Understanding the Council of Chalcedon — What We Believe as Oriental Orthodox

If you've ever wondered why the Orthodox Church is sometimes divided into "Eastern" and "Oriental" branches, the Council of Chalcedon, held in 451 AD, is a key moment to understand. For us as Oriental Orthodox Christians, this council is not one we accept—and here's why, in simple and respectful terms.

What Was the Issue?

The main debate at Chalcedon was about how to speak about Christ's divinity and humanity. Everyone agreed Jesus is fully God and fully man, but the way this was expressed caused a serious divide.

The Council of Chalcedon declared that Jesus exists in “two natures,” one divine and one human, united in one person “without confusion, change, division, or separation.”

But as Oriental Orthodox Christians, we do not accept this definition. Not because we deny Christ’s humanity or divinity—we fully affirm both—but because the language of “two natures” after the union sounds to us like it could separate Christ’s divinity and humanity too much.

What Do We Believe?

We follow the teachings of St. Cyril of Alexandria, who spoke of “one incarnate nature of God the Word” (miaphysis in Greek). This doesn’t mean that Jesus is only divine, or that His humanity was lost—it means that in the mystery of the Incarnation, the divine and human were united so completely that they form one united nature in the one person of Christ.

We call this understanding Miaphysitism, not Monophysitism. Miaphysitism means one united nature, not one that erases the other. We firmly believe that Jesus is fully God and fully human, in a complete and real union.

Why Didn't We Accept Chalcedon?

Our Church believed the definition at Chalcedon, while trying to be precise, departed from the language of St. Cyril and risked misunderstanding the mystery of Christ. It seemed like it was dividing Christ into “two persons” rather than uniting Him as one.

Because of this, we and other Oriental Orthodox Churches (like the Coptic, Armenian, Ethiopian, Eritrean, Syriac, and Indian Orthodox Churches) did not accept the Council of Chalcedon, and a division arose that remains to this day.

Why It Matters Today

• You are part of a faithful Church: Our tradition has held firm to the teachings of the early Fathers, especially St. Cyril, and preserved a rich understanding of the Incarnation.

• Christ is fully united: You can be confident that when you pray to Jesus, you’re praying to the One who is fully God and fully man—One person who knows your human struggles and has divine power to save.

• Dialogue continues: In recent decades, many Eastern and Oriental Orthodox theologians have come closer in understanding, realizing that the division may have been more about language than true heresy. There is hope for greater unity in the future.

  
  

How to Respond

When you hear about Chalcedon, remember that your faith is rooted in the ancient Church and in a deep reverence for the mystery of the Incarnation. Let that truth shape how you worship, pray, and live. Jesus Christ, the one Lord, is both divine and human, united in one glorious Person—and He is with you.