Now Christianity is a finely formed movement, yet it is keeps constantly changing. In ancient times, it was extremely vague and obscure. Early Christians fought against pagans and against themselves for all sorts of reasons: a word, a letter. Splits occurred, some people got excluded, and others got accused of diabolic intentions, due to their quarries. Christianity in those times resembled boiling lava being erupted from an active volcano – touch it and you will be incinerated in an instant. Well, people got incinerated. First they were burned by Roman Emperors, then, by the other Christians who for some reason had different opinion on some religious matters. Christianity gained its current form, meaning, and structure in the lands of modern Turkey. Messages to seven churches (seven ecclesiae, to be more precise) by St. Paul. All these seven communities were in Asia Minor, namely, in Ephesus and Izmir (Pergam). That’s where church’s priests resided and quarried with each other about religious matters.
... Initially, Christiand were certain of one point only, namely, of Chist being the son of God. To attract more followers to the cult, they had to adapt the new religion to local traditions. Hence, Christ adopted paganistic traits of Osiris, Zeus, and Apollo. All these were well explained theologically and officially confirmed in Universal Councils. In first two such councils it was eventually decided that Jesus had been both God and a human at the same time. Yet, many people still hesitated.
"If Christ was human, why should we worship him, whereas if he was God, what did he sacrifice? Gods do not feel pain, do they?" Christians doubted.
In late 4th century a new concept arose in Antioch. According to this new one, there was no complete merging of the two natures in Jesus. Later on, this concept developed a point that both before and after merging with divine nature, human nature in him stayed independent. No major seditions were induced by this doctrine, at first. But as soon as Nestoriy, being a firm follower of Antioch doctrine, became the Patriarch, he made this concept obligatory for all Christians. Famous for his eloquency, Nestoriy told to Emperor immediately,
"Emperor, give me the land free of heretics, and I shall give you heaven. Help me in exterminating the heretics, and I shall help you in exterminating the Persians!"
All who did not agree with Antiochian doctrine were heretics, according to Nestoriy. He used to emphasize that Our Lady was mother of Christ rather than mother of God. Asia Minor Christians were rather irritated by these because their version of Christianity was under strong influence of Kibela cult, especially near Ephesus where Mary died.
The new Patriarch initiated repressions and major disturbances within the church. Particular enemies of Nestoriy were Alexandria Patriarch Kirill, and Pope Celestine who publicly censured Antiochian doctrine. Emperor Feodosiy called up for the third Universal Council to begin in Ephesus to cease the disturbances.
... The place where that Council took place has been preserved only partly. To-day, only Turkish cats play and lizards sneak where zealous priests used to dispute sitting on stone benches. Baptistery that is a round pool made of stone is empty. Ancient Christians used it to baptize the new followers. The abandoned yard where church ruins are is surrounded by pines. Pilgrims gather pine cones thinking of them like of somewhat sacred things. Most of the columns are dilapidated, for government does not have enough funds to restore them. Turks do not want to do the restoration works negligently; therefore nowadays they try to gain money from tourists so that one day archaeologically professional restoration is started. On the other hand, it is much more interesting to watch this church in its current condition, for being dilapidated, it is still untouched by anyone, retaining its initial beauty. Sit somewhere by it, and imagine that furious time of 431 A.D.
So, Turkey’s attractiveness also depends on the fact that our Judaico-Christian civilization had been developing here ...
ХХХ
"Satanic Nestoriy is dead!" people shouted in Byzantine churches triumphantly.
People were extremely happy. Nestoriy, thought of as an heretic, died banished to Egypt. Yet, the "plague" brought by him into the Church was still there. The numerous followers of his doctrine were still present in Syria and Mesopotamia. Government applied rather strict policy towards them.
"The Nestorians will pay double taxes," Emperor ordered, "Let them suffer, since they do not back out from their heretical doctrine."
Well, people chose to pay twice rather than renounce from their belief that was the only true one according to them. The main centre of Nestorians was Edessa where the largest school propagating Antiochian ideas was. Emperor Xenon demolished the school and banished all its professors and students away in 489. The latter went to Syria and founded a new school in Nisibin. Persian Tsar welcomed the Nestorians, for he saw Empire’s enemies in them and planned to use them accordingly in future. The Persian church of Nestorians had its own bishop, called as the catholix. Later on, Nestorian Christianity diffused into other countries like India.
A new doctrine arose in Byzantine church, especially in Alexandria, after the Ephesus council. It can be called "anti-nestorianity".
