Dioscorus of Alexandria

Latest revision as of 09:38, 24 November 2022

Saint Dioscorus the Great
Dioscorus I, 25th Pope of Alexandria
The Champion of Orthodoxy
Born	Unknown
Died	454 in Gangra Island (Asia Minor)
Venerated in	Oriental Orthodox Churches
Major shrine	St Mark Cathedral (Cairo, Egypt)
Feast	September 17 (Thout 7 in the Coptic Calendar)
Attributes	Zeal for the Oriental Orthodox faith
Controversy	Dealt with Monophysitism (Eutychianism), Nestorianism, Chalcedonians (still a major issue), etc...

Dioscorus of Alexandria was the twenty-fifth bishop of Alexandria, known in Oriental Orthodox tradition as Pope St. Dioscorus the Great. In Catholic and Eastern Orthodox history, however, he is considered to be one of the main instigators of the heresy known as Monophysitism. He reigned from 444–451 C.E., after which he was deposed at the Council of Chalcedon.

A disciple of Saint Cyril of Alexandria, whom he succeeded as patriarch, Dioscorus was an outspoken opponent of Nestorianism and proponent of the view that Christ's humanity and divinity must be regarded as united in "one nature." He supported the cause of the monk Eutyches, who had been condemned at Constantinople for his Monophysite views, and engineered his restoration at the Second Council of Ephesus in 449. However, Dioscorus' fairness in handling this council came under severe criticism after he refused to allow a letter of Pope Leo I to be read to the bishops at Ephesus and engaged in heavy-handed tactics against Eutyches' opponents, leading to an outbreak of violence and ultimately a schism with Rome. The death of Emperor Theodosius II led to the calling of the Council of Chalcedon in 451, which deposed Dioscorus and promulgated the Chalcedonian Creed, in which the concept of Christ's "two natures" became the official doctrine of Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy.

Dioscorus died in exile on September 17, 454. After 1500 years of schism, recent decades have witnessed a reconciliation between Oriental Orthodox and Chalcedonian Christians, although the latter still do not accept Dioscorus as a saint.

Biography

Early life

Dioscorus was a disciple of Saint Cyril of Alexandria

Before becoming patriarch (also known as pope in Alexandrian tradition) Dioscorus served as the dean of Alexandria's catechetical school and was the personal secretary of Patriarch Cyril of Alexandria. He accompanied Cyril to the Third Ecumenical Council, held at Ephesus in 431, where Cyril presided in the condemnation of Nestorius. He later held the position of archdeacon of the Alexandrian church.

In his opposition to the teaching of Nestorius, Cyril explained the union of Christ's divinity and humanity as "inward and real without any division, change, or confusion." He rejected the Antiochene theory of "indwelling" or "close participation" as insufficient, charging that this theory permitted the division of Christ's being, similar to the supposed error of Nestorius.

Dioscorus followed Cyril in teaching "one incarnate nature" of Christ, expressed in Greek as "miaphysis," though not "monophysis." The term mia is distinguished from mono in the connotation of a united being, as opposed to a solitary being, thus emphasizing that after the Incarnation, the divine and human natures were completely united in Christ. The Antiochene formula, on the other hand, held to "two natures after the union," although eventually admitting that these two natures must not be seen as separate from one another.

Eutyches and II Ephesus

Despite these underlying differences between the Alexandrian and Atiochene schools, after the Council of Ephesus, Cyril and made peace with important former supporters of Nestorius. Amicable relations seem to have continued between the Antiochene and Alexandrian factions for several years after Cyril's death until 448, when Bishop Ibas of Edessa was accused of heresy and other crimes by the Alexandrian party, but was acquitted by Bishop Domnus of Antioch. Acrimony continued to build during a struggle between Eutyches, an influential archmandrite of a monastery near Constantinople, and the respected Syrian scholar and Bishop Theodoret of Cyrrhus. Eutyches not only defended the idea of "one nature" in Christ but seemed to conclude that, as a result of his divinity, Christ's humanity was substantially different from that of other men. Theodoret accused both Eutyches and Cyril of what later became known as the Monophysite heresy, which allegedly failed to acknowledge that Jesus was truly human. A council held at Constantinople in 448 condemned Eutyches and removed him from his monastic post.

Pope Leo I, who had earlier written to Eutyches praising his zeal in opposing the Nestorianism, now sent his famous Tome (letter) supporting the idea of "two natures" and calling on Eutyches to repent. Dioscorus, however, intervened on Eutyches' behalf, and Emperor Theodosius II then convened the Second Council of Ephesus in 449. The emperor invited Dioscorus to preside at the conference, urging him to do so in a spirit of strict impartiality.

Patiarch Anatolius of Constantinople.

Pope Leo I.

Dioscorus' handling of the council, however, became a source of great controversy, and the council has come to be known to history as the "Robber Synod." Not only did Dioscorus bring a very large delegation of African bishops loyal to himself, but he began the meeting without the presence of John of Antioch and his contingent of Syrian bishops. To make matters worse, Dioscorus refused to allow the reading of a letter from the Leo I expressing his view on the theological issue. Eutyches was rehabilitated, while his accusers at Constantinople were deposed. Archbishop Flavian of Constantinople was allegedly beaten by Eutyches' supporters and soon died in exile, perhaps as a result of his wounds. Eutyches was reinstated as head of his monastery, while Dioscorus influenced the emperor to accept his protege, Anatolius, as the new patriarch of Constantinople. Reports reaching Rome, notably that of the deacon and future pope Hilarius, characterized Dioscorus' behavior in a most negative light. Mutual excommunications between the bishops of Rome and Alexandria soon followed. Thus was born the Monophysite schism that would plague the empire for decades.

