1. Church History, Fifth century
Pope Cyril, The Pillar of Faith
Pope Dioscorus, The Defender of Faith
The Council of Ephesus
The Second Council of Ephesus
The Council of Chalcedon

2. Pope Cyril (Kyrillos), The Pillar of Faith (24th Pope of Alexandria)
Synexarium: Apip 3 (June 25)
On this day, of the year 160 A.D. (June 27th, 444 AD), the great father, the pillar of faith and the lamp of the Orthodox church, St. Kyrillos (Cyril) the First, the Alexandrian Pope, and the twenty-fourth Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, departed.
    This saint was the son of the sister of Pope Theophilus (23rd patriarch). He was raised by his uncle at the school of Alexandria where he was educated in its Theological and Philosophical subjects needed to defend Christianity and the Orthodox faith. After he learned a great deal of these subjects, his uncle sent him to the monastery of St. Macarius in the wilderness. There, he became a disciple to a righteous old monk called Sarabamon. He taught him the church books, and the sayings of the pure fathers. He trained his mind and body by practicing the works of righteousness and virtues for a period of time.
    After he spent in the wilderness five years, Pope Theophilus sent him to Abba Sarapion, the honorable bishop, so he increased in wisdom and knowledge. Shortly after, the bishop returned him to Alexandria. His uncle was rejoiced, ordained him a deacon, appointed him a preacher in the cathedral and made him his scribe. Whenever Kyrillos gave a sermon, he captured the hearts of his listeners with his eloquence, fluency, and his strong influence. Since that time, he became well known for his vast knowledge, his great righteousness, and his deep influence in his teaching. When his uncle Pope Theophilus departed in the 18th of Babah 128 A.M. (October 15th , 412 A.D.), they enthroned this father in his place on the 20th of Babah, 128 A.M. (Oct. 17th , 412 A.D.). The church was illumined with his knowledge, and he gave special attention to resisting paganism and defending the Christian faith. He started to refute the falsity of Emperor Julian the Infidel in his ten essays that had been written after his apostasy. These were the favorite readings of the pagan young people of Alexandria and their pride, for they believed that it destroyed the principles of the Christian faith. Pope Kyrillos refuted them in terms that were clear, strong and convincing.
    He set out to rebut the heretics until he was able to close their churches and seize their contents. He ordered the expulsion of the Jews from Alexandria which led to a disturbance and confrontation between the Jews and the Christians. This led to the widening of the contention between the governor and this great saint. Because of his strong devotion to the Christian ethics and teachings, he found himself compelled to ask for reconciliation with the governor. However, the governor refused to accept the reconciliation, and the conflict between them continued for a period of time.
    When the heresy of Nestorius, Patriarch of Constantinople, emerged, a Universal Council convened for him. He denied that the Virgin was the mother of God (Theotokos). Two hundred bishops assembled in the city of Ephesus during the reign of Emperor Theodosius II, known by Theodosius the Less. St. Cyril (Kyrillos), Pope of Alexandria, presided over this council. He debated Nestorius, explained to him his heretic opinion, and threatened him with excommunication and exile from his Chair, if he did not change his erroneous opinion. St. Kyrillos composed twelve discourses wherein he explained the true faith, refuting the error of Nestorius. Anba John, Patriarch of Antioch, and some of the bishops of the East disagreed with him, taking Nestorius' side. Nevertheless, shortly after, they came back and agreed with Kyrillos who was victorious over the enemies of the church. He wrote many discourses and valuable epistles, confirming in them, that God the Word is One Nature, One Will, and One Person incarnated. He anathematized anyone who separated Christ or differed from this true faith. The Emperor exiled Nestorius in the year 435 A.D. to the land of Egypt, and remained in the city of Akhmim until his death in the year 440 A.D. From the monumental works of Pope Kyrillos was the commentary of the Holy Books. 
    When he finished his strife, he fell sick for a short time and departed in peace. He remained on the Alexandrian Chair for thirty-one years, eight months, and ten days.
May his prayers be with us. Amen.
2. On this day also, the great Pope Celestine, bishop of the city of Rome, departed (July 27th, 432 A.D.). This saint was the disciple of St. Boniface, bishop of Rome. At the time of his death, he commended that father Celestine would succeed him, and then he cautioned him saying, "Take heed O my son for there would be ravening wolves in the city of Rome." This father was a righteous and well learned monk. When Pope Boniface departed on September 4th, 422 A.D., they ordained Celestine in his place on September 10th, 422 A.D., during the reign of Emperor Honorius. This Emperor died in ...

