Letter from Cyril to Rabbula

Letter of the blessed Cyril to Mar Rabbula To my holy lord, brother, and fellow minister Rabbula, bishop. Cyril, bishop, in the Lord, greeting. With invincible power and blameless integrity, the blessed Paul magnifies your soul, writing thus: "What hardship of mine is there with the love of Christ? Distress, or a storm, or persecution, or hunger, or nakedness, or a sword? For there is nothing that cannot be endured by those who have set themselves, through the beautiful contest of faith, to be tested and to complete their course and to preserve their faith, that they might receive an imperishable crown." For just as those who are skillfully known to have piloted ships are not recognized when they sail in calm weather, but when they save their ships from obstacles, they are known to be skilled sailors. So also those who have received the guidance of the holy churches are not proven by the calmness of affairs, but their skill is made known through trials, afflictions, and hardships. And when they have stood firmly against drunken, hireling revellers, who are joined in heart with heretics. At all times, therefore, my lord, your holiness has been proven, and especially at this time, that over all the inhabitants of the East you have been a pillar and foundation of truth. And like a deadly remedy, you have pursued the blasphemies of those who now wish to anathematize, those who have deviated from the other root. I speak of Theodore, who was in Cilicia. For from there this wickedness took its beginning, and it thought to prevail over the whole earth, because of the authority which it did not know whence it was given. For it seized the great see and became a hindrance to the error of many of its heads.

and think that even he [Nestorius] would destroy the church of God, subjecting everything to himself. And if God had not intervened—He who is above all—then, as he thought, he would have succeeded through the hands of this wicked one, and through the zeal of those who shared his error. He would have achieved his desired end. But as the divine prophet says, "The Lord is with us. Know the peoples and love those who are pious." For again, you will be strengthened, and again you will love. And every thought you think will be directed to the Lord, and every plan you devise will not stand, because the Lord God is with us. For this reason, God stands before those who proclaim His truth, and He shatters and overthrows the power of those who are opposed, and overturns their plans. And they do not achieve the end they intended. Therefore, do not let your completeness be alarmed by their threats—those who, as is their custom, are readily and without restraint fighting against everyone, while they have made themselves servants of Nestorius' blasphemies. For they have no authority of priesthood at all, because the holy synod has abolished everything that they presumptuously do against everyone. Rightly, however, all those who are in the Roman Empire are holy bishops, with one mind, will, and zeal, and peace, fellowship, and faith, together with your own victorious holiness, which is present. For thus you are victorious, and you confirm through your wise teaching even those who are under your hand, and those who dwell in other cities and regions. And not only those who are near to your holiness, but also those who are far away, you admonish. As for the details concerning the wicked, the insults, and the rest of other matters, it is not necessary for me to write much. For I have written to the lord Beelzebub.

It is nothing new, for even he [Nestorius] was thus condemned. And if he was persecuted, how is it that he is not persecuted? But in all these things he has prevailed and triumphed. And the labors have produced fruits of the love of Christ, which he has caused to increase. And to a glory that does not pass away, he has caused you to partake. It is sufficient, then, for your complete wisdom in everything, for the regions that are near to you, that you lead on the straight path, and that you teach the word of faith purely and soundly, because of those who are deceived and who proclaim the teachings of error: which in the times of the conspiracy of Nestorius, and to the chosen men, they have left and have been confounded. Forcibly, I also, as was fitting in my power, set forth in a treatise against his error, as was necessary. And I wrote in a letter, while I was refuting his blasphemies by the power of truth. That [letter] I also sent to your holiness, that you might wish and be instructed. And be corrected by it in whatever you did not know had happened. And if it seems helpful, that you cause it also to be read before the faithful brethren. I have also written a treatise on the incarnation of the Son of God, in the person of the faithful king. That [treatise] I sent to your honor. And if it seems good to you, it is fitting that this also be read to the faithful brethren. Do whatever seems good to you. For I also have had the letters that were sent with your completeness read before all the clergy, and before the bishops who were received in Alexandria with me, while I was showing them that Christ has not ceased, but rather he has his own champions everywhere, who fill the place of life. When, then, your completeness wishes, whatever is written in those decrees, make it known to those who are able to come to you, that which, as it is said, is the likeness of God, or the thought of Apollinaris was for you, or other men with heresies.

For when the labors are diligently accomplished, your holiness is fulfilled. And the power of the heads that heard the crime was rightly interpreted in this entire decree. Even from this, the insults that were being cast upon me from open mouths have been abolished. These are the wrath of God that suffices in you.