Council of Chalcedon

After Emperor Theodosius II died on July 28, 450, he was succeeded by the military leader Marcian, who desired reconciliation with Rome. Turning the tables on Dioscorus, he placed the papal legate Paschasinus in charge of the new Council of Chalcedon, with the close advice of imperial commissioners.

Dioscorus defended his view that the council should adopt the formula "one incarnate nature of God the Word," meaning that, after his birth on earth, Jesus had a single divine-human nature, not two natures. Since Eutyches also taught this but was also accused of teaching that Christ's humanity had been subsumed by his divinity, Dioscorus insisted, as Cyril had: "We do not speak of confusion, neither of division, nor of change."

Dioscorus had expected about 60 bishops to support him, but, in the presence of the emperor's agents, none was willing to speak in his defense, including his former secretary Anatolius. The verdict was announced: Dioscorus was deposed, as were Juvenal of Jerusalem, Thalassius of Caesarea, Eusebius of Ancyra, Eutathius of Berytus, and Basil of Seleucia, all of whom had been leaders supporting Dioscorus at the Second Council of Ephesus. Dioscorus was exiled to Gangra, now known as Cankiri, Turkey.

It is a matter of controversy whether Dioscorus was condemned for heresy or merely for misconduct. In any case, the council would go on to affirm an orthodox faith that made Dioscorus and Eutyches both officially heretics:

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 and one hypostasis.

Exile and death

The Council of Chalcedon elected the Alexandrian priest Proterius the new patriarch to replace Dioscorus, with the approval of the emperor. The elevation of Proterius to the patriarchate was violently opposed by Dioscorus' supporters, and his accession marks the beginning of the schism of 451 between the Coptic and the Orthodox patriarchs of Alexandria, which has never been completely resolved.

Dioscorus, meanwhile, parted ways with Eutyches, declaring Eutyches' views to be indeed heretical, while still refusing to accept the Chalcedonian formula of "two natures." In 454, Dioscorus died in exile, three years after Chalcedon. In Alexandria, his supporters now elected Timothy, Dioscorus' disciple, to be their new patriarch. Proterius, who was seen by the Copts as a usurper and imperial henchman, was murdered by an angry mob shortly before Timothy became Coptic pope.

Legacy

A shrine in Dioscorus' honor is located at Saint Mark's Cathedral in Cairo.

Dioscorus is considered a saint and an orthodox confessor by the Coptic, Syriac, and other Oriental Orthodox Churches. In Catholic and Eastern Orthodox tradition, on the other hand, he has been seen as a leading Monophysite heretic and schismatic.

In recent years significant progress has been made toward achieving a reconciliation between Chalcedonian and Oriental Orthodox traditions, while stopping short of reaching full communion. In May 1973, after 15 centuries of separation, Coptic Pope Shenouda III visited Pope Paul VI of Rome and declared their common faith in Christ.^[1] A similar declaration was reached between the Oriental Orthodox Churches and the Eastern Orthodox Churches in the 1990 in Geneva,^[2] in which both the Eutychian and Nestorian heresies were condemned.^[3] In the summer of 2001, the Coptic Orthodox and Greek Orthodox patriarchates of Alexandria agreed to recognize the validity of the baptisms and marriages performed in each other's churches.^[4]

Notes

↑ Coptic.net, Coptic. net Monophysitism Reconsidered. Retrieved February 21, 2009.
↑ Coptic.net, Meeting between Oriental and Byzantine Orthodox Churches. Retrieved February 21, 2009.
↑ Orthodox Unity, Orthodox Unity. Retrieved February 21, 2009.
↑ Orthodox Wiki, OrthodoxWiki Article on Chalcedon. Retrieved February 21, 2009.

References
ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

Davis, Stephen J. Coptic Christology in Practice: Incarnation and Divine Participation in Late Antique and Medieval Egypt. Oxford early Christian studies. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2008. ISBN 9780199258628.
McGuckin, John Anthony, and Cyril. St. Cyril of Alexandria: The Christological Controversy: Its History, Theology, and Texts. Supplements to Vigiliae Christianae, v. 23. Leiden: E.J. Brill, 1994. ISBN 9789004099906.
Need, Stephen W. Truly Divine and Truly Human: The Story of Christ and the Seven Ecumenical Councils. Hendrickson Publishers, 2008. ISBN 9781598562996.
Price Richard, and Mary Whitby. Chalcedon in Context Church Councils 400-700. Liverpool Univ Pr, 2009. ISBN 9781846311772.
Tanner, Norman P. The Councils of the Church. Herder & Herder, 2001. ISBN 0824519043.
Wessel, Susan. Leo the Great and the Spiritual Rebuilding of a Universal Rome. Supplements to Vigiliae Christianae, v. 93. Leiden: Brill, 2008. ISBN 9789004170520.
Young, Frances M. From Nicaea to Chalcedon: A Guide to the Literature and Its Background. Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1983. ISBN 9780800607111.

External links

All links retrieved November 24, 2022.

Credits

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[1] Coptic.net, Coptic. net Monophysitism Reconsidered. Retrieved February 21, 2009.

[2] Coptic.net, Meeting between Oriental and Byzantine Orthodox Churches. Retrieved February 21, 2009.

