Monophysitism: Topic PageFrom The Columbia Encyclopedia
(mӘnŏf'ĭsĭt´´ĭzӘm) [Gr.,=belief in a single nature], a heresy of the 5th and 6th cent., which grew out of a reaction against Nestorianism. It was anticipated by Apollinarianism and was continuous with the principles of Eutyches, whose doctrine had been rejected in 451 at Chalcedon (see Chalcedon, Council of); modern Monophysite churches are also known as Non-Chalcedonian or Oriental Orthodox churches. Monophysitism challenged the orthodox definition of faith of Chalcedon and taught that in Jesus there were not two natures (divine and human) but one (divine). Discussion of this belief was clouded by misunderstandings of terms and by the lack of knowledge of Greek in the West; the Non-Chalcedonian churches have argued that they believe that Christ has one nature that is equally divine and human, and prefer the term Miaphysitism [Gr.,=belief in a unified nature].