The Fathers Read at Ephesus

These, then, are the men whose writings were read out in the council, whether as judges or as witnesses. Saint Peter, bishop of Alexandria, a most excellent teacher and most blessed martyr. Saint Athanasius, bishop of the same city, a most faithful teacher and most eminent confessor. Saint Theophilus, also bishop of the same city, a man renowned for his faith, his life, and his learning, whose successor, the revered Cyril, now adorns the church of Alexandria. And so that the doctrine ratified by the council should not be thought peculiar to one city and province, those lights of Cappadocia were added as well: Saint Gregory of Nazianzus, bishop and confessor; Saint Basil of Caesarea in Cappadocia, bishop and confessor; and the other Saint Gregory, Saint Gregory of Nyssa, most worthy, for his faith, his way of life, his integrity, and his wisdom, to be the brother of Basil. And so that Greece or the East should not seem to stand alone, and to prove that the Western and Latin world also has always held the same belief, certain letters of Saint Felix, martyr, and of Saint Julius, both bishops of Rome, were read in the council. And so that not only the head of the world but its other parts as well might bear witness to the council’s judgment, there was added from the south the most blessed Cyprian, bishop of Carthage and martyr, and from the north Saint Ambrose, bishop of Milan. [a]

All these, then, making up the sacred number of the Ten Commandments, were brought forward at Ephesus as teachers, counselors, witnesses, and judges. And that blessed council, holding their doctrine, following their counsel, believing their witness, and submitting to their judgment, without haste, without a decision made in advance, without partiality, gave its ruling on the rules of faith. A much greater number of the ancients might have been brought in, but there was no need. It was not fitting that the time should be taken up with a crowd of witnesses, and no one supposes that those ten were really of a different mind from the rest of their colleagues. [c]