Chalcedonian Definition facts for kids

The Chalcedonian Definition (also called the Chalcedonian Creed) is an important statement about the nature of Jesus. It was agreed upon at a big meeting called the Council of Chalcedon in the year 451 AD. This meeting took place in Chalcedon, an old Christian city in what is now Turkey.

The Definition says that Jesus is both fully God and fully human. This idea is called "dyophysite" (meaning "two natures"). Many major Christian churches accept this definition. These include the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox churches, and many Protestant churches like Lutherans, Anglicans, and Reformed churches.

However, some churches, known as Oriental Orthodox churches, did not accept this definition. Because of this, they are sometimes called "Non-Chalcedonian" churches.

Why the Council Happened

The Council of Chalcedon was the fourth of the early major church councils. It was called to settle a big argument about Jesus's nature. A monk named Eutyches believed Jesus had only "one nature." This idea caused a lot of disagreement.

The Council first confirmed two older important statements of faith: the Nicene Creed (from 325 AD) and the Constantinople Creed (from 381 AD). It also approved letters from important church leaders like Cyril of Alexandria and Pope Leo I.

What the Definition Says

The main part of the Chalcedonian Definition explains Jesus's two natures. It says that Jesus is one and the same Son, perfect in his God-nature and perfect in his human-nature. He is truly God and truly human.

Here is a key part of what it says:

Following, then, the holy Fathers, we all unanimously teach that our Lord Jesus Christ is to us One and the same Son, the Self-same Perfect in Godhead, the Self-same Perfect in Manhood; truly God and truly Man; the Self-same of a rational soul and body; co-essential with the Father according to the Godhead, the Self-same co-essential with us according to the Manhood; like us in all things, sin apart; before the ages begotten of the Father as to the Godhead, but in the last days, the Self-same, for us and for our salvation (born) of Mary the Virgin Theotokos as to the Manhood; One and the Same Christ, Son, Lord, Only-begotten; acknowledged in Two Natures unconfusedly, unchangeably, indivisibly, inseparably; the difference of the Natures being in no way removed because of the Union, but rather the properties of each Nature being preserved, and (both) concurring into One Person and One Hypostasis; not as though He was parted or divided into Two Persons, but One and the Self-same Son and Only-begotten God, Word, Lord, Jesus Christ; even as from the beginning the prophets have taught concerning Him, and as the Lord Jesus Christ Himself hath taught us, and as the Symbol of the Fathers hath handed down to us.

This statement helped to correct several beliefs that the church considered wrong:

• It said Jesus is "co-essential with the Father" (meaning of the same divine being as God the Father). This was against Arianism, which taught Jesus was not fully God.
• It said Jesus is "co-essential with us" (meaning of the same human being as us). This was against Apollinarianism, which taught Jesus didn't have a full human soul.
• It said Jesus has "Two Natures unconfusedly, unchangeably." This was against Eutychianism, which taught Jesus's human nature was absorbed into his divine nature.
• It said Jesus's natures are "indivisibly, inseparably" united in one person. This was against Nestorianism, which seemed to divide Jesus into two separate persons.

Why Some Churches Disagreed

The Chalcedonian Definition was accepted by churches in the West. However, some churches in the East did not agree with it. For example, the bishops from Armenia could not attend the council.

The Coptic Church of Alexandria was one of the main churches that disagreed. They preferred to say that Christ was "out of two natures" rather than "in two natures." They felt the Definition sounded too much like Nestorianism, which they had already condemned.

This disagreement about Jesus's "two natures" led to a split. The churches that did not accept the Chalcedonian Definition became the Oriental Orthodox churches. These include the Coptic Church of Egypt, the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, the Syriac Orthodox Church, and the Armenian Apostolic Church. They believe that Jesus has one united nature that is both divine and human, without being divided.

See also

In Spanish: Definición de Calcedonia para niños