The Severe Threatenings of the Nestorian Emperor Theodosius, in the Year 429

The Emperor Theodosius, not content with having, together with his co-emperor, Honorius, in the year 413, threatened the aforesaid Anabaptists with death, seems at last to have been led so far astray that he tried to compel the orthodox believers to agree to the very absurd errors of the Nestorians. Among others, he intended to compel, as one of the chief opponents of these errors, Cyril of Alexandria, whose purity and uprightness of faith were very plain. He threatened him with a certain edict (apparently with severe punishment), if he would not give up his views, or at least accept the doctrine of Nestorius. We find the following account of this in the Chronijk van den Ondergang der Tyrannen: "Cyril, a celebrated teacher, strongly opposed the heresy of Nestorius; but since the Emperor Theodosius, who in many respects is greatly praised, was somewhat infected with the doctrine of Nestorius, he sent Cyril an edict, severely threatening him, if he would not agree to the doctrine of Nestorius."

Fifth book, page 151, column 2, from Merula, folio 352. [n300-1]