3. Pope Cyril, The Pillar of Faith
Short Biography:
+ Born 376 AD (Son of the sister of his predecessor Pope Theophilus, 23rd Patriarch).
+ Ordained deacon, then priest in Alexandria‘s Cathedral. He captured the hearts of his listeners with his eloquence, fluency, and his strong influence.
+ Unanimously elected Pope on October 17, 412 AD.
+ Departed on June 25, 444 AD after steering the Church through storm and calm for c. 31 years.

4. Pope Cyril, The Pillar of Faith
God’s Purpose in St. Cyril’s Life:
+ Educated at the school of Alexandria where he studied theological and philosophical subjects needed to defend the faith.
+ Spent 5 years at St. Macarius’ monastery where he assimilated the wisdom of the desert fathers (from Abba Sarabamoun).
+ Spent few months with Bishop Serapion where he increased wisdom and knowledge.

5. Pope Cyril, The Pillar of Faith
St. Cyril’s Achievements:
+ Defended the Church against the apostasies of Emperor Julian.
+ Central figure in the First Council of Ephesus in 431 AD, led to the deposition of Nestorius, Patriarch of Constantinople.
Excerpts from the Coptic Encyclopaedia on Pope Cyril’s Life:
His Christian Zeal
the rise of the Nestorian heresy. Abba Cyril directly set himself to
power to defend the Church against the apostasies of Emperor Julian and
As soon as he was consecrated Pope of Alexandria, he dedicated all his
refute them in terms that were clear, strong and convincing.
there were two distinct persons in Christ. According to the Nestorian
of Constantinople; and he there taught with some of his clergy that
In the year 428 Nestorius, a priest-monk of Antioch, was made archbishop
reach of human frailty, and the other human and susceptible to all the
concept, Christ was two separate persons, the one divine and beyond the
and died apart from the divine Christ. Nestorius had spoken out against
and therefore, on the Cross it was the human Christ alone who suffered
fragility of the flesh. The divine Christ could neither suffer or die,
calling the blessed Virgin Mary the ``Theotokos'' or ``Mother-of-God.''
doctrine of the indivisible union of the divine and human natures of
Abba Cyril strongly contested these views expounding the Orthodox
Apostles taught us and the doctrine of our Fathers. And just as the
mother is the ``Mother-of-God'' who bore Him forever. This is what the
Christ, and arguing that if Jesus Christ is God, it follows that his
considered the mother of the whole person, and not merely the mother of
human mother, has no share in creating the soul of her child, yet is
His entirety.
his physical nature; so it is with Mary who is the Mother of Christ in
to be convinced that he had fallen into a heretic way of thinking. A
idea which is equivalent to blasphemy, but the later obstinately refused
Saint Cyril wrote letters to Nestorius urging him to stop promoting an
situation developed that was somewhat similar to that which had
Athanasius had been against Arius. Just as Saint Athanasius had saved
faith and fiery zeal in his tenacious stand against Nestorius as Saint
developed between Saint Athanasius and Arius. Saint Cyril was as full of
in defending the Theotokos maintaining the Orthodox Doctrine concerning
the Faith concerning the Logos in the Nicene Creed, so did Saint Cyril
wrote in this regard.
the incarnation of the Logos in the Introduction to the Creed which he
of other Churches (Antioch, Jerusalem, Rome and Aleppo), and to the
haughtiness and contempt. He also sent a number of letters to the Heads
Saint Cyril sent Nestorius a mild expostulation, but was answered with
imperial family. He received several replies lauding his efforts and
the true faith, followed by 12 anathemas. Nestorius, however, showed
an exposition of the Nicene Creed and a second part, an affirmation of
siding with him. Saint Cyril also wrote another letter to Nestorius with
effort to antagonize Emperor Theodosius against Saint Cyril.
himself more obstinate than ever, refused to sign, and exerted every
The people of Constantinople themselves urged the Emperor to call a
Calling a General Council in Ephesus
June 431, attended by 200 bishops who elected Saint Cyril to preside
the summoning of the third general Council which was held at Ephesus in
Council of all the bishops to deal with this subject. This occasioned
him ``the proud pharaoh.'' Nestorius was present in the town, but
Emperor and of Nestorius towards him had not been changed; they called
over them on the authority of his own dignity. The attitudes of the
received against him, his doctrines were condemned, and a sentence of
refused to appear; so after his sermons had been read and other evidence
people of Ephesus who had gradually gathered outside the Church, and on
themselves to be indeed the worthy successors of the Nicene Fathers. The
excommunication and deposition was pronounced by the 200 who proved
bishops escorting them to their abodes.
brought their incense-burners, and formed a long procession for the
hearing the verdict of the Council, they shouted for joy, lit torches,
They were in favor of Nestorius, although they did not share his errors,
several of his bishops who had not been able to reach Ephesus in time.
Six days later there arrived at Ephesus Archbishop John of Antioch, with
to depose Saint Cyril, accusing him in turn of heresy. Both sides
themselves with the council, they assembled by themselves and presumed
of which indeed they deemed him innocent. Instead of associating
annulled. When three legates arrived from the Roman Church, the matter
both arrested and kept in confinement and the verdict of the Council
appealed to the Emperor, by whose order Saint Cyril and Nestorius were
declared the sentence pronounced against him void.
the legates condemned Nestorius, approved Saint Cyril's conduct, and
took another turn. After a careful consideration of what had been done,
consternation seized the people of Ephesus who supported the Ephesian
With the obstinacy of the Emperor in this regard, anger and
Dalmatius broke his habit and lead the people to the imperial palace
of his cell for 48 years, and whom Emperor Theodosius venerated highly.
Council. At their head was the hermit Dalmatius who had never gone out
the sentence passed on Nestorius and ordered his exile. Though the
completely changed and vindicated Saint Cyril with honor and ratified
chanting the psalms in the streets. The Emperor afterwards was
they made peace with Saint Cyril in 433, when they condemned Nestorius
bishops of the Antiochene province continued their schism for a while,
and gave a clear and orthodox declaration of their own faith.

