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Dioscorus of Alexandria

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'''Dioscorus I of Alexandria''' was the [[Patriarch of Alexandria]] [[from 444 AD]]&ndash; [[to 451 AD]]/[[Pope . His actions during the continuation of Alexandria|the 25th Pope of Alexandria]] Christological controversies following the [[444 ADdeposition]]&ndash;of [[454 ADNestorius]]/resulted in his deposition at the [[457 ADFourth Ecumenical Council]] (by different traditions respectively)  '''Dioscorus I''' (died c. in Chalcedon in 451 which led to the later [[454schism]]/in the [[457Church of Alexandria]]). in Asia Minor, 11 Sept., 454.<ref>[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/05019a.htm Catholic Encyclopedia]</ref>
==Controversy==
Dioscorus I of Alexandria is considered a [[saint]] by the [[Coptic]], [[Syriac Orthodox Church|Syriac]], and other [[Oriental Orthodox]] churches. He is generally considered a [[heretic]] by the [[Eastern Orthodox]], though some commentators like Anatolius and [[John S. Romanides]] think that Dioscorus was deposed at [[Chalcedon]] in 451 not because of the faith, but for his grave administrative errors at the [[Robber Council of Ephesus]] (449), which included restoring [[Eutyches]] the heretic and the attack on [[Flavian the Confessor|Flavian]], and because he (Dioscorus) had excommunicated Pope [[Leo the Great|Leo I of Rome]], and also because at [[Chalcedon]] he refused to appear in front of the Council although he was summoned to it three times.<ref>[http://www.romanity.org/htm/rom.06.en.orthodox_and_oriental_orthodox_consultation.htm Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox Consultation: Leo of Rome's Support of Theodoret, Dioscorus of Alexandria's Support of Eutyches and the Lifting of the Anathemas] by John S. Romanides</ref>
'''Dioscorus I of Alexandria''' is considered a [[saint]] by the [[Coptic Christianity|Coptic]], [[Syriac Orthodox Church|Syriac]], and other [[Oriental Orthodoxy]] churches. He is considered a heretic by the Orthodox Church, though some commentators like Anatolius and [[John S. Romanides]] think that Dioscorus was not deposed at Chalcedon (451) because of the faith, but for his grave administrative errors at the Robber Council of Ephesus (449), which included restoring [[Eutyches]] the heretic and the attack on Flavian, and because he (Dioscorus) had excommunicated Pope [[Leo the Great|Leo of Rome]], and also because at Chalcedon he refused to appear in front of the Council although he was summoned to it three times.[http://www.romanity.org/htm/rom.06.en.orthodox_and_oriental_orthodox_consultation.htm] His character and stance are subject to contravention between the [[Oriental Orthodoxy]] Orthodox churches on one side and the [[Eastern Orthodoxy]] Orthodox and [[Roman Catholic]] churches on the other. The [[Oriental Orthodoxy]] churches are generally accused by other churches of accepting the [[Eutyches|Eutychian doctrine]] of [[Monophysitism]]&mdash; this is denied by these churches as they consider Eutyches a heretic as the other churches but to have redemed himself by retreving this herecy in the Ephsus second council <ref>Story of the Coptic church by [[Iris Habib elmasry]] Volume I</ref>but figures large in the differences between those churches and most other populous Christian churches, as well as in the civil strife and friction of the era and afterwards within the [[Eastern Roman Empire]].