"We claim that divine nature was stronger in Jesus Christ than human nature, and the former devoured the latter. Hence, Jesus had only divine nature in him!"
So told the "anti-nestorians", who were also called as the monophysites. Yet, years passed, and their doctrine was also fought against!
Constantinople Patriarch and the Pope banned the new doctrine. Hence, Byzantine Emperor organized a council in 449. This council is called as the "bandit council", in history. And it took place nowhere but in... Ephesus!
INFORMATION
Ephesus (Hittite: Apasa Greek: ?φεσος, Turkish: Efes) was an Ionian city in ancient Anatolia. The city was located in Ionia, where the Cayster River (Küçük Menderes) flows into the Aegean Sea. It was part of the Panionian League.
Today's archaeological site lies 3 kilometers south of the Selçuk district of Izmir Province, Turkey. The ruins of Ephesus are a favorite international and local tourist attraction, partly owing to their easy accessibility from Adnan Menderes Airport and via the port of Kusadas?.
Ephesus hosted one of the seven churches of Asia, addressed in the Book of Revelation of The Bible (2:1–7), and the Gospel of John might have been written here. It is also the site of a large gladiator graveyard.
ХХХ
All the church ruins where councils took place in the past are surrounded by the notice boards prohibiting picnics here.
Well, at the first glance these might look naïve, for nobody would arrange a picnic near, say St. Peter’s, or St. Paul’s. But then, you will feel a little tired, and overimpressed by the History concentrated in every stone here, and burned by the sun, and you will think like staying here for quite a long time. You will wish to touch every brick that saw all these Popes and Patriarchs; you will imagine how all these things happened... Now, look, walls grow on the yard borders, holes in the stone benches are filled in with stone, and... here is the church as new! Crowd’s noise is heard from the inside, and you understand that something is happening there. Let’s enter and watch, shan’t we?!
"Those disagreeing with us," a thick-set bearded man tells to priests surrounding him, "will be claimed as an heretic, and will be punished both by God and by people!"
This is Dioscor, the head of monophysites. They deny anything human in Christ and believe that he only seemed like suffering when crucified. This was mystical Christ, gnostics’ Christ, studied people’s Christ. These people give to Jesus traits of a pagan philosopher...
Well, then. Where is slaves’ Christ, Christ of the poor? Where is the Christ, in which every peasant of the Mediterranean region sees himself, similarly suffering, hungry, and thirsty? That very Christ who can be understood and accepted who eventually makes Christianity a world religion?! The church is very discontent. To make things worse, Nestorians come from Syria and Egypt, and instigate the listeners reject the monophysites’ claims. When Dioscor, heavily breathing, gets onto the tribune again, the crowd shouts at him outrageously.
"Well then," he grins, "you have made your choice, then!"
As soon as the "demoniac" – that is how his counterparts call him – makes a certain signs, Byzantine soldiers run into the church. Their helms glisten; their faces are morose and blank. The priests are silent. They understand that disobeying means immediate death... They are unhappy, but they have to put up with this...
... As a result, the council accepts monophysite doctrine as the righteous one and bans its enemies. The Emperor confirms council’s statements and claims the council to be the Universal one. Not surprisingly, this decision does not set peace among the Christians. The Emperor dies soon, and this problem, so crucial in Byzantine history, is left to his successor.
ХХХ
Not only triumphs, but defeats as well came against Ephesus.
Sharing the opinion accepted during the first two councils, Patriarch Martian can not put up with the decision made during the Ephesus council. Then, he organizes the fourth Universal council in Halkidon in 451 A.D. this very council happens to be very important for the whole future history. Lots of priests attend it; Pope sends his representatives.
Everything decided under force in Ephesus is now censured and cursed.
Dioscor is deprived of his bishop order. The council develops new religious formula that censures monophysites and is supported by the Pope. Now, "Jesus, God’s Son, is claimed to exist and to be considered only in two inseparable natures forever".
Curiously, this doctrine, absolutely supporting the decisions made during the first two Universal councils, is to-day one of the major points in Orthodox Christianity.
As a result of Ephesus’ defeats, Egypt and Syria being its Eastern provinces separated from Byzantium. The point is that monophysites comprised the major part of their citizens. Egyptian church decided to abolish Greek language as the official religious, and introduces the new one, called as Coptean. Civil forces and army had a lot of difficulties dealing with religious rebellions arisen in Jerusalem, Alexandria and Antiochus afterwards. The massacres were really frightening...
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