6. Pope Cyril, The Pillar of Faith
St. Cyril’s Achievements, cont.:
+ His great devotion to the dogma of the Incarnation.
+ His great devotion to the Holy Eucharist.
+ His monumental works of commentaries on the Holy Scriptures.
His Great Devotion
We have to thank Saint Cyril for the firm and uncompromising stand he
took with regard to the dogma of the Incarnation - an attitude which led
to the clear statements of the great council over which he presided. We
ought indeed to be grateful that we, in our generation, are left in no
doubt as to what we should believe with regard to that holy mystery upon
which we base our faith as Christians. He was declared a doctor of the
Universal Church in 1882 (by the Roman Catholic Church).
The great devotion of this Saint to the Blessed Sacrament is manifest
from the frequency with which he emphasizes the effects it produces upon
those who receive it worthily. Indeed, he says that by Holy Communion we
are made concorporeal with Christ. And it must surely be difficult for
those who profess to hold the same faith as that defined in the first
six general councils to shut their eyes to the vigour and conviction
with which Saint Cyril before the year 431 affirmed his Eucharistic
doctrine. In a letter to Nestorius, which received the general and
formal assent of the fathers at Ephesus, he had written:
``Proclaiming the death according to the flesh of the only
begotten Son of God, that is, Jesus Christ, and confessing
His resurrection from the dead and ascent into Heaven, we
celebrate the bloodless sacrifice in our churches; and
thus approach the mystic blessings, and are sanctified
by partaking of the holy flesh and the precious blood
of Christ the Savior of us all. And we receive it, not
as common flesh (God forbid), nor as the flesh of a
man sanctified and associated with the Word according to
the unity of merit, or as having a divine indwelling, but
as a really the life-giving and very flesh of the Word
Himself.''
His Later Works
One of the noblest legacies bequeathed by Saint Cyril to the Church is
the Liturgy which bears his name. According to tradition, it had been
given orally by Saint Mark himself, but Saint Cyril completed it and
wrote it. This Liturgy overflows with deep spiritual insight and
reverberates the inmost yearnings towards God. It is an ancient custom
in the Coptic Church to chant it during Lent and during the month of
Koyahk.
The following is excerpted from a presentation by HH Pope Benedict XVI on Wednesday, 3 October [2007], during the General Audience in St. Peter's Square, translated from Italian, accessed through
“Cyril's writings — truly numerous and already widely disseminated in various Latin and Eastern translations in his own lifetime, attested to by their instant success — are of the utmost importance for the history of Christianity. His commentaries on many of the New and Old Testament Books are important, including those on the entire Pentateuch, Isaiah, the Psalms and the Gospels of John and Luke. Also important are his many doctrinal works, in which the defence of the Trinitarian faith against the Arian and Nestorian theses recurs.
The basis of Cyril's teaching is the ecclesiastical tradition and in particular, as I mentioned, the writings of Athanasius, his great Predecessor in the See of Alexandria. Among Cyril's other writings, the books Against Julian deserve mention. They were the last great response to the anti-Christian controversies, probably dictated by the Bishop of Alexandria in the last years of his life to respond to the work Against the Galileans, composed many years earlier in 363 by the Emperor known as the "Apostate" for having abandoned the Christianity in which he was raised.”

