[[Saint]] Our father among the saints '''Celestine of Rome''' held [[Pope|papal]] authority from 422 - 432. During his papacy, the [[saint ]] strongly defended the [[Church]] and denounced the Nestorian [[heresy]]. He is remembered on [[April 8]] in the east and [[April 6]] in the west.

Saint Celestine, a zealous champion of Orthodoxy, lived during the reign of the holy Emperor [[Theodosius II|Theodosius the Younger ]] (408-450). He received an excellent education, and he was known for his extensive knowledge of the [[Holy Scripture]] and his theological ponderings.

The virtuous life of the [[saint]] and his authority as a [[theologian]] won him the general esteem and love of the [[clergy]] and people. After the death of St Boniface I, St Celestine was chosen to be the [[Bishop]] of [[Church of Rome|Rome]].

During this time, the [[heresy]] of [[Nestorius]] emerged. At a local Council in Rome in 430, St Celestine denounced this heresy and condemned Nestorius as a [[heretic]]. After the Council, St Celestine wrote a letter to St [[Cyril of Alexandria|Cyril, Archbishop of Alexandria]] ([[January 18]]), stating that if Nestorius did not renounce his false teachings after ten days, then he should be deposed and excommunicated.

St Celestine also sent a series of letters to other churches, [[Constantinople]] and [[Antioch]], in which he unmasked and denounced the [[Nestorianism|Nestorian ]] heresy.