Hence, in The Oriental Orthodox churches are generally accused by other churches of accepting the mess typical of [[schismEutychianism|Eutychian doctrine]]s, according to mainstream Christian sects, he was merely a [[Patriarch of Alexandria]] turned [[hereticMonophysitism]], who in &mdash;this is denied by these churches as they consider Eutyches a pre-emptive power-play characteristic of meglomania attempted to excommunicate many heretic as the other influential bishops in opposition churches but to his belief have redeemed himself by retrieving this heresy in Monophysitismthe Second Council of Ephesus, including Pope Leo I. <!-- ref:see >Story of the Coptic church by [[ Second Council of Ephesus w:Iris Habib Elmasry|Iris Habib Elmasry]]Volume I</ref> but figures large in the differences between those churches and most other populous Christian churches, as well as in the civil strife and friction of the era and afterwards within the historical documentation is rather telling[[Eastern Roman Empire]]. --->
He was subsequently [[excommunicated]] by Hence, in the mess typical of [[Roman Catholicschism|schisms]] , according to mainstream Christian sects, he was merely a [[Pope]] [[Leo IPatriarch of Alexandria]]turned heretic, most likely who in very early [[450 AD]] during the aftermath a preemptive power-play characteristic of the controversial megalomania attempted to excommunicate many other influential bishops in opposition to his belief in Monophysitism, including Leo. <!-- ref:see [[Second Council of Ephesus]], which he was charged by the Emperor to precide over with the concurrence of Pope Leo Ihistorical documentation is rather telling. --->
It He was supposed to be the fourth subsequently [[ecumenical councilexcommunication|excommunicated]] and can only be discribed as {{Wdy|Byzantine}} in effect and bizarre in it's rubber stamping character wherein giants of the orthodox sects were slain in abstentia by excomunication and which findings were all subsequently negated and annulled by Pope [[Leo I]] as well as the succeeding [[ecumenical council]] , most likely in [[451 AD]], very early 450 during the [[Council aftermath of Chalcedon]] (Widely accepted as the fourth ecumenical council, by most mainstream Christian sects. In contrast, the eastern sects listed above accept the controversial [[Second Council of Ephesus]] as canonical, and ''don't accept'' which he was charged by the council Emperor to preside over with the concurrence of Chalcedon, nor the [[Chalcedonian Creed]]Leo.)
It was supposed to be the fourth [[ecumenical council]] and can only be described as in effect and bizarre in it's rubber stamping character wherein giants of the orthodox sects were slain ''in absentia'' by excommunication and which findings were all subsequently negated and annulled by Leo as well as the succeeding [[ecumenical council]] in 451, the [[Council of Chalcedon]] (Widely accepted as the Fourth Ecumenical Council, by most mainstream Christian Churches. In contrast, the Oriental Orthodox Churches listed above accept the Second Council of Ephesus as canonical, and do not accept the Council of Chalcedon, nor the [[Chalcedonian Creed]].)
The other person involved in this controversy apart from Dioscorus I is [[Pope Leo |Leo I]] with each side considering the other person a heretic. The main factors behind this are still present and it is subject to discussion between the churches.<ref>[http://sor.cua.edu/Ecumenism/20000509oomtg3.html Syriac Orthodox Church]</ref>
In recent research it was suggested that both Leo and Dioscoros are Orthodox because they agree with St.[[Cyril of Alexandria]], especially with his Twelve Chapters, even though both had been considered heretical by the other side <ref>[http://www.romanity.org/htm/rom.06.en.orthodox_and_oriental_orthodox_consultation.htm ORTHODOX AND ORIENTAL ORTHODOX CONSULTATIONOrthodox and Oriental Orthodox Consultation: Leo of Rome's Support of Theodoret, Dioscorus of Alexandria's Support of Eutyches and the Lifting of the Anathemas]by John S. Romanides</ref>.
In May 1973 After fifteen centuries, H.H. Pope [[Shenouda III (Gayyid) of Alexandria]] visited H.H. Pope [[Pope Paul VI of Rome|Paul VI]] of Rome and declared a common faith in the nature of Christ, the issue which caused the schism of the church in the [[Council of Chalcedon]] .<ref>[http://www.coptic.net/articles/MonophysitismReconsidered.txt Coptic. net Monophysitism Reconsidered]</ref> . AlthoughHowever, this is disputed, due to the fact that the main leaders of the Non-Chalcedonian schism specifically condemned St. Cyril's agreements with St. John of Antioch. For example, Timothy Ailouros Aelurus (Dioscorus ' disciple and sucessorsuccessor, wrote: "Cyril... having excellently articulated the wise proclamation of Orthodoxy, showed himself to be fickle and is to be censured for teaching contrary doctrine: after previously proposing that we should speak of one nature of God the Word, he destroyed the dogma that he had formulated and is caught professing two Natures of Christ." <ref>Timothy AilourosAelurus, "Epistles to Kalonymos," ''Patrologia Graeca'', Vol LXXXVI, Col. 276; quoted in The Non Chalcedonian Heretics, p. 13. See also[http://orthodoxinfo.com/ecumenism/mono_history.aspx "The History of the Persistant Monophysite Rejection of St. Cyril of Alexandria's Teaching on the Two Natures of Christ"]</ref>
A similar declaration was reached between the [[Oriental Orthodoxy]] churches and the [[Eastern Orthodoxy]] churches in the 1990s. In the summer of 2001, the Coptic Orthodox and Greek Orthodox Patriarchates of Alexandria agreed to mutually recognize baptisms performed in each other's churches <ref>[http://orthodoxwiki.org/Church_of_Alexandria_[Church of Alexandria (Coptic)#Council_of_Chalcedon Orthodox wikiCouncil of Chalcedon]]</ref>.