7. Pope Cyril, The Pillar of Faith
St. Cyril’s Achievements, cont.:
+ His Ecumenical Stature :
One of the Great Doctors of Eastern Orthodox Churches.
Doctor of the Church in the Catholic Church (also venerated by Anglicans and Lutherans).
Called: Pillar of Faith, 2nd Athanasius, Daring Lion, Burnished Lamp, Seal of all the Fathers.
The following is excerpted from a presentation by HH Pope Benedict XVI on Wednesday, 3 October [2007], during the General Audience in St. Peter's Square, translated from Italian, accessed through
“Cyril's writings — truly numerous and already widely disseminated in various Latin and Eastern translations in his own lifetime, attested to by their instant success — are of the utmost importance for the history of Christianity. His commentaries on many of the New and Old Testament Books are important, including those on the entire Pentateuch, Isaiah, the Psalms and the Gospels of John and Luke. Also important are his many doctrinal works, in which the defence of the Trinitarian faith against the Arian and Nestorian theses recurs.
The basis of Cyril's teaching is the ecclesiastical tradition and in particular, as I mentioned, the writings of Athanasius, his great Predecessor in the See of Alexandria. Among Cyril's other writings, the books Against Julian deserve mention. They were the last great response to the anti-Christian controversies, probably dictated by the Bishop of Alexandria in the last years of his life to respond to the work Against the Galileans, composed many years earlier in 363 by the Emperor known as the "Apostate" for having abandoned the Christianity in which he was raised.”

8. Pope Cyril, The Pillar of Faith
Events during St. Cyril’s Life:
+ Expulsion of Novatians and Jews from Alexandira.
+ Death of the hellenistic philosopher Hypatia.
From the Coptic Encyclopaedia:
He began to exert his authority by causing the churches of the Novatians
to be closed and their sacred vessels to be seized. He next drove out
the Jews, who were numerous and who had enjoyed privileges in the city
since the time of Alexander the Great. Their generally seditious
attitude and the several acts of violence committed by them decided him
to take this step, which incensed Orestes the governor, although it was
approved by the Emperor. During this period, Hypatia, a pagan woman of
noble character, was the most influential teacher of philosophy at that
time in Alexandria, and her reputation was so great that disciples
flocked to her from all parts. Among these was the great Bishop
Synesius, who submitted his works to her criticism. She was much
respected by the governor, who used to consult her even on matters of
civil administration. Acting upon a suspicion that Hypatia had incensed
the governor against their bishop, the crowd in 417 attacked her in the
streets, pulled her out of her chariot, and killed her.

