Council of Chalcedon
The council confessed one and the same Jesus Christ in two natures, without confusion, change, division, or separation, and received key earlier Christological letters.
Historical context
Chalcedon rejected the proceedings of Ephesus 449. Its definition did not end conflict; reception differed across Christian communities and generated lasting division.
Reception
The Oriental Orthodox churches receive the first three councils, not this later council as ecumenical. Non-reception does not imply denial of Christ's complete divinity or humanity.
Perspective note
Comparative historical/source study. The original author's or church's reception is retained; inclusion does not make every claim Oriental Orthodox teaching. Historical documents retain their original claims. The reception label follows the selected church perspective; library access does not imply assent.
Key points
- The four adverbs protect both the distinction of natures and the unity of the one Christ.
- Read the definition together with Cyril's letters and Leo's Tome as presented in the acts.
- Canon 28 and its reception are distinct from the Christological definition.
Scripture
- Hebrews 2:14-18 — The Son shares human life.
- John 1:14 — The divine Word became flesh.
Primary sources
The definition states:
Chalcedon's definition confesses one Christ in two natures without confusion, change, division, or separation.
in two natures, unconfusedly, immutably, indivisibly, inseparably [united]
Passage context and translation
The definition confesses one and the same Christ in two natures while preserving both their distinction and their union in one person. Oriental Orthodox churches do not receive Chalcedon, even though later dialogues have identified significant shared Christological convictions.
Before the excerpt
This one and the same Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son [of God] must be confessed to be
After the excerpt
and that without the distinction of natures being taken away by such union
Sources and further reading
- Chalcedon: definition, acts, and canons (primary collection)
- Reception: Armenian Apostolic Church, Western Europe · Faith
Modern Armenian self-description. Its dating of an official response at Dvin to 506 is not a quotation from surviving council acts. - Reception: Eastern-Oriental Orthodox Joint Commission · Second Agreed Statement
Joint commission agreement. Section 8 explicitly distinguishes the families' reception of later councils; section 10 submits recommendations to churches for action.