Council of Chalcedon facts for kids
The Council of Chalcedon was a very important meeting of Christian leaders. It happened from October 8 to November 1, 451, in a city called Chalcedon. This city is now part of Istanbul, in modern-day Turkey. The main goal of the council was to discuss and agree on what Christians believe about Jesus Christ, especially about how he could be both fully God and fully human.
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What the Council Decided
At the Council of Chalcedon in 451, Christian leaders made a very clear statement about Jesus Christ. This statement is often called the "Confession of Chalcedon."
They agreed on these key points:
Following the holy Fathers, we unanimously teach and confess one and the same Son, our Lord Jesus Christ: the same perfect in divinity and perfect in humanity, the same truly God and truly man, composed of rational soul and body; consubstantial with the Father as to his divinity and consubstantial with us as to his humanity; "like us in all things but sin." He was begotten from the Father before all ages as to his divinity and in these last days, for us and for our salvation, was born as to his humanity of the virgin Mary, the Mother of God.
We confess that one and the same Christ, Lord, and only-begotten Son, is to be acknowledged in two natures without confusion, change, division, or separation. The distinction between natures was never abolished by their union, but rather the character proper to each of the two natures was preserved as they came together in one person (prosopon) and one hypostasis.
In simpler words, the council said that Jesus is:
- Fully God and fully human at the same time.
- He has a human soul and body.
- He is like God the Father in his divine nature.
- He is like us in his human nature, but without sin.
- He was born from God before time began (as God).
- He was born from the Virgin Mary (as human) to save us.
The council also made it clear that Jesus has two "natures" (divine and human) that are joined together perfectly. These two natures do not get mixed up or changed. They remain distinct but are united in one person.
The Result: A Split in the Church
For some Christian groups, the detailed definitions made at Chalcedon were hard to accept. Because of these differences, the Oriental Orthodox Churches separated from the main church. This main church later became the Roman Catholic and the Eastern Orthodox Church. This split was a major event in Christian history.
Related pages
Images for kids
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Council of Chalcedon in the Nuremberg Chronicle
See also
In Spanish: Concilio de Calcedonia para niños