9. The 3rd Ecumenical Council
Christ’s Two Nature Heresy
Against the Theotokos Heresy
1st Council of Ephesus
2nd Council of Ephesus
The Council of Chalcedon

10. The 3rd Ecumenical Council
Christ’s Two Nature Heresy
By Nestorius Patriarch of Constantinople
The Heresy:
Christ was 2 separate persons; a human born from St. Mary then the divine settled in it.
The divine Christ could not suffer nor die on the cross.
The Defense:
St. Cyril the 24th Pope of Alexandria
The union of the divinity with humanity occurred at the same time in St. Mary’s womb
The two nature in Christ are without mix or change => the example of the molten iron in fire
From Dr. Magdy’s Notes (copticservants.net/Patrology and Chruch History-2009):
Objective: Understand the heresy of Nestorius (two nature of Christ) and the church defense against it in the ecumenical council of Ephesus.
References:
Various references by Coptic fathers (in Arabic)
The Third Ecumenical Council, Ephesus 431 AD:
This council was held to defend Christianity against two heresies:
The Two Natures of our Lord Jesus Christ:
The author of this heresy was Nestorius Patriarch of Constantinople.
He taught that Christ was two separate persons; the one divine and beyond the reach of human frailty and the other human and susceptible to all the fragility of the flesh. The divine Christ could neither suffer nor die and therefore, on the cross it was the human Christ alone who suffered and died apart from the divine Christ.
St Cyril; the 24th Pope of Alexandria expounded the Orthodox doctrine of the indivisible union of the divine and human natures of Christ. One of the metaphors he used to illustrate his defense was that of the iron molten in an excessively high degree of heat. In that state the iron and the heat were united into one, and though there substances were two, there union was complete without mixing, nor fusion, nor change.
St. Cyril documented his defense in his Paschal letters, special epistles to the churches and in full-length books.
The title given to St. Mary:
Nestorius claimed that St. Mary, gave birth to the human Christ and thus cannot have the title of the “Mother of God” or the Theotokos.
St. Cyril defended this heresy by saying that the nature of the Word was not originated by St. Mary but within her the Word was hypostatically united with the sacred Body as St. John said “the Word was made flesh”. And just as the human mother has no share in creating the soul of her child yet is considered the mother of the whole person and not merely the mother of his physical nature, so it is with St. Mary who is the Mother of Christ in His entirety and hence is indeed the Mother of God.
The First Council of Ephesus:
The council was called by Emperor Theodosius in 431 A.D.
The council was attended by 200 bishops. The main figure of the council was St. Cyril of Alexandria.
The council defended the Christian faith against the heresies of Nestorius. Nestorius was excommunicated and exiled in Ekhmim in upper Egypt where he died. The council laid down the beginning of the Nicene-Constantinople creed “We exalt you, O mother of the true Light…”
After the council meetings were over, John the Bishop of Antioch and others arrived late. As they were believing in the two natures of Christ that became One (different from Nestorius), they held another council, excommunicated Pope Cyril and the bishop of Ephesus. When three legates arrived from the Roman Church, the matter took another turn. After a careful consideration of what had been done,
the legates condemned Nestorius, approved Saint Cyril's conduct, and declared the sentence pronounced against him void.

11. The 3rd Ecumenical Council
Against the Theotokos Heresy
By Nestorius Patriarch of Constantinople
The Heresy:
St. Mary gave birth to the human Christ and thus cannot have the title “Mother of God”
The Defense:
The nature of the Word was not originated by St. Mary but the Word was hypostatically united with the flesh in the sanctified St. Mary’s womb
The human mother has no share in creating the spirit of her child yet she is the mother of the whole person not only his physical nature

12. The 3rd Ecumenical Council
The 1st Council of Ephesus
Called by Emperor Theodosius at 431 AD
Attended by 200 bishops; the main figure is St. Cyril the 24th Pope of Alexandria
The council excommunicated Nestorius, exiled to Ekhmim in upper Egypt until died
The council laid down the beginning of the creed “We exalt you, O mother of the true Light….”

