View source for Arcadius II of Cyprus

'''Arcadius II of Cyprus''' was the Archbishop of the [[Church of Cyprus]] during the early seventh century. He supported the heretical [[Monoenergism]] formula, a precursor to the [[heresy]] of [[Monothelitism]], that was propounded by Patriarch [[Sergius I of Constantinople]], Pope [[Honorius I of Rome]], and emperor [[Heraclius]].

==Life==
Little is known of the life of Arcadius. He was appointed the ruling hierarch of Cyprus in 630 and headed the Church of Cyprus during the Christological controversies of the early seventh century. These controversies centered over the attempt by emperor Heraclius and Patr. Sergius to reconcile, through a formula that became known as Monoenergism, the differences between the Chalcedonian and non-Chalcedonian positions that followed the decisions of the [[Fourth Ecumenical Council]] in [[Chalcedon]] in 451.

In 626, Heraclius requested Arcadius to teach the doctrine of "one hegumenic energy". As this teaching was met with apparent success, the emperor was encouraged to seek a wider approval of his compromise. Through the following years, emperor Heraclius gained agreement on the new doctrine among a number of the members of the Church hierarchy including Patr. Sergius, Patr. [[Cyrus of Alexandria]], and the Jacobite Athanasius of Antioch. Only [[Sophronius I of Jerusalem]] believed the doctrine unsound and championed [[Dyotheltism]], the doctrine of two wills of Christ.

In 634, Abp. Arcadius, now [[archbishop]] of Cyprus, convened a [[synod]] on the island of Cyprus at the request of Patr. Sophronius of Jerusalem. Forty six dignitaries participated in the synod including Patr. Sophronius, Patr. Cyrus of Alexandria, representatives from Constantinople and Rome, and [[Maximus the Confessor]]. After extensive haggling, the anti-Monoenergites agreed on a letter that Abp. Arcadius viewed as an [[anathema]] and which Patr. Cyrus forwarded to emperor Heraclius. 

Subsequently in 638, emperor Heraclius and Patr, Sergius, having abandoned Monoenergism, turned to Monothelitism that was officially issued in the decree [[Ecthesis]] as the doctrine to end the Christological [[schism]]. 

Abp. Arcadius reposed in 643 as the controversy continued.

==Reference==
* George of Reshaina, "An Early Life of Maximus the Confessor," trans. Sebastian P Brock, pp.&nbsp;315–7

==Writings==
*''Epistle on Monothelitism'' Lost.

{{Start box}}
{{Succession|
before=Plutarch|
title=[[List of Archbishops of Cyprus|Archbishop of Cyprus]]|
years=630–643|
after=Sergius}}
{{end box}}

==Sources==
*[[Wikipedia: Archbishop_Arkadios_II_of_Cyprus]]
*[[Wikipedia:Monothelitism]]
*[http://knol.google.com/k/zia-shah/third-council-of-constantinople-680-681/1qhnnhcumbuyp/194#  Third Council of Constantinople]
*[http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Pope_Honorius_I  Pope Honorius I] 

==External link==
*[[Wikipedia: Monoenergism]]

[[Category: Bishops]]
[[Category:7th-century bishops]]
[[Category: Heretics]]
[[Category: Archbishops of Cyprus]]