Rejection of simplistic Nestorianism label

The church tends to reject the idea that its faith can be reduced to the term Nestorian.

32%

Confidence

Supportive

Contrary

Neutral

What it is: The Assyrian Church of the East usually rejects that its doctrine be simply identified as 'Nestorian' in classic polemical sense.

How the tradition understands it: The church's self-understanding emphasizes fidelity to the one Christ, without accepting caricatures that accuse it of dividing Christ into two persons.

Basis and context: The label arose in ancient controversies and was repeated for centuries in Western and Byzantine literature.

Debates and variations: Contemporary historiography has shown greater complexity in the relation between the church, Nestorius, and ancient Christological terminology.

Supportive

Common Christological Declaration of 1994

assyrian-church-of-the-east,ecumenism,christology,1994

A common declaration between the Assyrian Church of the East and the Catholic Church.

Reference: The 1994 common christological declaration between the Assyrian Church of the East and the Catholic Church.
Content: The text recognizes broad convergence in faith in Christ and helps overcome old christological caricatures.
Use in debate: It is an important source for a contemporary rereading of the church's christology.

Contrary

Anathemas of Cyril of Alexandria

cyril-of-alexandria,ephesus,christ,against

Central texts of the ancient christological controversy.

Reference: The anathemas of Cyril of Alexandria against Nestorius.
Content: The texts strongly define the Cyrilline position on the unity of Christ in a polemical context.

Use in debate: They are an important historical source of contrast with the tradition associated with the Syriac East.

Council of Ephesus of 431

ephesus,council,christology,against

The council is a central point of historical tension with the East Syriac tradition.

Reference: The Council of Ephesus (431).
Content: The council condemned positions associated with Nestorius and marked a profound rupture in the christological controversies.

Use in debate: It is one of the principal historical sources of tension with the ancient Church of the East.