the Council of Chalcedon
Answer (1)
The Council of Chalcedon, convened in 451 AD, was the fourth ecumenical council of the Christian Church. It was called by Emperor Marcian to address the controversy surrounding the nature of Jesus Christ, specifically the belief in one divine nature (Monophysitism) championed by Eutyches. The council affirmed the dual nature of Christ - fully human and fully divine - and adopted the Chalcedonian Definition, which has become a foundational text for Christian theology. Here's a more detailed look at the Council of Chalcedon:Background:The Council of Chalcedon was convened to address a long-standing debate about the nature of Jesus Christ, particularly following the controversy surrounding the teaching of Eutyches, who proposed that Christ possessed only one divine nature. Earlier ecumenical councils, like the First Council of Nicaea (325 AD), had already addressed Christological issues, but the debate continued, leading to the Council of Chalcedon. The Second Council of Ephesus (449 AD), often referred to as the "Robber Synod," had sided with Eutyches, leading to further controversy and the need for a more definitive resolution. The Chalcedonian Definition:The Council of Chalcedon affirmed the Nicene Creed and its later amendments, along with the teachings of St. Cyril of Alexandria and Pope Leo I. The council adopted the Chalcedonian Definition, which declared that Christ is "perfect God and perfect Man, of a reasonable soul and body; begotten of the Father before the ages, and born in the last days of the Virgin Mary for us and for our salvation". The definition emphasized the "hypostatic union" of the two natures of Christ, meaning that the human and divine natures are united in one person, Jesus Christ. Key Outcomes and Significance:The Council of Chalcedon established a clear understanding of the nature of Christ, which has been a cornerstone of Christian theology for centuries. The council's decisions have been accepted by the Roman Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Church, and most Protestant denominations. The Council of Chalcedon was also significant for its elevation of the sees of Constantinople and Jerusalem to the status of patriarchates, which had a lasting impact on the governance of the Church. Despite the council's decision, some Christian communities, particularly in Egypt, Palestine, and Armenia, did not accept the Chalcedonian Definition and continued to hold to the Monophysite belief, leading to a schism within the Christian Church.
