The Monophysite Controversy

     The early Christian Church was undivided until the Council fo Chalcedon in 451 AD. All churches were in communion with one another. However, there was considerable differences between them. These churches spoke different languages and thought using different frameworks. Initially, the Western and Eastern Churches were united. Eventually, the Eastern Churches would become divided. Going one way would be the Byzantine Church, still in union with the West until 1054 AD, and the "monophysite churches which chose to go in their own separate direction. The Fourth Ecumenical Council, also known as the Council of Chalcedon, occurred in 451 AD and led to this split in Eastern Christianity. The council drafted and affirmed the Definition of Faith which was opposed by the "monophysite" churches that would make up Oriental Orthodox Christianity. The Oriental Orthodox Churches thought that the Chalcedonian Definition had strayed from Christian orthodoxy concerning Christology. These churches believed that St. Cyril of Alexandria had developed the most orthodox Christology which was affirmed by the Council of Ephesus in 341 AD. These churches thought that the teaching of Chalcedon, that Christ had two natures- one divine and one human- which were united in his human body, strayed too close to Nestorianism which taught that Christ's two natures were completely separate (Sarkissian, 438-9).

    The Byzantine emperor, Marcian, and Pope Leo I, from Rome, worked to push all Christians to accept the Chalcedonian Definition. The followers of St. Cyril's Christology, rejected the decrees of Chalcedon which prompted numerous emperors to try and reunite the two opposing sides- the "orthodox" church and the "monophysite" church. Throughout the middle of the 500s, the two opposing groups solidified as two separate churches. The first Christian schism had taken place. Communion was officially broken and now there were separate churches, not the "One Church Universal." Cultural differences only further increased division which was felt throughout church governance, doctrine, and liturgy among Oriental Orthodox Churches (Sarkissian, 439). 

    This separation has continued into the present day. However, the Oriental Orthodox Churches have picked up the ecumenical mantle and have pursued to reach common understandings with a majority of the Christian churches present throughout the world. Although, there is a barrier still between achieving full communion between churches. The church closest to Oriental Orthodoxy is the Eastern Orthodox church. In order for full union to be realized, the Eastern Orthodox claim that the Oriental Orthodox must accept the Council of Chalcedon as binding for doctrine. The Oriental Orthodox claims that the Council of Chalcedon must be rejected as it provides heterodox theology. This is the core issue separating the churches historically up to the present moment. The question is this: "Do the two churches understand the Council of Chalcedon the same way?" (Sarkissian, 443-4). This issue is being hammered out today with many conversations occurring between Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox bodies. It is exciting to see. Will we see the unification of these two eastern churches in the future? One could hope, as it would only increase the possibility of unifying the whole Christian Church as it exists universally today in its varied branches. This is some food for thought. Peace!

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