NESTO'RIUS (Lat., from (1k. Near6ptos. Nes torios) Bishop of Constantinople. 425-431, and author of the Christological heresy known as Nes torianistn. Ile was a wild] of Theodore of Mop suestia. one of the leading theological teachers of nitwit, who was greatly revered throughout the Asiatic section of the Eastern Church.
In 42S Nestorius was sununoned from his monastic retirement near Antioch to become Bishop of Constantinople, whither his fame as an a.seetie and preacher had preceded him. As patriarch, Nestorius immediately declared war upon all heretics. and began persecutions against Arians, Quartodeeinianians. Macedonians, etc. The popular theology of Constantinople did not escape. A presbyter named Anastasins. preach ing in the cathedral (Antra one day. declared with energy, "Let no man call Mary 'Mother of God,' for Mary was only a woman, and it is impossible that God should be born of a woman." Nestorius hastened to support and reiterate the position his presbyter had taken, which was an open defiance of the Alexandrian party.
A tierce controversy ensued. Cyril, supported by Ctelestine, Bishop of Rome. published twelve anathemas against Nestorius, to which Nestorius replied in kind. The Emperor, 'Theodosius II., was obliged to convene a general council to settle the disturbance. It met at Ephesus in 431. (See EPII ESL' S, COUNCILS OF.) Its stormy proceedings were directed by Cyril. and Nestorius was con demned. John of Antioch, who arrived late, en tered an protest against this verdict.
The writings of Nestorius were burned, by order. and his followers were branded with the opprobrious name of Simonians. Nestorius was allowed to return to his old monastery near Antioch, where he passed four years. Ile was then banished to Arabia, and afterwards to Egypt, where he endured many hardships, and won the title of martyr among his followers. He wrote a defense of his life and teaching, of which only a few fragments survive (in the works of his opponents). We have a melancholy picture of the closing years of his life in Evagrins's Eccle siastical History, i. 7, which is evidently colored by the author's hostility. The place and date of his death are unknown. The Nestorians (q.v.), although bearing leis name, do not cherish his peculiar teaching. An illustration of :Mono physite detestation of his memory is found in the grim ceremony of the Jacobites, who once a year assemble and cast stones upon the spot where his body is supposed to have been buried. Consult: Smith and bictiminry of Chris tian. Biography, article "Nestorius,;" Harnack, History of Dogma, vol. iv. (Eng. trans., Lon don, 1S9S) ; Sehalf, History of the Christian Church, col. iii. (3d ed., New York, 1SS9) ; Dn Bose, The Ecumenical Councils, ells. 10 and 11 (2d ed., ib., 1897) : Bright, The ..lyc of the Fathers (London. 1903).