in a council at Rome; condemned
it, and pronounced a sentence of excommunication and deposition against
the author, unless within ten days after notification of the sentence,
he publicly condemned and retracted it, appointing St. Cyril as his
vicegerent in this affair, to see that the sentence was put in
execution.[6] Our saint, together with his third and last summons, sent
Nestorius twelve propositions with anathemas, hence called
anathematisms, to be signed by him as a proof of his orthodoxy, but the
heresiarch appeared more {278} obstinate than ever. This occasioned the
calling of the third general council opened at Ephesus, in 431, by two
hundred bishops, with St. Cyril at their head, as pope Celestine's
legate and representative.[7] Nestorius, though in the town, and thrice
cited, refused to appear. His heretical sermons were read, and
depositions received against him, after which his doctrine was
condemned, and the sentence of excommunication and deposition was
pronounced against him and notified to the emperor.

Six days after, John, patriarch of Antioch, arrived at Ephesus with
forty-one oriental bishops; who secretly favoring the person but not the
errors of Nestorius, of which they deemed him innocent, had advanced but
slowly on their journey to the place. Instead of associating with the
council, they assembled by themselves, and presumed to excommunicate St.
Cyril and his adherents. Both sides had recourse to the emperor for
redress, by whose order, soon after, St. Cyril and Nestorius were both
arrested and confined, but our saint the worst treated of the two. Nay,
through his antagonist's greater interest at court, he was upon the
point of being banished, when three legates from pope
Celestine--Arcadius and Projectus, bishops, and Philip, a
priest--arrived at Ephesus, which gave a new turn to affairs in our
saint's favor. The three new legates having considered what had been
done under St. Cyril, the condemnation of Nestorius was confirmed, the
saint's conduct approved, and the sentence pronounced against him
declared null and invalid. Thus, matters being cleared up, he was
enlarged with honor. The Orientals, indeed, continued their schism till
433, when they made their peace with St. Cyril, condemned Nestorius, and
gave a clear and orthodox exposition of their faith. That heresiarch,
being banished from his see, retired to his monastery in Antioch. John,
though formerly his friend, yet finding him very per