Church History and Patrology Church History and Patrology

• CH_Pat_1: CH_Pat_1: 11stst Century; Foundation of the Church Century; Foundation of the Church• CH_Pat_2: CH_Pat_2: 11stst Century; Examples of the Apostolic Fathers Century; Examples of the Apostolic Fathers• CH_Pat_3: CH_Pat_3: 11stst Century; Heresies and Martyrdom Century; Heresies and Martyrdom• CH_Pat_4: CH_Pat_4: 22ndnd and 3 and 3rdrd Centuries; Anti-Nicene Fathers Centuries; Anti-Nicene Fathers• CH_Pat_5: CH_Pat_5: 22ndnd and 3 and 3rdrd Centuries; Anti-Nicene Fathers of Centuries; Anti-Nicene Fathers of the School of Alexandriathe School of Alexandria• CH_Pat_6: CH_Pat_6: 44thth Century; 1 Century; 1stst Ecumenical Council (Nicaea) Ecumenical Council (Nicaea)• CH_Pat_7: CH_Pat_7: 44thth Century; 2 Century; 2ndnd Ecumenical Council Ecumenical Council (Constantinople)(Constantinople)

CH_Pat_8: 5th Century; 3nd Ecumenical Council (Ephesus I) until Chalcedon

The Church in the The Church in the 5th Century5th Century

1) The 31) The 3rdrd Ecumenical Council Ecumenical Council(Ephesus I at 431 AD)(Ephesus I at 431 AD)

2) Ephesus II and Chalcedon2) Ephesus II and Chalcedon

L8: The Church in the 5L8: The Church in the 5thth Century CenturyThe Council of EphesusThe Council of Ephesus

Christ’s Two Nature HeresyChrist’s Two Nature Heresy

Against the Theotokos HeresyAgainst the Theotokos Heresy

11stst Council of Ephesus Council of Ephesus

22ndnd Council of Ephesus Council of Ephesus

The Council of ChalcedonThe Council of Chalcedon

Christ’s Two Nature Heresy Christ’s Two Nature Heresy 1)1) By Nestorius Patriarch of ConstantinopleBy Nestorius Patriarch of Constantinople

2)2) The Heresy:The Heresy:• Christ was 2 separate persons; a human born Christ was 2 separate persons; a human born

from St. Mary then the divine settled in it.from St. Mary then the divine settled in it.• The divine Christ could not suffer nor die on The divine Christ could not suffer nor die on

the cross. the cross.

3)3) The Defense:The Defense:• St. Cyril the 24St. Cyril the 24thth Pope of Alexandria Pope of Alexandria• The union of the divinity with humanity occurred at the The union of the divinity with humanity occurred at the

same time in St. Mary’s wombsame time in St. Mary’s womb• The two nature in Christ are without mix or change => The two nature in Christ are without mix or change =>

the example of the molten iron in firethe example of the molten iron in fire

Against the Theotokos Heresy Against the Theotokos Heresy

1)1) By Nestorius Patriarch of ConstantinopleBy Nestorius Patriarch of Constantinople

2)2) The Heresy:The Heresy:• St. Mary gave birth to the human Christ and St. Mary gave birth to the human Christ and

thus cannot have the title “Mother of God” thus cannot have the title “Mother of God”

3)3) The Defense:The Defense:• The nature of the Word was not originated by The nature of the Word was not originated by

St. Mary but the Word was hypostatically St. Mary but the Word was hypostatically united with the flesh in the sanctified St. united with the flesh in the sanctified St. Mary’s womb Mary’s womb

• The human mother has no share in creating The human mother has no share in creating the spirit of her child yet she is the mother of the spirit of her child yet she is the mother of the whole person not only his physical nature the whole person not only his physical nature

The 1The 1stst Council of Ephesus Council of Ephesus

1)1)Called by Emperor Theodosius at 431 AD Called by Emperor Theodosius at 431 AD

2)2)Attended by 200 bishops; the main figure is Attended by 200 bishops; the main figure is St. Cyril the 24St. Cyril the 24thth Pope of Alexandria Pope of Alexandria

3)3)The council excommunicated Nestorius, The council excommunicated Nestorius, exiled to Ekhmim in upper Egypt until diedexiled to Ekhmim in upper Egypt until died

4)4)The council laid down the beginning of the The council laid down the beginning of the creed “We exalt you, O mother of the true creed “We exalt you, O mother of the true Light….”Light….”

The 2The 2ndnd Council of Ephesus Council of Ephesus

1)1)Held at 449 AD to defend against the heresy Held at 449 AD to defend against the heresy of Eutyches (head of a monastery) of Eutyches (head of a monastery)

2)2)The other extreme of Nerstorius; Christ has The other extreme of Nerstorius; Christ has one Divine nature but took supernatural one Divine nature but took supernatural humanity; not a real one thus Christ is only humanity; not a real one thus Christ is only Divine appeared in a human (Monophysite)Divine appeared in a human (Monophysite)

3)3)In the council, Eutyches and followers In the council, Eutyches and followers regretted their views and were forgivenregretted their views and were forgiven

The Chalcedonian CouncilThe Chalcedonian Council1)1)Held at 451 AD to overcome the strong Coptic Held at 451 AD to overcome the strong Coptic Patriarch and leadership Patriarch and leadership

2)2)Pope Dioscorus of Alexandria (25Pope Dioscorus of Alexandria (25 thth) held a local ) held a local council to excommunicate bishop “Leo” of Rome when council to excommunicate bishop “Leo” of Rome when he confessed the Nestorian heresy. he confessed the Nestorian heresy.

3)3)In turn, Leo held the Chalcedonian council and In turn, Leo held the Chalcedonian council and accused wrongly Pope Dioscorus with accused wrongly Pope Dioscorus with “Monophysite” , excommunicated and exiled him“Monophysite” , excommunicated and exiled him

4)4)This lead to the 1This lead to the 1stst division in the church. division in the church.

5)5)The right description of our church is “Miaphysite”The right description of our church is “Miaphysite”