianism is no longer widely practiced. Catholic missionaries were surprisingly effective at reversing the churches that subscribed to it. Iran and Iraq hold the few remaining modern-day Nestorians.

The universal Church continues to affirm the doctrine of Mary as the Theotokos. January 1st is the date usually reserved to celebrate this occasion, and it is known as the Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God.

Surprisingly, the title Mother of God is one of the few Marian doctrines that Protestants accept, with some exceptions. In particular, the Lutherans and Anglicans recognize the Theotokos and the hypostatic union in their official declarations.

One of the biggest tragedies of the Council of Ephesus was that the heretics themselves were good men. In particular, Nestorius and John of Antioch were recognized for their virtuous characters. It was not lip service when the Council Fathers mentioned that they found it heartbreaking to depose their brothers in Christ. This serves as a warning for Christians not to equate a person’s moral character to their theology, as morality and intelligence are separate domains.

Heretics aren’t always evil. Sometimes, they’re just misguided.