Ecumenical Councils The Coptic Church offered the world many of the top Christian thinkers and writers across the ages. These were leaders when the churches worldwide had to hold several local and universal councils to defend the purity of the faith against heresies (wrong teachings) Universal Council Alexandrian Pope # Attendees Nicea Alexandros 318 June 325 Athanasius, Apostolic Constantinople Timotheos 150 March 381 Ephesus Cyril, Pillar of Faith 200 June 431 Schism in Chalcedon Dioscorus October 451

Holding to Sound Doctrine 1Co 11:23 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: ... (Eucharist) 1Co 15:3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: ... (Resurrection) Jude 3 I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. Tit 1:9 holding fast the faithful word as he (the bishop) has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict. Tit 2:1 But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine

What is the meaning of “Ecumenical Council”? Which Ecumenical Councils does the Coptic Church recognize? What was Arius’ heresy and how did the Church counter it? What was Apollinarius’ heresy and how did the Church counter it? What was Macedonius’ heresy and how did the Church counter it? What was Nestorius’ heresy and how did the Church counter it? What was Eutyches’ heresy and how did it lead to the Church schism? How were the heretics able to spread their wrong teachings? How can the Church protect the faith against diversions, errors, misuses or misinterpretations?

The Doctrine of the Trinity The Great Commission 18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

The Doctrine of the Divinity of Christ 8 Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us.” 9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works. 11 Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves. (John 14:8-11)

The Logos is the Creator “In the beginning was the Word (LOGOS), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John 1:1) “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” (Genesis 1:1) “Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men.” (John 1:3) “The Word became flesh and his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14) The Logos is the Creator Incarnation of the Logos

Holding to Sound Doctrine The Holy Trinity One “ousia”, three “hypostases” The Father, the Son (the LOGOS) and the Holy Spirit are the total reality of the one God One “substantia” (substance / essence) – being The Incarnation of the Logos – mia-physis Christ is fully Divine and fully human but in ONE united nature without separation, confusion or alteration One nature of the incarnate Logos Hypostatic union One composite nature Of two natures (not in two natures)

Fourth to Mid Fifth Century Abba Petros (Peter), Seal of the Martyrs 293 A.D. 10 yrs 11 mons 18. Abba Achillas 303 A.D. 6 mons 19. Abba Alexandros 303 A.D. 22 yrs 10 mons Abba Athanasius, The Apostolic 326 A.D. 46 yrs 21. Abba Petros II 372 A.D. 5 yrs 9 mons 22. Abba Timotheos 378 A.D. 6 yrs 5 mons 23. Abba Theophilos 384 A.D. 27 yrs 2 mons Abba Kyrillos (Cyril), Pillar of Faith 412 A.D. 31 yrs 8 mons 25. Abba Dioscorus 443 A.D. 14 yrs 2 mons

Historical Setting Roman Empire West – Rome Roman – Latin East – Constantinople Byzantine – Greek Major Churches and Culture Centers Rome Antioch Alexandria (major school) (major school) Constantinople Jerusalem

Arius’ heresy Denied the divinity of Christ – the Logos had a beginning / was created St Athanasius: “On the Incarnation” The Council of Nicea – the Nicene Creed – one essence with the Father Apollinarius’ heresy The Logos (the divinity) replaced the human spirit in Christ St Athanasius: three-volume book against the heresy – the Council of Constantinople Macedonius’ heresy Denied the divinity of the Holy Spirit The Council of Constantinople – last section of the Creed – “we worship Him” Nestorius’ heresy The divine and human natures of Christ were separate – no union St Cyril: two letters against Nestorius The Council of Ephesus – Theotokos as the title for St Mary Eutyches’ heresy The divine and human natures of Christ were fused in one, the divine Created the monophysite / diophysite controversy – the Council of Chalcedon

Ecumenical Councils (4th to mid 5th Century) Nicea Arius: Denied the Abba Alexandros 318 June 325 Divinity of the Son Abba Athanasius The Creed Apollinarius: The Logos Abba Athanasius 3 volume book replaced the human spirit Constantinople Macedonius: Denied Abba Timotheos 150 March 381 the Divinity of the Spirit Creed extended Ephesus Nestorius: Separation Abba Cyril 200 June 431 in the Nature of Christ (Pillar of Faith) Union; Theotokos Ephesus II Eutyches: Denied the Abba Dioscorus 130 August 449 humanity of Christ Affirming the faith Chalcedon To reconsider the Abba Dioscorus ? October 451 outcome of Ephesus II Schism

Problems from Chalcedon 451 A.D. New formula of the faith concerning the nature of Christ (Christology): “In Two Natures” (Tome of Leo) instead of “Of Two Natures” Two groups: Monophysites = one nature, and Diophysites = two natures Political wish to bring down Alexandria and set-up Constantinople in its place as the leader of the Eastern Churches The desire of Leo, Archbishop of Rome, to realize his Papal Supreme Authority over the Universal Church St. Dioscorus, Archbishop of Alexandria, was exiled to the island of Gangara and a Patriarch, Proterius, supported by the rulers, was appointed in his place Several attempts to reconcile the differences; e.g. “Henoticon” = the instrument of unity, by Emperor Zeno; and “Monothelitism” = the one-will formula, by Emperor Heraclius. Egypt fell to the hands of the Persians from 617 to 627 A.D. - another form of suffering; then it was restored to the Byzantine Rule. The Coptic Church which carried the Cross and suffered oppression, even at the hands of Sister Churches, experienced the invisible hand of God supporting Her.

What is the meaning of “Ecumenical Council”? Which Ecumenical Councils does the Coptic Church recognize? What was Arius’ heresy and how did the Church counter it? What was Apollinarius’ heresy and how did the Church counter it? What was Macedonius’ heresy and how did the Church counter it? What was Nestorius’ heresy and how did the Church counter it? What was Eutyches’ heresy and how did it lead to the Church schism? How were the heretics able to spread their wrong teachings? How can the Church protect the faith against diversions, errors, misuses or misinterpretations? Universal council that involves the churches worldwide Nicea in 325 Constantinople in 381 Ephesus in 431 Denied the divinity of Christ – the Logos had a beginning / was created The Council of Nicea – the Nicean Creed – one essence with the Father The Logos (the divinity) replaced the human spirit in Christ St Athanasius wrote three-volume book against it – the Council of Constantinople Denied the divinity of the Holy Spirit The Council of Constantinople – last section of the Creed – “we worship Him” The divine and human natures of Christ were separate – no union The Council of Ephesus – Theotokos as the title for St Mary The divine and human natures of Christ were fused in one, the divine Created the monophysite / diophysite controversy – the Council of Chalcedon Popularity, politics and pressure The Bible – all teaching must be consistent with the Bible Preserving the sound doctrine (teaching) of the fathers