Monophysitism facts for kids

Monophysitism is an idea about the nature of Jesus Christ. It teaches that Jesus Christ had only one nature. This nature was completely divine, meaning it was like God's nature.

Different Views of Monophysitism

There are two main ideas that are often called Monophysite:

Eutychianism: One Combined Nature

Eutychianism is an idea from a person named Eutyches. It says that Jesus's human and divine natures mixed together. They formed one new, single nature. Eutyches described it like a "drop of honey in the sea." This meant the human nature was absorbed by the divine nature.

Apollinarism: Divine Mind in a Human Body

Apollinarism is another idea, from Apollinaris of Laodicea. It says that Jesus had a human body. He also had a human "living principle" (like a soul). But, Apollinaris believed that Jesus's mind was not human. Instead, the Divine Logos (God's Word) took the place of his human mind.

Why Monophysitism Was Rejected

After another idea called Nestorianism was rejected, Eutyches, a leader in Constantinople, shared his new views. However, Monophysitism and Eutyches's ideas were also rejected. This happened at an important meeting called the Council of Chalcedon in the year 451.

Even though it was rejected by many, Monophysitism was accepted in places like Syria, the Levant, and Egypt. This caused many disagreements and problems in the early years of the Byzantine Empire.

Later, a new idea called Monothelitism was developed. This was an attempt to find a middle ground. It tried to bring together the Monophysite and the Chalcedonian views. But Monothelitism was also rejected by the churches that followed the Council of Chalcedon. Even some Byzantine emperors and a Pope named Honorius I supported it for a time.

The Oriental Orthodox Churches have their own belief called Miaphysitism. Some people mistakenly think Miaphysitism is a type of Monophysitism. However, the Oriental Orthodox Churches believe their theology is different. They also reject Eutyches's specific ideas.