[3] Orthodox Unity, Orthodox Unity. Retrieved February 21, 2009.

[4] Orthodox Wiki, OrthodoxWiki Article on Chalcedon. Retrieved February 21, 2009.

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 {{Infobox Saint
-|name= Saint Dioscorus the Great<br/>{{coptic|Ⲡⲁⲡⲁ Ⲁⲃⲃⲁ Ⲇⲓⲟⲥⲕⲟⲣⲟⲥ ⲁ̅}}
+|name= Saint Dioscorus the Great
 |birth_date= Unknown
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@@ Line 7: / Line 9: @@
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-|caption= Our Teacher, H.H. Pope St. Dioscorus I, the Champion of Orthodoxy & 25th [[Pope of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria|Pope of Alexandria]]
+|caption= Dioscorus I, 25th [[Pope of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria|Pope of Alexandria]]
 |birth_place=
 |death_place= Gangra Island (Asia Minor)
@@ Line 17: / Line 19: @@
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-|attributes=
+|attributes= Zeal for the [[Oriental Orthodox]] faith
-''Perserverance for Orthodoxy''
-* Fiery Zeal for the [[Oriental Orthodox]] faith
-* Humility
-* Great courage
 |patronage=
 |major_shrine=[[Coptic Cathedral|St Mark Cathedral (Cairo, Egypt)]]
@@ Line 30: / Line 27: @@
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-'''Pope Dioscorus I of Alexandria''' ([[Coptic]]: {{coptic|Ⲡⲁⲡⲁ Ⲁⲃⲃⲁ Ⲇⲓⲟⲥⲕⲟⲣⲟⲥ ⲡⲓⲙⲁϩ ⲟⲩⲁⲓ}}, [[Arabic]]: البابا ديسقوروس) was the 25th [[Pope of Alexandria]] (444 C.E.&ndash;454 C.E.)/[[Patriarch of Alexandria]] (444 C.E.&ndash; 451 C.E.) by different traditions respectively.
+'''Dioscorus of Alexandria''' was the twenty-fifth [[bishop of Alexandria]], known in [[Oriental Orthodox]] tradition as '''Pope St. Dioscorus the Great.''' In [[Catholic]] and [[Eastern Orthodox]] history, however, he is considered to be one of the main instigators of the [[heresy]] known as [[Monophysitism]]. He reigned from 444&ndash;451 C.E., after which he was deposed at the [[Council of Chalcedon]].
-Otherwise known as His Holiness '''Pope St. Dioscorus the Great''', he died in Asia Minor, at the date of September 17, 454. <ref name="multiple">[http://copticchurch.net/classes/synex.php?sa=1&month=1&day=7&btn=View#1 Coptic Synaxarion]</ref> <ref>[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/05019a.htm Catholic Encyclopedia]</ref>
+A disciple of Saint [[Cyril of Alexandria]], whom he succeeded as patriarch, Dioscorus was an outspoken opponent of [[Nestorianism]] and proponent of the view that [[Christ]]'s humanity and divinity must be regarded as united in "one nature." He supported the cause of the monk [[Eutyches]], who had been condemned at [[Constantinople]] for his Monophysite views, and engineered his restoration at the [[Second Council of Ephesus]] in 449. However, Dioscorus' fairness in handling this council came under severe criticism after he refused to allow a letter of Pope [[Leo I]] to be read to the bishops at Ephesus and engaged in heavy-handed tactics against Eutyches' opponents, leading to an outbreak of violence and ultimately a [[schism]] with Rome. The death of Emperor [[Theodosius II]] led to the calling of the [[Council of Chalcedon]] in 451, which deposed Dioscorus and promulgated the Chalcedonian Creed, in which the concept of Christ's "two natures" became the official doctrine of Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy.
+{{toc}}
+Dioscorus died in exile on September 17, 454. After 1500 years of schism, recent decades have witnessed a reconciliation between Oriental Orthodox and Chalcedonian Christians, although the latter still do not accept Dioscorus as a saint.
-==Biography & Ecumenism==
+==Biography==
 ===Early life===
-Pope Dioscorus served as the dean of the [[Catechetical School of Alexandria]], and was the personal secretary of [[Cyril of Alexandria|Saint Cyril the Great, Pope of Alexandria]], whom he accompanied to the [[Third Ecumenical Council]] held at [[Ephesus]], rising to the position of [[archdeacon]].<ref name=EB>''Encyclopedia Britannica'', micropedia v. 4, p. 112. Chicago:Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc., 1998. ISBN 0-85229-633-0.</ref>
+[[Image:Cyril of Alexandria.jpg|thumb|125px|Dioscorus was a disciple of Saint [[Cyril of Alexandria]]]]
+Before becoming patriarch (also known as [[pope]] in Alexandrian tradition) Dioscorus served as the dean of Alexandria's catechetical school and was the personal secretary of Patriarch [[Cyril of Alexandria]]. He accompanied Cyril to the [[Third Ecumenical Council]], held at [[Ephesus]] in 431, where Cyril presided in the condemnation of [[Nestorius]]. He later held the position of [[archdeacon]] of the Alexandrian church.
-===[[Eutyches]] and [[Nestorius]]===
+In his opposition to the teaching of [[Nestorius]], [[Cyril of Alexandria|Cyril]] explained the union of Christ's divinity and humanity as "inward and real without any division, change, or confusion." He rejected the Antiochene theory of "indwelling" or "close participation" as insufficient, charging that this theory permitted the division of Christ's being, similar to the supposed error of Nestorius.
-In his struggle against [[Nestorius]], [[Cyril of Alexandria|St. Cyril]] explained the union between the two natures of Christ (His Divinity and His Humanity) as "inward and real without any division, change, or confusion." He rejected the Antiochene theory of "indwelling," or "conjunction," or "close participation" as insufficient to reveal the real unification. He charged that their theory permitted the division of the two hypostasis of Christ just as Nestorius taught.
