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The Case/Oriental Orthodoxy

Chalcedon and Miaphysitism

Orthodoxy rejects both Nestorian division and Eutychian confusion, while confessing with Chalcedon one Christ in two natures, without confusion or division.

Rival Claim

The Oriental Orthodox claim

Chalcedon betrayed St. Cyril by speaking of two natures after the union; the faithful formula is Miaphysite, one incarnate nature of God the Word.

01

State the disagreement accurately

Oriental Orthodox Christians are Miaphysite, not Eutychian Monophysite. They do not intend to teach that Christ's humanity is swallowed up or unreal. The serious question is whether Chalcedon's language faithfully guards both the unity of Christ's person and the full reality of His divinity and humanity.

Eastern Orthodoxy receives Chalcedon because it confesses one and the same Son, perfect in divinity and perfect in humanity, acknowledged in two natures without confusion, change, division, or separation. This is not a Nestorian division of Christ, but a boundary against both division and confusion.

  • Chalcedon (451)
  • St. Cyril of Alexandria, Third Letter to Nestorius
  • St. Leo, Tome to Flavian
  • St. Gregory Nazianzen, Epistle 101