The ancient Christian communion divided by a single word
For centuries, a theological dispute over how to describe the nature of Christ has kept millions of Christians apart. Known as the Oriental Orthodox, these ancient churches follow a unique Christology that once shared communion with Rome, but split following the pivotal Council of Chalcedon in AD 451.
The schism that defined the Oriental Orthodox identity centers on the distinction between 'two natures' and 'one nature.' While the Council of Chalcedon established the doctrine that Christ exists in two natures—human and divine—the Oriental Orthodox adhere to Miaphysite Christology. They reject the Chalcedonian definition, viewing it as dangerously close to Nestorianism, which they believe separates Christ's humanity from his divinity. Instead, they follow the formula of Cyril of Alexandria: 'one nature of God the Incarnate Logos.'
This division is not merely academic; it has shaped the history of entire regions. These six autocephalous churches—the Coptic, Syriac, Armenian, Malankara, Ethiopian, and Eritrean—have been central to the cultures of Egypt, Ethiopia, Armenia, and India. While they were once in communion with the Roman and Church of the East churches, political and theological shifts, such as the Byzantine Emperor Justin I's enforcement of Chalcedonian decisions in 518, solidified the separation.
Despite the historical rift, the 20th century has seen a remarkable era of ecumenical rapprochement. Since the mid-1900s, dialogues between Oriental Orthodox leaders and the Roman Catholic Church have led to significant breakthroughs. By the 1980s and 1990s, joint declarations between the Syriac, Armenian, and Coptic churches and Rome suggested that the ancient divisions were largely the result of linguistic and cultural misunderstandings rather than fundamental differences in faith. Today, an estimated 72 million people belong to this ancient communion.
Source: Oriental Orthodox Churches