-Thus the traditional Orthodox formula adopted by Cyril and Dioscorus was "ONE INCARNATE NATURE" which translated in Greek to "[[Miaphysitism|MIA PHYSIS]]" and not "[[Monophysitism|Mono Physis]]." They meant by "MIA": one; not "single one," but "unity one"; "out of two natures"; as St. Dioscorus stated. He insisted on "the one nature" of Christ to assert Christ's oneness, as a tool to defend the Church's faith against Nestorianism. Thus, Christ is at once God and man. From the Oriental Orthodox point of view, this reaffirms Pope Dioscorus's Orthodoxy.
+Dioscorus followed Cyril in teaching "one incarnate nature" of Christ, expressed in Greek as "[[Miaphysitism|miaphysis]]," though not "[[Monophysitism|monophysis]]." The term ''mia'' is distinguished from ''mono'' in the connotation of a united being, as opposed to a solitary being, thus emphasizing that after the Incarnation, the divine and human natures were completely united in Christ. The Antiochene formula, on the other hand, held to "two natures after the union," although eventually admitting that these two natures must not be seen as separate from one another.
-On the other hand the Antiochene formula was "Two natures after the union" which is translated to "[[Dyophysitism|DYO PHYSIS]]." This formula explained Christ as two natures; Son of God, and Son of Man, and that God did not suffer nor did He die. This formula was used in the Council of Chalcedon; thus, many consider Chalcedonians either Heretical or Orthodox.
+===Eutyches and II Ephesus===
+Despite these underlying differences between the Alexandrian and Atiochene schools, after the [[Council of Ephesus]], Cyril and made peace with important former supporters of Nestorius. Amicable relations seem to have continued between the Antiochene and Alexandrian factions for several years after Cyril's death until 448, when Bishop [[Ibas of Edessa]] was accused of [[heresy]] and other crimes by the Alexandrian party, but was acquitted by Bishop Domnus of Antioch. Acrimony continued to build during a struggle between [[Eutyches]], an influential [[archmandrite]] of a monastery near Constantinople, and the respected Syrian scholar and Bishop [[Theodoret]] of Cyrrhus. Eutyches not only defended the idea of "one nature" in Christ but seemed to conclude that, as a result of his divinity, Christ's humanity was substantially different from that of other men. Theodoret accused both Eutyches and Cyril of what later became known as the Monophysite heresy, which allegedly failed to acknowledge that Jesus was truly human. A council held at [[Constantinople]] in 448 condemned Eutyches and removed him from his monastic post.
-A struggle occurred between [[Eutyches]] and [[Theodoret]]. Eutyches was an [[archmandrite]] of a monastery in Constantinople. He defended the formula "one nature" against that of "two natures." He concluded that the Godhead absorbed the manhood of Christ. Theodoret accused Eutyches and Cyril, and published a long attack on them. The council of Constantinople was held in 448, and Eutyches was condemned and exiled.
+[[Pope Leo I]], who had earlier written to Eutyches praising his zeal in opposing the Nestorianism, now sent his famous ''Tome'' (letter) supporting the idea of "two natures" and calling on Eutyches to repent. Dioscorus, however, intervened on Eutyches' behalf, and Emperor [[Theodosius II]] then convened the [[Second Council of Ephesus]] in 449. The emperor invited Dioscorus to preside at the conference, urging him to do so in a spirit of strict impartiality.
-[[Pope Leo I|Leo]], the [[Bishop of Rome|Pope of Rome]], wrote to Eutyches praising his zeal in opposing the Nestorian dualism. But Leo changed his mind, perhaps when he heard that the emperor wrote to Dioscorus calling him to a council to be held to discuss that matter. Leo, who was not part of the conflict between the Alexandrian and the Antiochian Christology, sent the famous Tome (letter) of Leo to Constantinople—not to work for reconciliation of the parties, but to defame the Alexandrian theologians.<ref name="multiple">http://www.zeitun-eg.org/Coptic_interpretations_of_the_Fourth_Ecumenical_Council_(Chalcedon).pdf</ref> <ref>[http://www.orthodoxwiki.org/Pope_Saint_Dioscorus_I_of_Alexandria_%28Coptic_POV%29 Orthodox Wiki Article on St. Dioscorus]</ref>
+[[Image:Anatolios.jpg|thumb|150px|Patiarch [[Anatolius of Constantinople]].]]
+[[Image:Greatleoone.jpg|thumb|150px|left|[[Pope Leo I]].]]
-===[[Second Council of Ephesus]]===
+Dioscorus' handling of the council, however, became a source of great controversy, and the council has come to be known to history as the "Robber Synod." Not only did Dioscorus bring a very large delegation of African bishops loyal to himself, but he began the meeting without the presence of [[John of Antioch]] and his contingent of Syrian bishops. To make matters worse, Dioscorus refused to allow the reading of a letter from the [[Leo I]] expressing his view on the theological issue. Eutyches was rehabilitated, while his accusers at Constantinople were deposed. [[Archbishop Flavian of Constantinople]] was allegedly beaten by Eutyches' supporters and soon died in exile, perhaps as a result of his wounds. Eutyches was reinstated as head of his monastery, while Dioscorus influenced the emperor to accept his protege, Anatolius, as the new patriarch of Constantinople. Reports reaching [[Rome]], notably that of the [[deacon]] and future pope [[Hilarius]], characterized Dioscorus' behavior in a most negative light. Mutual excommunications between the bishops of Rome and Alexandria soon followed. Thus was born the [[Monophysite]] schism that would plague the empire for decades.