==Early life==
Before being a Pope Dioscorus served as the dean of the [[Catechetical School of Alexandria]], and was the personal secretary of [[Cyril of Alexandria|Saint Cyril the Great, Patriarch of Alexandria]], whom he accompanied to the [[Third Ecumenical Council]] held at [[Ephesus]].
==[[Eutyches]] and [[Nestorius]]==In his struggle against [[Nestorius]], St. [[Cyril of Alexandria|St. Cyril]] explained the union between the two natures of Christ (His Divinity and His Humanity) as "inward and real without any division, change, or confusion." He rejected the Antiochene Antiochian theory of "indwelling,", or "conjunction,", or "close participation" as insufficient to reveal the real unification. He charged that their theory permitted the division of the two hypostasis of Christ just as Nestorius taught.
Thus the traditional Orthodox formula adopted by Cyril and Dioscorus was "ONE INCARNATE NATUREone incarnate nature" which translated in Greek to "''[[Miaphysitism|MIAmia-PHYSISphysis]]" '' and not "Mono Physis"''mono-physis''. They meant by "MIA"''mia'': one; not "single one", but "unity one"; "out of two natures"; as Dioscorus stated. He insisted on "the one nature" of Christ to assert Christ's oneness, as a tool to defend the Church's faith against Nestorianism. Thus Christ is at once God and man.
On the other hand the Antiochene Antiochian formula was "Two two natures after the union" which is translated to "DYO PHYSIS"''dio physis''. This formula explained Christ as two natures; Son of God, and Son of Man, and that God did not suffer nor did He die.
St. Cyril himself, accepted the Antiochian formula, in his agreements with St. John of Antioch:
:"With regard to the Evangelical and Apostolic expressions concerning the Lord, we know that men who are skilled in theology make some of them common to the one Person, while they divide others between the two Natures, ascribing those that are fitting to God to Divinity of Christ, and those that are lowly to His Humanity. On reading these sacred utterances of Yours, and finding that we ourselves think along the same lines—for lines&mdash;for there is one Lord, one Faith, one Baptism—, Baptism&mdash;we glorified God the Saviour of all"<ref>John Karmiris, ''Dogmatic and Creedal Statements of the Orthodox Church'', Vol. 1 [, Athens:, 1960]. p. 154], quoted in ''The Non-Chalcedonian Heretics'', p . 11</ref>
A struggle occurred between Eutyches and [[Theodoret]]. Eutyches was an [[archimandrite]] of a [[monastery]] in Constantinople. He defended the formula "one nature" against that of "two natures." He concluded that the Godhead absorbed the manhood of Christ. Theodoret accused Eutyches and Cyril, and published a long attack on them. The council of Constantinople was held in 448, and Eutyches was condemned and exiled.
A struggle occurred between [[Eutyches]] and [[Theodoret]]. Leo originally wrote to Eutyches was an [[archmandrite]] of a monastery praising his zeal in Constantinopleopposing the Nestorian dualism. He defended But he later changed his mind; perhaps when he heard that the formula "one nature" against emperor wrote to Dioscorus calling him to a council to be held to discuss that matter. Leo, who was not part of "two natures". He concluded that the Godhead absorbed conflict between the manhood of Christ. Theodoret accused Eutyches Alexandrian and Cyrilthe Antiochian [[Christology]], and published a long attack on them. The council sent his famous Tome (letter) to Constantinople -- not to work for reconciliation of Constantinople was held in 448the parties, and Eutyches was condemned and exiledbut to defame the Alexandrian theologians.
