1. The Seven Ecumenical Councils
Lesson 8: The Council of Chalcedon

2. Background to the Council

3. Background to the Council
Council of Ephesus, 381
Pelagius condemned – Rome
Nestorius condemned – Alexandria
Two Natures of Christ affirmed – Antioch

4. Background to the Council
Alexandria & “One Nature after the Union” - Cyril
Antioch assumed this had died; it had not
Dioscorus
Cyril’s successor in Alexandria
Renewed One Nature debates, despite Ephesus’ Ruling
Theodoret of Cyrus
Likely to become Patriarch of Antioch
Treated Ephesus as a one-sided Antiochene victory

5. Background to the Council
Eutyches / Eutychean Controversy
Elderly monk in Constantinople
Favored Alexandrian theology
Took it further: “two natures before the union, one nature after”
Appeared to Antiochenes as a rejection of Christ’s humanity

6. Background to the Council
“Drop of wine in the ocean of deity”
Probably meant that Christ’s body was “deified” because of the Union
I.e., Logos transformed the humanity, but not the other way around
Implied revival of Docetism?
Hybrid human/divine nature

7. Robber Synod of Ephesus, 449

8. Robber Synod, 449
Dioscorus manipulates bishops in Constantinople to condemn Eutyches in a synod in 448
Was acting from false motives
Gave Eutyches refuge in Alexandria
Force a confrontation with Antioch & the Patriarch of Constantinople
Eutyches is condemned at the synod, Council is planned for 449 to settle things

9. Robber Synod, 449 Eutyches appeals to the Pope
Dioscorus uses Alexandrian wealth to sway the Emperor
Flavian, Bishop of Constantinople is caught in the middle
Had to support the Synod – his bishops
Had to support the Emperor, who was being bought by Alexandria

10. Robber Synod, 449 Dioscorus thinks he’s won before the fight
Brings heavily armed gang of monks, just in case; gains control
Eutyches and the two natures are affirmed
Theodoret of Cyrus and his “Nestorianizers” are condemned as “contenders with God”
Deposed & almost burned!

11. Robber Synod, 449
Meanwhile Flavian arrives with a letter from Pope Leo of Rome condemning Eutyches (Leo’s Tome)
Flavian tries to read the Tome, but is beaten by Dioscorus’ monks and dies shortly later
Emperor Theodosius II rules in favor of the synod, considers it an Ecumenical Council
Antioch, Constantinople appeal to Leo

12. Robber Synod, 449
Leo writes to the Emperor to demand the ruling be reversed & called for a new council
Theodosius responds in 450, refusing all Leo’s demands.
Leo began organizing a new council anyway
Emperor rarely left the East
Pope was becoming the de facto emperor in the West
East-West schism seemed inevitable by 450

13. Robber Synod, 449
July 28, 450 – Theodosius dies in an accident when thrown from his horse
His sister, Pulcheria & Marcian (her husband), succeeded
Began to reverse “Ephesus II”
Buries Flavian with honors in Hagia Sophia
Planned for a new Council
Circulated Leo’s Tome

14. Council of Chalcedon, 451

15. Council of Chalcedon, 451 Imperial Couple & 18 Officials attended
500 bishops attended
Leo’s followers on one side
Dioscorus & his supporters on the other
Theodoret is brought in, honored
Riot almost breaks out; Empress & guard settle things

16. Council of Chalcedon, 451 Robber synod acts read and discussed
Dioscorus’ supporters gradually changed sides
They express remorse for Theodoret’s persecution and Flavian’s death
All the bishops vote to depose Dioscorus, who was unrepentant
Imperial Couple ratify the decision
“Chalcedonian Definition” drafted and approved

17. Chalcedonian Definition

18. Chalcedonian Definition
We, then, following the holy Fathers, all with one consent, teach people to confess one and the same Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, the same perfect in Godhead and also perfect in manhood; truly God and truly man, of a reasonable [rational] soul and body; consubstantial [co-essential] with the Father according to the Godhead, and consubstantial with us according to the Manhood;

19. Chalcedonian Definition
in all things like unto us, without sin; begotten before all ages of the Father according to the Godhead, and in these latter days, for us and for our salvation, born of the Virgin Mary, the Mother of God, according to the Manhood; one and the same Christ, Son, Lord, only begotten, to be acknowledged in two natures, inconfusedly, unchangeably, indivisibly, inseparably;

20. Chalcedonian Definition
the distinction of natures being by no means taken away by the union, but rather the property of each nature being preserved, and concurring in one Person and one Subsistence, not parted or divided into two persons, but one and the same Son, and only begotten God, the Word, the Lord Jesus Christ; as the prophets from the beginning [have declared] concerning Him, and the Lord Jesus Christ Himself has taught us, and the Creed of the holy Fathers has handed down to us.

21. Canons of Chalcedon

22. Canons of Chalcedon Reaffirms prior canons of major Synods/Councils
Condemns Simony (buying/selling of Ecclesiastical offices/ordinations)
Denounces clergy being secular businessmen, except for if bishops assign them to run orphanages/widows’ houses or if they are legally bound to take care of minors

23. Canons of Chalcedon
Domestic oratories & monasteries can only be established with the bishop’s permission; slaves may not become monks without their masters’ permission
Clergy may not “shop” dioceses/cities
No “at large” ordinations – ordinations must be particular
Clergy & monks cannot have military or secular dignities
Visiting clergy must submit to the bishop in the territory in which he visits

24. Canons of Chalcedon Clergy must not be litigious
Clergy must not be on the clergy-lists in two cities
The poor who journey for help must have “letters pacificatory and not commendatory” [interpretation is greatly divided as to what this is referring to]
Provinces shall not be cut in two
Clergy must have commendatory letters when transferring to another city

25. Canons of Chalcedon
Cantors or Lectors [minor orders] who have married by schismatics, can bring their children who are baptized to communion. The unbaptized children are counted as new converts, not catechized
Deaconesses cannot be ordained under age 40, and may not marry
Monks and Nuns shall not marry

26. Canons of Chalcedon
Rural parishes that have been under the same bishop for 30 years or more shall remain so. If there has been a dispute within the last 30 years, affiliation must be adjudicated
Clergy and Monks may not meet in convocation to conspire against their bishops
Local synods shall be held semiannually to deal with local matters
Clergy of one city shall not be assigned to another

27. Canons of Chalcedon
Clergy or laymen may not make rash charges against a bishop
Someone who seizes the goods of his deceased bishop shall be deposed
Clergy or monks who spend too much time at the capitol to cause trouble shall be deported
A monastery erected with the bishop’s consent shall not be moved

28. Canons of Chalcedon
Bishops shall be ordained within three months, unless there is grave necessity
A steward shall be chosen by the bishop from among his clergy to handle business
Eloping is forbidden
The bishop of “New Rome” shall have the same honor as the bishop of “Old Rome”

29. Canons of Chalcedon
Bishops shall not be degraded to the rank of presbyter. If he is unjustly deposed, he shall be restored to the episcopacy
Since Egyptian custom is that the clergy cannot subscribe without the permission of the Archbishop, they are not blamed for waiting to subscribe to Leo’s Tome until an Archbishop is appointed.

30. Aftermath

31. Canons of Chalcedon Schisms Nestorian – Assyrian Church of the East
Monophysite – Oriental Orthodox (e.g. Coptic)
Chalcedonian Definition Accepted
Roman Catholics
Eastern Orthodox
Most Protestants