Theodoret of Cyrrhus

   Bishop (q.v.) of Cyrrhus in Syria (q.v.) from 423-ca. 466; theologian whose works were condemned in Justinian I's edict of the Three Chapters (qq.v.), and at the Fifth Ecumenical Council at Constantinople (q.v.) in 553. He supported Nestorios against Cyril of Alexandria (qq.v.), was condemned at the "Robber" Council of Ephesus (q.v.) in 449, and was briefly exiled. At the Council of Chalcedon (q.v.) he admitted the error of his ways and was allowed to return to his diocese (q.v.). Despite this, pressure from Monophysites (q.v.) persuaded Justinian I to have his writings condemned. His History of the Church, which covers the years 323-428, bears some similarity to Sokrates and Sozomenos (qq.v.), who also wrote continuations of the work of Eusebios of Caesarea (q.v.). Theodoret's other writings include treatises on Christian faith and dogma that were later used by John of Damascus (q.v.), as well as numerous vitae (q.v.) of Syrian monks.