How did the Council of Ephesus impact the Nestorian Church?

The Council of Ephesus, held in 431 AD, had a significant impact on the Nestorian Church by officially condemning Nestorianism. Nestorianism is a theological standpoint associated with Nestorius, who was the Patriarch of Constantinople. This doctrine emphasized a distinction between the human and divine natures of Christ, leading to controversy and accusation of a lack of true unity in Christ's identity.

At the Council, the bishops, led by Cyril of Alexandria, opposed Nestorius’ views, arguing that they undermined the concept of the Incarnation. The council's decision was rooted in the desire to maintain the doctrine of the hypostatic union, which holds that Jesus is one person with two natures—one divine and one human—fully integrated and not separable. This led to Nestorius being considered a heretic and resulted in the rejection of his teachings.

As a consequence, those who adhered to Nestorianism found themselves increasingly isolated, and the Nestorian Church began to emerge as a separate entity, primarily in Persia and parts of Asia, where it maintained its doctrines against the prevailing theological trends established by the Council of Ephesus. Thus, the council's condemnation directly influenced the development and identity of the Nestorian Church