– Was Pope Theophilus’ sister’s son who sent him to St. Makarious Monastery to be a disciple to the elder monks for 5 years
– Headed the third ecumenical Council of Ephesus in 431 AD in the presence of 200 bishops who decided to excommunicate Nestorius, Patriarch of Constantinople, who denied that the Virgin Mary is the Mother of God
– The council added an introduction to the Creed: “We exalt you, O Mother of the true Light….”
– Wrote many biblical commentaries
– Absolved St. John Chrysostom’s excommunication and returned his name to the fathers’ Diptych in the Liturgy