Council of Chalcedon

[Phrygian]

Severe theological disputes regarding the nature of Christ, ecclesiastical administration and church rituals often flared into open warfare between Byzantine Armenian, Persarmenian as well as the various Armenian kingdoms after Avarayr.

These disputes eventually weakened the Eastern front and the Sejuks easily advanced. This invasion of barbarians would change the course of history and usher in centuries old dark ages for the entire region.

So what led to this?

As you know during the time of the Council of Chalcedon Eastern Armenians were fighting against a Sassanid invasion to convert Armenians back to Zoroastrianism before Eastern parts of Armenia turn pro-Byzantine just like the Western Armenians (geographically speaking). Because of this war Armenians missed the Council of Chalcedon and for that reason the Armenian Church is now wrongfully labelled "monophysite". The non-Byzantine Armenian bishops did not bother to accept the Council of Chalcedon since they missed, not because they considered it Nestorian but because that would give a lot of power.

In her teachings the Armenian Orthodox Apostolic Church (that is the full name) is NOT monophysite and never has been. That is a very common misunderstanding and unfortunately it is still in circulation not only among lay people but also among clergy. The formula adopted by the Armenian Church is the one of Cyril of Alexandria. Note that the Council of Chalcedon pronounced clearly that Cyril is most orthodox. The Armenian Church adhered to the view that Jesus Christ is ONE Person and has, in the concrete reality, ONE nature in which the DIVINE nature and the HUMAN nature are UNITED or made ONE. St. Nersess the Graceful – 1173 further elaborated on the issue saying that there is not much difference between “two natures, divine and human, united without confusion, without change, without division, without separation” and “one nature, divine and human”. Both parties agreed that Jesus Christ is One Person and that He is God and Man. More over, the Armenian church vehemently condemned Arians (not to be confused with Aryans ),Nestorians, Apollinarianism and other –isms that were “fashionable” at that time. Even the Armenian sectarian Paulicians and their offshoots Tornikians were persecuted by both Chalcedonian Armenians of the West and non-Chalcedonian Armenians of the East.

The only issue of controversy with the Eastern Orthodox was the unleavened bread and red wine, not mixed with water. They accused us of following the Jewish ways, but after all although not a Jew, Jesus himself was raised in a Jewish environment, and this was the way he did it. Interestingly, the Armenian church had never had problems with other churches with regard to Holly Trinity.

In conclusion, the rejection of Chalcedon was not a theological issue.

First of all, Christianity is monotheistic. We believe in One God…. (see the Nicean creed). Secondly, I think Greco-Romans were inclined to think and perceive Jesus as multitude due to their pagan multy-theos pagan believes. Such statement might be naïve but, not overlooked. Opposite to that, Armenians prior to becoming Christians were pagan, but monotheistic. They believed in supremacy of One God - Sun, Fire, Light. The concept of multiple gods was long abandoned.

Thirdly, there were very clear political reasons. The influence of Roman Empire (culturally and politically) was ever growing. Armenian clergymen were scared of that influence and tried to keep their status and independence (and their administrative “chairs” and benefits. Being the first “official” Christians, Armenians thought that their supremacy in the field of Christian establishment would be endangered, and probably to certain extend rejection of Chalcedony was just act of pretense, kind of “Who are you to tell me what is right and what is wrong”, which for good or worst is still very popular as an attitude among many even lay Armenians. There were also political reasons. Armenia was involved in imminent war against Persia. Much needed help from our Christian brothers was denied. At that time Attila was knocking on the door of Rome and preparing to invade the East. Armenians realized that if they accept Chalcedon, due to the strong Byzantium influence Armenian people would be gone as Greeks were pretty much gone despite Greek being the official language of the Eastern Roman Empire. Today, most probably we all would have been something else. Greek and Syrian languages were in circulation along with Armenian. The only good thing is that after a few centuries, after the Seljuk Turks invasion the first independence movements among Christians were marked with struggles for Autonomous Churches. Armenians were spared that struggle, because they were recognized different from East Byzantium Orthodoxy.