Oriental Orthodoxy Christianity in the 5th century

the coptic cross

eastern orthodoxy strives keep faith of 7 ecumenical councils. in contrast, term oriental orthodoxy refers churches of eastern christian traditions keep faith of first 3 ecumenical councils — first council of nicaea, first council of constantinople , council of ephesus — , rejected dogmatic definitions of council of chalcedon. called greek orthodox distinguish coptic orthodox patriarchate of alexandria. in egypt, members of greek orthodox patriarchate called melkite, because remained in communion patriarch of constantinople.

oriental orthodox referred monophysites , non-chalcedonians , or anti-chalcedonians , although today oriental orthodox church denies monophysite , prefers term miaphysite denote joined nature of jesus. dogma chosen oriental orthodox interpreted express jesus christ had 2 natures (both human , divine) mixed 1 single nature. interpreted byzantine position argument diminished human reality of christ, making human of christ 1 not of freewill.

those disagreed findings of council of chalcedon today known coptic orthodox church of alexandria. included ethiopian orthodox tewahedo church , armenian orthodox church. there similar split in syria (patriarchate of antioch) greek orthodox church of antioch , syriac orthodox church.