-Emperor Theodosius II then convened the [[Second Council of Ephesus]] in 449, called the "Robber Synod" by some opponents. He asked Pope Dioscorus to exercise supreme authority over it as president. Eutyches was rehabilitated because he offered to repent (proving him to be Orthodox at the time) and also because Leo, Bishop of Rome wrote to [[Archbishop Flavian of Constantinople]] saying that he should be kind to him, and to accept him if he repented. The outcomes of this council included the reinstatement of Eutychius, the [[excommunication]] of Leo I, and the deposition of Flavian for opposing Monophysitism,<ref name=EB/> and a declaration of anathema against [[Theodoret]] as well. <ref name="multiple" />
 ===[[Council of Chalcedon]]===
-[[Image:St. Dioscorus.jpg|thumb|Another [[Coptic art|Coptic Icon]] of Pope St. Dioscorus The Great]]
+After Emperor [[Theodosius II]] died on July 28, 450, he was succeeded by the military leader [[Marcian]], who desired reconciliation with Rome. Turning the tables on Dioscorus, he placed the papal legate Paschasinus in charge of the new [[Council of Chalcedon]], with the close advice of imperial commissioners.
-Theodosius died on July 28, 450. His sister [[Pulcheria]] and her consort [[Marcian]] were then declared emperors. Pulcheria supported Rome against Alexandria. She gathered signatures for the "Tome" (letter) of Leo to be introduced as the basic paper for a new council to be held at [[Chalcedon]]. At the same time, she decided not to let Rome have an attempt at having supreme authority in the church. She refused Leo's demand to hold the council in Italy, but insisted that it would be held in the East. Although the [[Council of Chalcedon]] is believed to have condemned Eutyches, the man with whom it really dealt was St. Dioscorus, for Eutyches was already in North Syria, where he had been exiled before the council met. <ref name="multiple" />
-During the council, Pope Dioscorus explained why the Orthodox faith should adopt the formula "One incarnate nature of God the Word." On hearing "one nature," some bishops in the council shouted, "Eutyches says these things also." Here Dioscorus clarified the Alexandrian view, saying, "We do not speak of confusion, neither of division, nor of change." Dioscorus tried to make his position clear: that he did not accept "two natures after the union," but he had no objection to "''From'' two natures after the union."
-When the judges started the order of the acts of the Council, Paschasinus the Roman delegate said, "We have orders from Rome that Dioscorus should not have a place in this council. If this is violated he should be cast out." When the judges asked about what Dioscorus did, the Roman delegate replied, "He has dared to conduct a council without the authorization of the apostolic see in Rome, a thing which has never happened and which ought not to have happened."
-It was the emperor's favor that the council had to draw out Alexandria and declare a new formula to bring the entire Church in the east under the leadership of Constantinople. They used Leo as a tool to accomplish their objective through his enmity to Alexandria, looking upon it as an obstacle in realizing his Roman authority on the Church over the world. Thus, Leo wanted to rid of his most powerful ecclesiastical opponent, probably even more so than Leo himself. ''Pope St. Dioscorus'' and his entire Church.
-The verdict of the commissioners was announced: Pope Dioscorus of Alexandria, [[Juvenal of Jerusalem]], Thalassius of Caesarea, Eusebius of Ancyra, Eutathius of Berytus, and Basil of Seleucia - the men who had been responsible for the decisions of the [[Second Council of Ephesus]], were all deposed. They were not, however, decried as [[heretic]]s. Pope Dioscorus was exiled to Gangra Island.<ref name=EB/> It is not clear if St. Dioscorus was condemned because of a theological heresy, but due to political circumstances. <ref name="multiple">[http://www.zeitun-eg.org/Coptic_interpretations_of_the_Fourth_Ecumenical_Council_(Chalcedon).pdf Coptic interpretations of Chalcedon]</ref>
-===New formula of faith & Chalcedonian Controversies===
-Under strong pressure, the bishops of the council accepted a new formula of faith, so that Alexandria would not acquire theological precedence. Yet when the Roman delegates attempted to impose the Catholic "papal authority" upon the universal church (including the [[Coptic Pope]]), silence turned into revolt. Leo announced, in his repeatedly angry letters, his resistance to the council because it regarded Rome and Constantinople as equal. Also, St. Dioscorus would not bow down to Leo's attempts, making Leo evermore desperate. Theologically speaking, Rome was at no point having any power over the [[Pope of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria|Coptic Pope]], whether Dioscorus was outspoken or not.
-===Pope Dioscorus's Period of Exile===
