SPEAR Factoids about Nestorius — ܢܣܛܘܪܝܣ

“Bp. of Constantinople from 428 to 431.” 1

In hagiography: Nestorius of Constantinople was a doctor of the Church of the East.

“Nestorius was dyophysite patriarch of Constantinople and subscribed to controversial Christological positions. He argued that the Virgin Mary should not be called "Mother of God", but only "Mother of Christ". Some, such as Cyril of Alexandria, interpreted this as a diminution of Christ's divinity. His opponents eventually achieved that Nestorius was condemned and deposed at the council of Ephesus in 431. He was sent into exile to Egypt where he died about 20 years later. In the later miaphysite tradition, he was portrayed as an arch-heretic who had supposedly divided Christ into two distinct beings, the man Jesus and the divine Logos, who had not been with Jesus from birth, but only infused him at a later point.” 12

Syriaca.org URI: http://syriaca.org/person/655

Personal Information

Name variant(s):

Nestorius See factoid page

Sex:

Nestorius was male. See factoid page

Relationships

Severus had enmity for Sergius, Diodore, Theodore, and Nestorius. See factoid page

Cyril of Alexandria had enmity for Nestorius. See factoid page

Severus of Antioch had enmity for Nestorius. See factoid page

Severus cited negatively Nestorius. See factoid page

Events

Sergius declared that the Council of Chalcedon was consistent with the theology of Diodore, Theodore, and Nestorius. See factoid page

Appealing to Cyril's letter to Nestorius and the example of Severus the presbyter, Severus urged Stephen to accept the ordination of Stephen because heretics cannot be expected to follow canon-law. See factoid page

Severus and the bishops of the East had drawn up a synodal letter to John the archbishop of Alexandria, affirming orthodoxy and condemning the council of Chalcedon, the teachings of Nestorius, and the Tome of Leo. See factoid page

Severus had written to Dionysius of Tarsus concerning the veneration of Nestorius in that area. See factoid page

After the Council of Ephesus, Paul petitioned Cyril of Alexandria to grant forgiveness to Dorotheus, Eutherius, Himerius, and Helladius. For the sake of church unity, Cyril of Alexandria agreed on the condition that they condemn Nestorius. See factoid page

Dorotheus presented a petition to Emperor Marcian requesting the recall of Nestorius from exile. See factoid page

Simeon travelled far and wide to preach against the followers of Theodore , Nestorius , Mani , Bar Daisan , and Marcion . He travelled from Jerusalem to Illyricum and Persia and Constantinople to spread the Christian faith. See factoid page

John of Claudiopolis, when he received Severus in the house of Patrick, urged Severus to receive the synod of Chalcedon, not as a positive definition of faith, but as a rejection of Nestorius and Eutyches. See factoid page

Severus responded to John by refusing to accept the synod of Chalcedon as a repudiation of Nestorius and Eutyches, because the Chalcedonian creed and the Tome of Leo support Nestorianism; Severus does not believe that anathematizing Eutyches makes the Council of Chalcedon legitimate, because the followers of Arius were still heretics even though they repudiated the teachings of Sabellius. See factoid page

How to cite:

“Person Page for Nestorius — ܢܣܛܘܪܝܣ ,” in SPEAR: Syriac Persons Events and Relations, general editor Daniel L. Schwartz, https://dev.spear-prosop.org/aggregate/person/655.html, 2025-07-01.