their departure and adding: “to sum up, the council
convoked by the Emperor was not altogether
necessary.”^11
- The council opened its sessions a week later than
the scheduled date. “The Patriarch of Alexandria presided
as well by virtue of his dignity as by the express demand
of the Emperor.”^12
Juvenal of Jerusalem and Domnus of Antioch were
also charged by the Emperor to share the presidency with
Abba Dioscorus.
From the acts of this second Ephesian council, it is
evident that one hundred and thirty bishops attended it. - The Emperor appointed two imperial deputies to
attend the Council, and dispatched a letter to Proclus,
Pro-consul of Asia, asking him to support with his
authority the two imperial commissioners, and to defend
the council against the intrigues of the Nestorians.
At the opening session, the Roman delegates
delayed in arriving. When the council sent for them,
Dolcitus answered: “The letters entrusted to us by Leo
chief Bishop of Rome bade us attend the holy synod when
examining the case of the priest, the God-loving
Archimandrite Eutyches; and not to attend it while
conferring on other matters.”^13 Then John the chief
notary began by reading the imperial letter of
convocation, which also contained the Emperor’s wish
that peace be established within the Church.
As soon as the reading ended, the delegates of the
West declared that they carried a message from their
Prelate. At this declaration, Abba Dioscorus exclaimed:
“Let the message of our brother and Co-bishop Leo to
this Council be read.” The chief notary, however,