13. Pope Dioscorus (25th Pope of Alexandria
+ On the seventh day of the blessed month of Tute of the year 451 A.D., departed the blessed father and the great hero of the Orthodox faith, Pope Saint Dioscorus, the twenty fifth Pope of Alexandria. His departure took place on the island of Gangra, after he had fought a good fight defending the Orthodox faith.
+ When he was summoned to the council of Chalcedon by the order of Emperor Marcianus, he saw a great assembly of six hundred and thirty bishops. Pope Saint Dioscorus said, "In whom is faith lacking that it is necessary to gather this great assembly?" They told him, "This assembly has been convened by the emperor's command." He replied, "If this assembly has been convened by the command of our Lord Jesus Christ, I may stay and say what God gives me to say; but if this assembly has been convened by the emperor's command, let the emperor manage his assembly as he pleases." When he saw that Leo the Archbishop of Rome was teaching that Christ has two natures and two wills after His unity, he spoke to confute this new belief. He stated that our Lord Jesus Christ is one, He who was invited to the wedding as a man and changed the water into wine as a God, and that the two natures were not separate in all of His works. Quoting his predecessor Pope Cyril I, the Pillar of Faith, he said, "The union of the Word of God with the flesh is like the union of the spirit with the body, and like the union of the fire with iron: even if they are of two different natures, by unity they became one. Similarly, our Lord Jesus Christ is one Messiah, one Nature, and one Will." None of those who were gathered at that assembly dared to contradict him. Among them were some who attended the Council of Ephesus, which had been convened against Nestor. They informed the Emperor Marcianus and the Empress Policaria that no one disobeyed their commands concerning the faith except for Pope Saint Dioscorus the Pope of the City of Alexandria. They brought him, and the senior bishops of the Council debated and discussed the matter till it was evening, but St. Dioscorus would not deviate from his Orthodox belief.
+ The emperor and the empress were irritated at this, and the empress commanded to smite him on his mouth, and to pluck out the hair of his beard, which was done. He took the hair and the teeth that had dropped out, and sent them to Alexandria saying, "This is the fruit of Faith." When the rest of the bishops saw what had happened to Pope Saint Dioscorus, they agreed with the king, being afraid of undergoing the same fate. They signed the document of the belief that Christ has two distinct and seperate natures. When Pope St. Dioscorus knew this, he sent for the document pretending that he wanted to sign it too. But when he read the document, he wrote at its foot that he excommunicated them all as well as everyone who deviated from the Orthodox Faith. The king was enraged and he commanded to banish him to the island of Gagra, along with St. Macarius, the bishop of Edko, and two others, and the council of Chalcedon was resumed.
+ When they took Pope St. Dioscorus to the island of Gagra, its bishop, because he was a Nestorian, met him with contempt and disdain. But God performed miracles at the hands of Pope St. Dioscorus so that all obeyed him and magnified his greatness because God honors His chosen ones in every place. Pope St. Dioscorus told St. Macarius, his companion in exile, "You shall receive the crown of martyrdom in Alexandria." He sent him with one of the believing merchants to Alexandria, where he earned the crown of martyrdom.
+ Pope St. Dioscorus, having ended his good fight, departed from this worthless life and received the crown of eternal life. He departed in the island of Gagra where his body was laid.
May his blessings and prayers be with us all. Amen.

14. Pope Dioscorus (25th Pope of Alexandria
Short Biography:
+ Born in Alexandria.
+ Was elected and consecrated Pope in 449 AD.
+ Attained the Crown of Confession in his exile in Gangra island in 451 AD (17 September= 7th of Tute 167 AM).

15. Pope Dioscorus (25th Pope of Alexandria
God’s Purpose in St. Dioscorus’ Life:
+ Studied the Christian theology and was dean of the Catechetical School of Alexandria.
+ Was a pupil and secretary to Pope Cyril the 24th Pope of Alexandria.
+ Accompanied Pope Cyril at the third ecumenical council at Ephesus.

16. Pope Dioscorus (25th Pope of Alexandria
St. Dioscorus’ Achievements:
+ Defended Christ’s nature. The Alexandrian formula adopted by Sts. Cyril and Dioscorus was “one nature of God the Word Incarnate” which is in Greek “mia physis tou theo logou sesarkomene”.
+ He defended the faith in the second council of Ephesus in 449 AD against Eutychus and in the councils of Consantinople and Chalcedon (the Coptic Church does not recognise the latter two).

