Ephesus — Third Ecumenical Council
Ephesus defends the unity of Christ's person and the title Theotokos for Mary because the one born from her is the incarnate Word.
Reception
Part of the first three councils identified as common heritage in the Eastern-Oriental commission statement.
Perspective note
Comparative historical/source study. The original author's or church's reception is retained; inclusion does not make every claim Oriental Orthodox teaching. Historical documents retain their original claims. The reception label follows the selected church perspective; library access does not imply assent.
People
- Cyril of Alexandria
- Nestorius
- Theodosius II
Primary sources
Cyril's first anathema requires confessing that:
Cyril's first anathema in the Ephesian dossier connects the title Mother of God with the confession that Emmanuel is truly God.
the Emmanuel is very God, and that therefore the Holy Virgin is the Mother of God
Passage context and translation
Cyril's first anathema, reproduced among the Ephesian documents, grounds Theotokos in the identity of the one born from Mary: Emmanuel, truly God. This is Cyril's anathema, not a standalone council creed.
Before the excerpt
If anyone will not confess that
After the excerpt
(Θεοτόκος), inasmuch as in the flesh she bore the Word of God made flesh
Sources and further reading
- OCA: Third Ecumenical Council
- Reception: Armenian Apostolic Church, Western Europe · Faith
Modern Armenian self-description. Its dating of an official response at Dvin to 506 is not a quotation from surviving council acts. - Reception: Eastern-Oriental Orthodox Joint Commission · Second Agreed Statement
Joint commission agreement. Section 8 explicitly distinguishes the families' reception of later councils; section 10 submits recommendations to churches for action.