-After those incidents, a messenger from Constantinople arrived in Alexandria announcing the confirmation of Pope Dioscorus's exile, and the appointment of an Alexandrian priest named [[Proterius of Alexandria|Proterius]] as an imperial [i.e. alien/foreign/non-Egyptian] patriarch over Alexandria, with the approval of the emperor. He threatened whoever dared to show disobedience. The [[Melchite]] patriarch who was appointed by the emperor became surrounded by soldiers willing to punish those who might resist the imperial command.
-In the [[Second Council of Ephesus]], [[Eutyches]] had slyly repented and appeared to show his Orthodoxy. '''However''', St. Dioscorus discovered that Eutyches had ''openly'' reverted back to [[Monophysitism]] after the Second Council of Ephesus. Immediately, Pope Dioscorus excommunicated him <ref name="autogenerated1">[http://www.coptichymns.net/module-library-viewpub-tid-1-pid-418-page-2.html coptichymns.net :: Spiritual Library<!-- Bot generated title —>]</ref> <ref name="autogenerated2">[http://www.copticcentre.com/two.html#three Coptic Centre, UK<!-- Bot generated title —>]</ref> while St. Dioscorus was in exile—shortly after the [[Council of Chalcedon]]. This, some say, is ''clear evidence that Dioscorus is not a [[Monophysite]]''.
-In the year 454, Pope Dioscorus died in exile—three years after Chalcedon. When the Copts heard that, they met with the clergymen and elected Timothy, the disciple of Dioscorus, to be the new Patriarch. This became a regular practice of the Coptic Church, who never surrendered to the alien patriarchies. [[Proterius of Alexandria|Proterius]] angered the Copts, and so he was murdered shortly before Timothy became [[Pope of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria|Coptic Pope]]. [[Pope Timothy II of Alexandria|Pope Timothy II]] was installed in the year 457.
-It is interesting to compare the [[List of Patriarchs of Alexandria|Coptic and Greek lists of Popes of Alexandria]], and to observe that the names given there are the same (with some exceptions) until 535.<ref>[http://www.spiritrestoration.org/Church/Research%20History%20and%20Great%20Links/Coptic_and_Melkite_Patriarchs.htm Coptic and Melkite Patriarchs of Alexandria<!-- Bot generated title —>]</ref> The permanent schism did not, in fact, happen in the time of Dioscorus, but a century after Chalcedon. In the year 536, the Greeks withdrew their support of the [[Pope of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria|Coptic Pope]] in favour of their own Melchite [[Patriarch]]. However, the schism that happened during the time of Pope Dioscorus was a major factor in the permanent schism of 536.
-==Recent Disputes==
-Dioscorus is considered a [[saint]] by the [[Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria|Coptic]], [[Syriac Orthodox Church|Syriac]], and other [[Oriental Orthodox]] churches. His character and stance are subject to contravention between the [[Oriental Orthodoxy|Oriental Orthodox Churches]] on one side, and the [[Eastern Orthodoxy|Byzantine Orthodox]] and [[Catholic]] churches on the other.
-For most of the last fifteen centuries he was considered a powerful heretic by the [[Eastern Orthodoxy|Eastern Orthodox]] and [[Catholic]] Churches, though some commentators like Anatolius and [[John S. Romanides]] think that Dioscorus was not deposed at Chalcedon (451) because of the faith, but for his "grave administrative errors at the [[Second Council of Ephesus]]" (449). They claim that these "grave errors" included restoring [[Eutyches]] "the heretic" (though many say that Eutyches was Orthodox at the time, and that Dioscorus excommunicated Eutyches later on anyway <ref name="autogenerated1" /> <ref name="autogenerated2" />—this because ''Eutyches had openly returned to [[Monophysitism]]''). These commentators had also noted Dioscorus's attack on [[Flavian]] as "errors" (however, Flavian was possibly a major Nestorian heretic—denying the unity of the Christology), and noted that he (Pope Dioscorus) had excommunicated [[Pope Leo]] of Rome (who supported Flavian and may be even [[Theodoret]], who is a [[Nestorian]]) and also because at Chalcedon he refused to appear in front of the Council although he was summoned to it three times<ref>[http://www.romanity.org/htm/rom.06.en.orthodox_and_oriental_orthodox_consultation.htm Orthodox consultation]</ref>. Other sources claim that he was held under house arrest by Roman legions in order that he should be excommunicated after the three summons went unheeded.
-The [[Oriental Orthodoxy|Oriental Orthodox Churches]] were accused by other churches of accepting the [[Eutyches|Eutychian doctrine]] of [[Monophysitism]]&mdash; this is denied by these churches <ref>[http://www.coptic.net/articles/MonophysitismReconsidered.txt Coptic.net]</ref>, who sharply reject Monophysitism—they consider Eutyches a heretic—as the other churches do nothing other than say that they have retrieved this heresy prior to the [[Second Council of Ephesus]]. <ref>Story of the Coptic church by [[Iris Habib Elmasry]] Volume I</ref> But figures large in the differences between those churches and most other populous Christian churches, as well as in the civil strife and friction of the era and afterwards within the [[Eastern Roman Empire]], was the beginning of a disaster-type timeline or era.