17. Pope Dioscorus (25th Pope of Alexandria
Other Events during St. Dioscorus’ Life:
+ Emperor Theodosius the less asked him to convene the second council of Ephesus in 449 AD to settle the theological disputes.
+ Emperor Marcianus and queen Pulcheria opposed Pope Dioscorus...
From the site of St. Mark & St. George Coptic Orthodox Church, Queesnland, Australia (
In the fifth century, an archimandrite from a monastery near Constantinople named Eutyches began to spread a new heresy, denying the nature of our Lord, saying that His body was an ethereal body which passed through the womb of the Virgin Saint Mary.
THE SCHISM
Subsequently, a local Council was convened of seven bishops, led by the Bishop of Constantinople, and supported by the Bishop of Rome, which condemned Eutyches as a heretic. He appealed to the bishops of all Christendom which led to a second council in Ephesus in 449 AD, attended by 130 bishops, under the leadership of Pope Disocorus of Alexandria. Eutyches submitted a full written confession, affirming the Nicene Creed, and he was therefore acquitted. Two years after the council of Ephesus, in AD 451, another Council was convened in Chalcedon. This council was characterized by political factors, leading to prejudices and conspiracies against the Church of Alexandria, and its patriarch Pope Dioscorus.
Politically, Alexandria was only a city under the rule of the Eastern Roman Empire whose capital was Constantinople, Rome being the capital of the Western Roman Empire. Theologically and ecumenically however, the patriarchs and popes of Alexandria played a lasting role in the first centuries of Christianity, and thus others envied them and began to create trouble, saying that the Church of Alexandria had nothing to do but to collect bishops for ecumenical councils and preside over these councils. By the time of the convening of the council of Chalcedon there was much prejudice against the Coptic Church.
At the council of Chalcedon, the Coptic Church was misquoted and its teachings were wrongly deemed as being Eutychean. The Patriarch of Alexandria was accused of being Eutychean because he had presided over the second Council of Ephesus which had absolved Eutyches, despite the fact that it was a Coptic council which had later condemned the heretical teachings of Eutyches once he had returned to them.
When Pope Dioscorus’ Orthodoxy could not be questioned, other accusations were raised, focusing on political issues such as the question of preventing Egyptian corn from being sent to other parts of the Empire. Neither Pope Dioscorus nor the civil judges were present when the council at Chalcedon handed down the verdict deposing him, mainly for having excommunicated the bishop of Rome. The verdict was passed down in his absence because he did not appear at the Council session after being summoned three times, although he was under house arrest at the time. Regardless of all this however, Pope Dioscorus could neither be stripped of Ecclesiastical honour nor exomunnicated because of his proclaimed Orthodoxy.
In a later session of the Council, at which the Egyptian delegation was not present, the supremacy of the Church of Constantinople and Rome was granted over the Church of Alexandria. The Egyptian church was labeled “monophysite” because of its emphasis upon the “one nature of Christ” (although this title was misinterpreted as covering either one of the Human or Divine natures of our Lord and ignoring the other), being based on the false assumption that the Coptic Fathers accepted the Eutychean view.
Historical facts, and the liturgy and doctrine of the Coptic Church prove the true Orthodoxy of the Coptic Church, until this day. Furthermore, it is now admitted by those who once accused the Coptic Church of being “monophysite,” that is believing in only one nature of our Lord Jesus Christ, that it was a misunderstanding arising from a problem of semantics, and the Coptic Church is now referred to as a “miaphysite,” that is recognizing both natures of our Lord, being joined inseparably in the “One Nature of God the Logos Incarnate.”
In the absence of representation of the Church of Alexandria, the Council of Chalcedon passed statements concerning the two natures of Christ and other ecclesiastical laws, which are not accepted by the Coptic Orthodox Church and the other Oriental Churches, such as the Syrian Orthodox, the Armenian Apostolic, the Ethiopian Orthodox, the Indian Orthodox, and the Eritrean Orthodox Churches. Therefore the Council of Chalcedon resulted in the first major “schism” or split, of the undivided Christian Church. Today, however, most scholars have agreed that the unfortunate events and decisions at the Council of Chalcedon were based upon misunderstandings and a misinterpretation of terms and words, rather than a question of Orthodoxy, and agreement has now been reached regarding the Nature of Christ between the Oriental family of Churches and the Eastern Orthodox Churches, and also the Catholic Church.
Unfortunately, however, the events of the Council of Chalcedon, were to have long-standing and far reaching effects upon the Coptic Church, which suffered greatly at the hands of the Chalcedonian rulers, and from that time it remained isolated from the rest of the Christian World, until the 20th century.
Pope Dioscours was exiled to the island of Gangra, off the coast of Asia Minor, where he died. During his exile, he led many to the Christian Faith, and returned numerous heretics to Orthodoxy. In his See in Alexandria, a Melkite (Greek) Patriarch was imposed but was not accepted by the people of Alexandria, who preferred to remain loyal to their exiled Patriarch. At this time, a wave of persecution arose in Alexandria, during which an estimated 30,000 people lost their lives. The “non-Chalcedonian” Coptic Church continued to suffer persecution at the hands of the Byzantine rulers and the rift within the Apostolic Churches widened.
For a period of almost 150 years under the rule of nine Byzantine emperors, Egypt experienced periods of fluctuating peace and oppression. After the death of Emperor Anastasius however, an era of Byzantine persecution and oppression began, lasting almost 120 years. During this period, patriarchs were banished, others were placed on the Patriarchal See, churches were destroyed, and people lost both their lives and possessions. Emperor Justinian closed all the churches, placing guards on them, and persecution against the Coptic Church continued. As a result, Egypt was reduced to an impoverished state while the rest of the Byzantine world enjoyed luxury, freedom and wealth.
Monophysitism: Reconsidered by Fr. Matthias F. Wahba St. Antonius Coptic Orthodox Church, Hayward, California, USA. Accessed through COPT NET from pharos.bu.edu.CN (saved on my hard desk Lacie under my documents/church/coptic studies/history).
However see :

