Named a haunted heretic—
Effaced, entrails exploded—
Smeared across a spanless shadow.
Theotokos trapped Christ,
Offense taken to holy humanity,
Retribution was released
In spades upon questioners.
Universally despised for
Standing against savior sterility.
Effaced, entrails exploded—
Smeared across a spanless shadow.
Theotokos trapped Christ,
Offense taken to holy humanity,
Retribution was released
In spades upon questioners.
Universally despised for
Standing against savior sterility.
© 2025 Tristan Robert Lange. All rights reserved
First published on tristanrobertlange.com, October 19, 2025.
First published on tristanrobertlange.com, October 19, 2025.
Tittu
-
Author:
Tristan Robert Lange (
Offline) - Published: October 19th, 2025 07:03
- Comment from author about the poem: For Scorched Sunday. Part of the Scorched Strays series. An acrostic reflection on faith’s paradoxes — and the cost of questioning what we hold sacred. This poem seeks not to challenge established doctrine; rather, to display how doctrine can be damning when mystery is reduced to certainty.
- Category: Religion
- Views: 17
- Users favorite of this poem: GenXer Shamrocker ☘️, Salvia.S
Offline)
Comments5
Those indoctrinated are rigid and brittle taking offense at any perceived pressure are intolerant of differences in their belief. I see metaphors in this poem of Christian beliefs. Well written
Exactly right, Soren. Rigid indoctrination builds cages out of conviction...and those cages break people. Grateful for you, my friend. 🕯️📜🔥🙏
You are most welcome my friend.
I've got lost in the cryptic-ness of this! Do Obi & Co understand it fully? And how did they sneak in here?! lol.
Hahaha! My friend, you know it...half theology, half ghost story. The note holds the compass, the poem just spins it. Nothing really too cryptic if you are familiar with the Ol' Nestorian heresy. As for Popeye and Ol' Tom, their chanting in Latin (still sounds like Ah-gah-gah-gah-glug-glug), Obi lighting the candles with his lightsaber...and Scooby tearing the "heretic ghost sheet" off to find Cyril smirking underneath. “Would’ve gotten away with it too, if not for those meddling mystics.” 😄🔥📜🙏
I'm not familiar with Ol' Nestor. lol. I expect Popeye knows though.
Ooh. Classic “heresy,” that when looked at reeks of politics and villainy on the part of Cyril. Let me illumine for any not familiar:
🕯️ Heresy: Nestorianism (5th Century)
Who: Nestorius, Patriarch (Bishop) of Constantinople.
What: He objected to calling Mary Theotokos (“God-bearer”), preferring Christotokos (“Christ-bearer”), emphasizing Christ’s humanity.
When: Condemned at the Council of Ephesus (431 CE).
Why it Mattered: It wasn’t simply theology — it was power. Cyril of Alexandria sought dominance in Church politics, using doctrine as weaponry.
Result: Nestorius was exiled, his name vilified, and entire Eastern Christian communities were branded heretical.
📜 Modern Scholarship Notes:
Most modern historians (and even the Vatican since the 1990s dialogue with the Assyrian Church of the East) now agree that Nestorius’ actual teachings weren’t heretical at all. He upheld Christ’s full divinity and humanity — the same core belief shared by the broader Church. His “heresy” was largely a matter of linguistic nuance and political rivalry.
So, when we revisit Nestorius, we’re really staring at how theology gets bent by ego and empire. That’s the trap… and exactly what the poem’s after. 🔥📜🙏
As for our "Saint" Cyril...no spotless dude either...brilliant theologian, sure, but ruthless politician. He opened the Council early to condemn Nestorius before his supporters arrived, and his faction’s zeal even helped spark the mob violence that killed Hypatia. History remembers him as much for power plays as for piety. The truth...rarely as forgiving as memory.
Oh...Ol' Popeye knows Cyril for sure! LOL!
And now I knows the history fully! Though I never knew Popeye was involved in it! lol.
LOL! What isn't that rascal involved in? LOL!
On second thought...don't answer that! LOL!
Oohhh, we knows, but can't say! lol.
When mystery is caged in doctrine, faith hardens — a paradox turned formula becomes the arteriosclerosis of the spirit. Poor Nestorius, trapped in theological politics🙏🏻🕊️
Arqios, you distilled the whole conflict into one piercing metaphor. That’s the trap—the beauty of faith calcified by fear. Thank you for reading it with such clarity, my friend. 🔥📜🙏🕯️ I knew you would!
The paradoxes of Faith I believe are what keeps us closer to Him. 🙏
💯 true! Thank you for your insights, my friend! Ol' Nestorius gets some poetic justice, since real justice took so damn long to arrive. I heard a fellow Christian sister once say, "there's no hate like Christian love." Sadly, Cyril and others in history were determined to see that through. Thankfully, kind souls such as your self and countless others do far more good than the Cyrils of the world could diminish...but sad all the same. The bully sainted...the victim, anathematized. Anywho, thank you again, dearests friend, for your insights and your support. Amen to what you shared. 🙏🔥📜🕯️
Excellent.
Thank you, Thomas!!! 🙏🔥📜🕯️
To be able to comment and rate this poem, you must be registered. Register here or if you are already registered, login here.