-Hence, in the mess typical of [[schism]]s, according to non-Oriental Orthodox Christian sects, he was a [[Pope of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria|Coptic Pope]] turned [[heretic]]. Pope Dioscorus excommunicated many other influential bishops who he (and many others) considered Nestorian heretics, including [[Pope Leo I|Leo I]]. <ref name="multiple">[http://copticchurch.net/classes/synex.php? Coptic Synaxarion]sa=1&month=1&day=7&btn=View#1</ref>
-He was subsequently [[excommunicated]] by the [[Roman Catholic]] [[Pope Leo I|Leo I]], most likely in very early 450 C.E. during the aftermath of the controversial [[Second Council of Ephesus]], which he was charged by the Emperor to preside over with the concurrence of Bishop Leo I.
+Dioscorus defended his view that the council should adopt the formula "one incarnate nature of God the Word," meaning that, after his birth on earth, Jesus had a single divine-human nature, not two natures. Since Eutyches also taught this but was also accused of teaching that Christ's humanity had been subsumed by his divinity, Dioscorus insisted, as Cyril had: "We do not speak of confusion, neither of division, nor of change."
-The other person involved in this controversy apart from Pope Dioscorus is [[Pope Leo|Leo I]] with each side considering the other person a heretic. The main factors behind this are still present and it is subject to discussion between the churches.<ref>[http://sor.cua.edu/Ecumenism/20000509oomtg3.html Syriac Orthodox Church]</ref>
+Dioscorus had expected about 60 bishops to support him, but, in the presence of the emperor's agents, none was willing to speak in his defense, including his former secretary Anatolius. The verdict was announced: Dioscorus was deposed, as were [[Juvenal of Jerusalem]], Thalassius of Caesarea, Eusebius of Ancyra, Eutathius of Berytus, and Basil of Seleucia, all of whom had been leaders supporting Dioscorus at the [[Second Council of Ephesus]]. Dioscorus was exiled to Gangra, now known as Cankiri, [[Turkey]].
-In recent research it was suggested that both Dioscoros and Leo are Orthodox because they agree with Pope St. [[Cyril of Alexandria]], especially with his Twelve Chapters, even though both had been considered heretical by the other side. <ref>[http://www.romanity.org/htm/rom.06.en.orthodox_and_oriental_orthodox_consultation.htm ORTHODOX AND ORIENTAL ORTHODOX CONSULTATION]</ref>
+It is a matter of controversy whether Dioscorus was condemned for [[heresy]] or merely for misconduct. In any case, the council would go on to affirm an orthodox faith that made Dioscorus and Eutyches both officially heretics:
-In May 1973, after fifteen centuries, [[Pope Shenouda III of Alexandria|Pope Shenouda III]] visited [[Pope Paul VI|Pope Paul VI of Rome]] and declared a common faith in the nature of Christ, the issue which caused the schism of the church in the [[Council of Chalcedon]]. <ref>[http://www.coptic.net/articles/MonophysitismReconsidered.txt Coptic. net Monophysitism Reconsidered]</ref>
+<blockquote>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]] and one ''[[hypostasis]]''.</blockquote>
-A similar declaration was reached between the [[Oriental Orthodoxy|Oriental Orthodox Churches]] and the [[Eastern Orthodoxy|Eastern Orthodox Churches]] in the 1990 in [[Geneva]]<ref>[http://www.coptic.net/articles/OrthodoxUnityDialog.txt meeting between Oriental and Byzantine Orthodox Churches]</ref> in which both Oriental and Eastern Orthodox churches agreed in condemning the Eutychian and Nestorian heresies and in rejecting interpretations of Councils which do not fully agree with the Horos of the Third Ecumenical Council and the letter (433) of Cyril of Alexandria to John of Antioch. <ref>[http://www.orthodoxunity.org/state02.html Orthodox Unity]</ref>
+===Exile and death===
+The [[Council of Chalcedon]] elected the Alexandrian priest [[Proterius of Alexandria|Proterius]] the new patriarch to replace Dioscorus, with the approval of the emperor. The elevation of Proterius to the patriarchate was violently opposed by Dioscorus' supporters, and his accession marks the beginning of the [[schism]] of 451 between the Coptic and the Orthodox patriarchs of Alexandria, which has never been completely resolved.
-In this agreement the two families agreed to lift all the anathemas and condemnations of the past which on the basis that the Councils and Fathers previously anathematized or condemned are not heretical. <ref name="multiple">[http://www.zeitun-eg.org/Coptic_Chalcedon_ExtraNotes2.pdf zeitoun-eg]</ref>
+Dioscorus, meanwhile, parted ways with Eutyches, declaring Eutyches' views to be indeed heretical, while still refusing to accept the Chalcedonian formula of "two natures." In 454, Dioscorus died in exile, three years after Chalcedon. In Alexandria, his supporters now elected [[Pope Timothy II of Alexandria|Timothy]], Dioscorus' disciple, to be their new patriarch. [[Proterius of Alexandria|Proterius]], who was seen by the Copts as a usurper and imperial henchman, was murdered by an angry mob shortly before Timothy became [[Pope of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria|Coptic pope]].
-In the summer of 2001, the Coptic Orthodox and Greek Orthodox Patriarchates of Alexandria agreed to mutually recognize baptisms performed in each other's churches. <ref>[http://orthodoxwiki.org/Church_of_Alexandria_(Coptic)#Council_of_Chalcedon OrthodoxWiki Article on Chalcedon]</ref>