18. The 3rd Ecumenical Council
The 2nd Council of Ephesus
Held at 449 AD to defend against the heresy of Eutyches (head of a monastery)
The other extreme of Nestorius; Christ has one Divine nature but took supernatural humanity; not a real one thus Christ is only Divine appeared in a human (Monophysite)
In the council, Eutyches and followers regretted their views and were forgiven
The Second Council of Ephesus:
The council was held in 449 A.D. to defend the Christian faith against the heresy of Eutychianism. Eutyches was a monk and the head of a big monastery in the vicinity of Constaninople.
While he was attacking the Nestorian views of the two natures of Christ, he went to the other extreme claiming that the Lord Jesus Christ has only one Divine nature as His Divinity took a supernatural humanity; not a real one. So the Lord Jesus in Eutyches’s view is only Divine Who appeared in the world as a human (Monophysite).
The council was held to defend against Eutyches but in the Council, Eutyches and his followers regretted their views and stated the Orthodox faith, so they were forgiven. However, upon the insistence of the bishops of Constantinople and Antioch on the two natures of Christ, they were excommunicated.

19. The Chalcedonian Council
Held at 451 AD to overcome the strong Coptic Patriarch and leadership
Pope Dioscorus of Alexandria (25th) held a local council to excommunicate bishop “Leo” of Rome when he confessed the Nestorian heresy.
In turn, Leo held the Chalcedonian council and accused wrongly Pope Dioscorus with “Monophysite” , excommunicated and exiled him
This lead to the 1st division in the church.
The right description of our church is “Miaphysite”
The Chalcedonian Council
The reason of holding this council was to overcome the strong Coptic Patriarch and the leadership of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria.
The resolution of the Second Council of Ephesus was not favored by bishop “Leo” of Rome who declared his belief in the two natures of Christ.
Pope Dioscorus of Alexandria (25th) held a local council and excommunicated him. However, the Emperor was in support of the bishop of Rome “Leo”. He called for a council in the year 451 in Chalcedonia and accused Pope Dioscorus had the same belief of Eutyches (Monophysite).
Pope Dioscorus was attacked, insulted and exiled for a belief that neither him nor the Church of Alexandria had.
The final outcome of this council is that the Coptic, Armenian, Syrian, and the Ethiopian churches are separated from the rest.
The term “Monophysite” started to be used from the 7th century by the Chalcedonian Churches to describe those who believe in the one nature (melted from the 2 natures) of Christ. The right description of our Church is “Miaphysite” which means one nature composite of two.

20. 15 Centuries after chalcedon
In May 1973 H.H. Pope-Shenouda III of Alexandria visited H.H. Pope Paul VI of Rome. Their Common Declaration says:
“We confess that our Lord and God and Savior and King of us all, Jesus Christ, is perfect God with respect to His divinity, perfect man with respect to His humanity. In Him His divinity is united with His humanity in a real, perfect union without mingling, without commixtion, without confusion, without alteration, without division, without separation.”