Neo-Chalcedonism (also neo-Chalcedonianism) was a sixth-century theological movement in the Byzantine empire.[1] The term however is quite recent, first appearing in a 1909 work by J. Lebon.
Overview
The main preoccupation of neo-Chalcedonians was specifying the nature of the hypostatic union of two natures in Christ, which was left vague in the definition of Chalcedon. The dyophysite neo-chaldeconians were chiefly opposed by the monophysites, who increasingly labelled them Nestorians, that is, deniers of the deity of Christ.[2]
Major neo-Chalcedonians include Nephalios, John of Caesarea and Leontios of Jerusalem. They sought a middle ground with the so-called "verbal" (moderate) monophysites. They emphasised the synthesis of natures in Christ, employing a word favoured by the verbal monophysites, and the hypostatic as opposed to natural union of the natures. They continued to accept the proposition that only "one of the Trinity has suffered" and the twelve anathemas of Cyril of Alexandria.[2]
^Karl-Heinz Uthemann, Christus, Kosmos, Diatribe: Themen der frühen Kirche als Beitrag zu einer historischen Theologie, De Gruyter, 2005
^ abcAlexander Kazhdan, "Neo-chalcedonism", The Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium, ed. Alexander Kazhdan (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2005).
Further reading
Allen, Pauline. "Neo-Chalcedonism and the Patriarchs of the Late Sixth Century". Byzantion50 (1980): 5–17.
Gray, P. "Neo-Chalcedonianism and the Tradition: From Patristic to Byzantine Theology". Byzantinische Forschungen8 (1982): 61–70.
Helmer, S. Der Neuchalkedonismus. Bonn, 1962.
Lebon, J. "Le monophysisme sevérien". Louvain, 1909.
Moeller, C. "Un représentant de la christologie néochalcédonienne au début du VIe siècle en Orient: Nephalius d'Alexandrie". Revue d'histoire ecclésiastique40 (1944–45): 73–140.
Moeller, C. "Le chalcédonisme et le néo-chalcédonisme en Orient de 451 à la fin du VIe siècle". Das Konzil von Chalkedon, vol. 1 (Würzburg, 1951): 666–96.