The Comparison of the Triadological Doctrine of Isidore of Pelusium with Cyril of Alexandria’s Teaching

Abstract

Isidore of Pelusium was an Egyptian by birth and from a prominent Alexandrian family, which included Alexandrian Patriarchs Theophilus and Cyril. He lived in the same period with Cyril of Alexandria. The latter was influenced by him on many points of his (Cyril's) triadological teaching. Their triadology was an important part of the theology of the fifth century. That time, the Christology had the most significant role in the church, because of the appearance of the Nestorian heresy. Although, the two fathers managed to reconstruct their theology of the Holy Scripture in order to suggest that their exegetical practice are inseparable from, and must be interpreted in light of, their overarching theological vision. The Triune God's revelation, in their mind, proceeds from the Father, through the Son, and in the Spirit, following the order of Trinitarian relations. Moreover, this pattern applies to the inspiration of Scripture as well, insofar as inspiration occurs when the Son indwells human authors by the Spirit and speaks the words of the Father. The originality of this paper is to present the teaching of Isidore of Pelusium and its effect that exercised in the Triune God teaching of Cyril of Alexandria. So far, there aren’t any analytical studies for Triadology of Isidore nor any form of comparison with the triadological teaching of Cyril. This paper is part of my doctorate thesis «Isidore’s of Pelusium teaching about the Triune God and its relation to the triadological teaching of Cyril of Alexandria», and it is presented for the first time worldwide. This attempt of comparison of the two saints’ Triadology was very difficult, because of that the work of Isidore is primarily educational, interpretive and advisory, while that of Cyril’s one is mainly theological. Another factor that should be taken into consideration is that the foundation stone of the whole theology of the two fathers is the teaching of the incarnation of the divine Logos. Of course, it is something logic and natural their theology to be based on the unique and unrepeatable event of the Word’s of God incarnation, which was dominating the scene in the times in which two Fathers lived.