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==Life==
Nestorius is believed to have been born in 386 Germanicia in Syria Euphoratenis. Little is known of his early life. He was educated in Antioch and is considered to be a [[disciple]] of Diodorus of Tarsus and Theodore of Mopsuestia, who were Cilician bishops and opponents of Arianism. Nestorius enjoyed a high reputation for eloquence in his orations and was zealous in his confrontations with [[heretic]]s, principally the Arians. He was a [[hieromonk]] at the [[monastery]] of Euprepius when Emperor Theodosius II chose him to be Patriarch Archbishop of Constantinople, being consecrated [[April 10]], 428. Upon assuming the [[see]] of Constantinople he actively took action against the heretics.
About the end of 428, Nestorius began to preach in his sermons the Antiochian [[doctrine]] against the use of the title of ''Theotokos'' in reference to the Virgin Mary, preferring the title ''Christotokos''. This immediately brought an outcry from the Constantinoplian [[clergy]] and [[laity]] who had not been well disposed to this Antiochian stranger in the first place. The dispute spread beyond Constantinople when Cyril of Alexandria, representing the Alexandrian school, raised the issue within the imperial court. In an attempt to rid himself of Cyril, Nestorius recommended to Emperor Theodosius II the convening of a council. To Nestorius' chagrin Theodosius convened the 431 Council in Ephesus instead of Constantinople. Ephesus was a place more friendly to Cyril being that it was a special seat for the veneration of Mary and where the title ''Theotokos'' was popular. The council proceeded with much infighting and maneuvering, but in the end Nestorius was removed from office on [[June 22]], 431 and labeled a heretic. In this dispute between the schools of Antioch and Alexandria, the Bishops of Rome, Celestine and Sixtus III, sided with Cyril.
