Monophysites (Greek, Moi-o^raT-oi, from fi6- )or, single, and 4>vni<:, nature) is the name of a Chris- tian sect which took form under that name in the^'ear 451, when tlie Eutychinn heresy was condemned by the orthodox Eastern Church in the Council of Chal- cedon. But though the name of the ^Icnophysites first occurs in the acts of the Council of Clialcedon, Monophysitism must be regarded as of much older date, and is to be traced to Entychiamsm (q. v.\ from wliich it sprang, though by no means identical with it. Eutyches not only attributed Imt one nature to Christ after his incarnation, Imt held that Christ's body, be- ing the body of God, was not identical with the human
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body. The Monophysites, in distinction, held that the two natures were so united that, although the "one Christ" was partly human and partly divine, his two natures became by their union only one nature {Muvij (pvaig). This modification of the Eutychian doctrine •was taught by Dioscorus, the successor of St. Cyril as patriarch of Alexandria. He presided at the Coun- cil of Ephesus (A.D. 449), which considered the opin- ion of Eutyches, and from the murderous violence shown by his Egyptian partisans was called " Latro- cinium," or "Robber Synod." Under the influence of Dioscorus, who wished to gain a victory over the patriarchs of Antioch and Constantinople, the chief opponents of Eutyches, the assembled bishops were persuaded to give their decision in favor of Eutyches, the key-note to that decision being struck by the pas- sionate exclamation of Dioscorus: "Will you endure that two natures should be spoken of after the incar- nation" (Mansi, Concil. vi, 583). " Partly thus terri- fied, partly ignorant, parth', perhaps, persuaded," says Neale, "the assembled fathers set their hands to the acquittal of Eutyches, and thus the Monophysite her- esy was born in the Church" (^Patriarchate of Alexan- dria, i, 295). The decision so given was not, however, accepted by the patriarchs of Antioch and of Constanti- nople, Bor by the bishop of Rome, and another council ■was called by the new emperor Marcian in the follow- ing year, which assembled first at Nictea, but event- ually at Chalcedon, whence its name. This council condemned the doctrine of the Eutychians and Mo- nophysites, and it was stated " that Christ was really divine and really human; in his divinity co-eternal, and in all points similar to the Father ; in his human- itj', son of the Virgin Marj', born like all others, and like unto us men in all things except sin ; that after his incarnation his person contained two natures un- mixed {u<yvyKVTi>jq) and unaltered (Jit piiTTioQ), yet at the same time completely (ahaipkrujc) and intimately (c'(Kwpi<Tbi(S) united." The adherents of the Alexan- drian school saw themselves overpowered and with- drew from the council, and thus "started those violent and complicated Monophysite controversies which con- vulsed the Oriental Church, from patriarchs and em- perors down to monks and peasants, for more than a hundred years, and which have left their mark even to our daj'." Dioscorus himself was deposed from the patriarchate, and a certain Proterius placed in his stead. The people, however, sympathized with the persecuted, and the Monophysites increased very rap- idl_v. They spread especially in Palestine, mainly through the agency of the monk Theodosius, who was instrumental in the expulsion of the patriarch Juve- nal from Jerusalem, and got himself appointed in his place. The conflict between the two parties was only quelled by force of arms. Egj-pt, and in particular Alexandria, proved, however, the greatest strongholds of Monophysite views, and constant troubles were there the result. The patriarch Proterius was fre- quently annoyed b}' his opponents, and public quarrels were a common occurrence. Finally, in the heat of passion, a few Monophj'site partisans attacked the house of Proterius, and, driving him from it, followed him to the church, and there stabbed him to death, and disposed of his body in a most cruel manner. In Pro- terius's place was put a Monophysite, the presbyter Timotheus ^lurus, and henceforth there ruled in Al- exandria an unbroken succession of Monophysite pa- triarchs. Under ^lurus's rule all who accepted the decisions of the Council of Chalcedon were excommu- nicated, especially pope Leo. But complaint being made against ^lurus to the emperor, he was banished to Gangra in 460. In many respects the rule of ^EIu- rus was a profitable one to the Church, and had fanatics only stood aside the best results would have been as- sured. Ho was conciliatory in his nature, as ma}' be seen from his acts. He evidently intended to draw his flock back into the orthodox fold. Thus Dioscorus had
followed Eutj'ches in denying Christ's human nature to be of the same kind as that of ordinary men ; but when Timothy was on a visit to Constantinople, and Eutj'chian monks desired to join his communion, he took the opportunity of disclaiming this part of their belief, and declared the conviction of himself and his followers to be that the Saviour became consubstantial with men according to his human nature, as he had ever been consubstantial with the Father according to his divine nature. In this particular the Monophj'site followers of Timothy, who were hence called " Timo- theans," as the opposite party were called "Diosco- rians," returned to the creed of St. Cyril, which his deacon and successor Dioscorus had forsaken.