+==Legacy==
+[[Image:Saint Mark Cathedral, Cairo.jpg|thumb|A shrine in Dioscorus' honor is located at Saint Mark's Cathedral in Cairo.]]
+Dioscorus is considered a [[saint]] and an orthodox [[confessor]] by the [[Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria|Coptic]], [[Syriac Orthodox Church|Syriac]], and other [[Oriental Orthodoxy|Oriental Orthodox Churches]]. In [[Catholic]] and [[Eastern Orthodox]] tradition, on the other hand, he has been seen as a leading Monophysite heretic and schismatic.
-{{s-start}}
+In recent years significant progress has been made toward achieving a reconciliation between Chalcedonian and Oriental Orthodox traditions, while stopping short of reaching full [[communion]]. In May 1973, after 15 centuries of separation, Coptic [[Pope Shenouda III of Alexandria|Pope Shenouda III]] visited [[Pope Paul VI|Pope Paul VI of Rome]] and declared their common faith in Christ.<ref>Coptic.net, [http://www.coptic.net/articles/MonophysitismReconsidered.txt Coptic. net Monophysitism Reconsidered.] Retrieved February 21, 2009.</ref> A similar declaration was reached between the [[Oriental Orthodoxy|Oriental Orthodox Churches]] and the [[Eastern Orthodoxy|Eastern Orthodox Churches]] in the 1990 in [[Geneva]],<ref>Coptic.net, [http://www.coptic.net/articles/OrthodoxUnityDialog.txt Meeting between Oriental and Byzantine Orthodox Churches.] Retrieved February 21, 2009.</ref> in which both the Eutychian and Nestorian heresies were condemned.<ref>Orthodox Unity, [http://www.orthodoxunity.org/state02.html Orthodox Unity.] Retrieved February 21, 2009.</ref> In the summer of 2001, the Coptic Orthodox and Greek Orthodox patriarchates of Alexandria agreed to recognize the validity of the [[baptism]]s and [[marriage]]s performed in each other's churches.<ref>Orthodox Wiki, [http://orthodoxwiki.org/Church_of_Alexandria_(Coptic)#Council_of_Chalcedon OrthodoxWiki Article on Chalcedon.] Retrieved February 21, 2009.</ref>
-{{s-bef|rows=2|before=[[Cyril of Alexandria|Pope Cyril I]]}}
-{{s-ttl|title=[[List of Coptic Orthodox Popes of Alexandria|Pope of Alexandria]]|years=444-454}}
-{{s-aft|after=[[Pope Timothy II of Alexandria|Pope Timothy II]]}}
-|-
-{{s-ttl|title=[[List of Patriarchs of Alexandria|Patriarch of Alexandria (before schism)]]|years=444-451}}
-{{s-aft|after=[[Proterius of Alexandria|Patriarch Proterius I]]}}
-|-
-{{end}}
 ==See also==
 *[[Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria|Coptic Orthodox Church]]
-*[[Pope of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria|Pope of Alexandria]]
+*[[Oriental Orthodoxy]]
-**[[List of Coptic Orthodox Popes of Alexandria]]
+*[[Eutyches]]
-*[[Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Alexandria|Chalcedonian Patriarch of Alexandria]]
+*[[Monophysitism]]
-**[[List of Greek Orthodox Patriarchs of Alexandria|List of Chalcedonian Patriarchs of Alexandria]]
+*[[Council of Chalcedon]]
+*[[Second Council of Ephesus]]
 ==Notes==
@@ Line 120: / Line 86: @@
 ==References==
+*Davis, Stephen J. ''Coptic Christology in Practice: Incarnation and Divine Participation in Late Antique and Medieval Egypt''. Oxford early Christian studies. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2008. ISBN 9780199258628.
+*McGuckin, John Anthony, and Cyril. ''St. Cyril of Alexandria: The Christological Controversy: Its History, Theology, and Texts''. Supplements to Vigiliae Christianae, v. 23. Leiden: E.J. Brill, 1994. ISBN 9789004099906.
+* Need, Stephen W. ''Truly Divine and Truly Human: The Story of Christ and the Seven Ecumenical Councils.'' Hendrickson Publishers, 2008. ISBN 9781598562996.
+*Price Richard, and Mary Whitby. ''Chalcedon in Context Church Councils 400-700''. Liverpool Univ Pr, 2009. ISBN 9781846311772.
+*Tanner, Norman P. ''The Councils of the Church.'' Herder & Herder, 2001. ISBN 0824519043.
+*Wessel, Susan. ''Leo the Great and the Spiritual Rebuilding of a Universal Rome''. Supplements to Vigiliae Christianae, v. 93. Leiden: Brill, 2008. ISBN 9789004170520.
+*Young, Frances M. ''From Nicaea to Chalcedon: A Guide to the Literature and Its Background''. Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1983. ISBN 9780800607111.
 ==External links==
-* [http://www.coptic.net Encyclopedia Coptica: The Christian Coptic Orthodox Church Of Egypt]
+All links retrieved November 24, 2022.
-* [http://www.copticchurch.net/synaxarium/1_7.html#1 Lives of Saints :: Tout 7—1. The Departure of St. Dioscorus, 25th Pope of Alexandria.]
-* [http://www.romanity.org/htm/rom.06.en.orthodox_and_oriental_orthodox_consultation.htm ORTHODOX AND ORIENTAL ORTHODOX CONSULTATION]
-* [http://www.zeitun-eg.org/Coptic_interpretations_of_the_Fourth_Ecumenical_Council_(Chalcedon).pdf Coptic POV on Pope Dioscorus (Public Domain)]
-{{Coptic Popes}}
+* [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/05019a.htm Catholic Encyclopedia on Dioscurus]
+* [http://www.copticchurch.net/synaxarium/1_7.html#1 Coptic account of Dioscorus' exile and death]
+* [http://www.romanity.org/htm/rom.06.en.orthodox_and_oriental_orthodox_consultation.htm Greek Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox Consultation]
+* [http://www.zeitun-eg.org/Coptic_interpretations_of_the_Fourth_Ecumenical_Council_(Chalcedon).pdf Coptic Point of View of the Council of Chalcedon]
 [[Category:philosophy and religion]]