Church, not to let themselves be mixed up in controversy, but to behave as judges.[1] He also writes to the synod, recommending his legates, telling the fathers to observe Canon Law and not to quarrel, and saying that he is convinced that they will agree with the condemnation of Nestorius that he has already pronounced. He thank Theodosius for the trouble he has taken.[2] The legates arrive late[3]; when they come, Philip speaks for them: "There is no doubt, indeed it is known to all ages, that the holy and most blessed Peter, Prince and Chief of the Apostles, column of the faith and foundation of the Catholic Church, received the keys of the kingdom, and that the power of forgiving and retaining sins was given to him, and he till the present time and always lives and judges in his successors. Therefore his successor and Vicegerent, our holy and most blessed Pope, the Bishop Celestine, has sent us to this synod to take his place."[4] The legates are then shown the Acts of the first session, which they had missed; they approve of them, and read St. Celestine's letter to the synod. Firmus, Exarch of Cæsarea in Cappadocia, then declares that the Fathers have only done what the Pope had bidden. The legates approve of everything and sign the Acts. Meanwhile Candidian, the Emperor's representative, had received orders from his master to look after things and keep order, but not to interfere in questions of faith.[5] The Acts of Ephesus were not afterwards confirmed by the Pope. He had told the council what to do and it had obeyed him. There was already the necessary agreement between Pope and council, a further confirmation would have been superfluous. St. Celestine's successor, Sixtus III (432–440), writes to St. Cyril that the Nestorians may be received again into communion by him "if they repent and reject what the holy synod with our approbation has rejected."[6] But this approbation means chiefly the consent between the Fathers and the legates when the synod was sitting.