==Second Council of Ephesus==Then Emperor Theodosius II convened the [[Pope Leo I|Pope LeoSecond Council of Ephesus]] of Rome wrote to Eutyches praising his zeal (called the "Robber Synod") in opposing the Nestorian dualism. But Leo changed his mind; perhaps when he heard that the emperor wrote to 449 and asked Dioscorus calling him to a council to be held to discuss that matterexercise supreme authority over it as president. Leo, who Eutyches was not part of the conflict between the Alexandrian rehabilitated because he offered to repent and the Antiochian Christology, sent the famous Tome (letter) of also because Leo wrote to Constantinople -- not Flavian saying that he should be kind to work for reconciliation of the partieshim, but and to defame the Alexandrian theologiansaccept him if he repented.
==[[Second Council of Ephesus]]Chalcedon==Then on [[July 28]], 450, Emperor [[Theodosius II convened |Theodosius]] died and his sister [[Pulcheria the Empress|Pulcheria]] and her consort [[Second Council of EphesusMarcian]] (called were declared emperors. Pulcheria supported Rome against Alexandria. She gathered signatures for the "Robber SynodTome") in [[449]] and asked Dioscorus of Leo to be introduced as the basic paper for a new council to be held at Chalcedon. At the same time, she decided not to exercise let Rome hold supreme authority over it as presidentin the church. Eutyches was rehabilitated because he offered She refused Leo's demand to repent and also because Leohold the council in Italy, Bishop of Rome wrote to but insisted that it would be held in the East. Although the [[Flaviancouncil of Chalcedon]] saying that he should be kind is believed to himhave condemned Eutyches, and to accept him if the man with whom it really dealt was Dioscorus, for Eutyches was already in North Syria, where he repentedhad been exiled before the council met.
==During the council, Dioscorus explained why they should retain the formula "one incarnate nature of God the Word" (a formula which had already been vindicated and defined at the [[Third Ecumenical Council|First Council of ChalcedonEphesus]]==). On hearing "one nature," some bishops in the council shouted, "Eutyches says these things also." Here Dioscorus clarified the Alexandrian view, saying, "We do not speak of confusion, neither of division, nor of change." Dioscorus tried to make his position clear: that he did not accept "two natures after the union," but he had no objection to "''from'' two natures after the union."
Then on [[July 28]], [[450]], Emperor [[Theodosius II|Theodosius]] died and his sister [[Pulcheria]] and her consort [[Marcian]] were declared emperors. Pulcheria supported Rome against Alexandria. She gathered signatures for the "Tome" of Leo to be introduced as the basic paper for a new council to be held at [[Chalcedon]]. At the same time, she decided not to let Rome hold supreme authority in the church. She refused Leo's demand to hold the council in Italy, but insisted that it would be held in the East. Although the [[council of Chalcedon]] is believed to have condemned Eutyches, the man with whom it really dealt was Dioscorus, for Eutyches was already in North Syria, where he had been exiled before the council met. During the council, Dioscorus explained why the Orthodox faith should adopt the formula "One incarnate nature of God the Word". On hearing "one nature", some bishops in the council shouted, "Eutyches says these things also." Here Dioscorus clarified the Alexandrian view, saying, "We do not speak of confusion, neither of division, nor of change." Dioscorus tried to make his position clear: that he did not accept "two natures after the union", but he had no objection to "''From'' two natures after the union." When the judges started the order of the acts of the Council, Paschasinus , the Roman delegate , said, "We have orders from Rome that Dioscorus should not have a place in this council. If this is violated he should be cast out." When the judges asked about what Dioscorus did, the Roman delegate replied, "He has dared to conduct a council without the authorization of the apostolic see in Rome, a thing which has never happened and which ought not to have happened."
It was the emperor's favor that the council had to draw out Alexandria and declare a new formula to bring the entire Church in the east under the leadership of Constantinople. They used Leo as a tool to accomplish their objective through his enmity to Alexandria, looking upon it as an obstacle in realizing his papal authority on the Church over the world.
The verdict of the commissioners was announced: Dioscorus of Alexandria, [[Juvenal of Jerusalem]], Thalassius of [[Caesarea]], Eusebius of Ancyra, Eutathius of Berytus, and Basil of Seleucia - &mdash;these were the men who had been responsible for the decisions of the second council of Ephesus, and should as such all be deposed. Thus the Patriarch of Alexandria was exiled to Gangra Island. In fact, Dioscorus was not condemned by name at chalcedon Chalcedon because of his theological heresy, but specifically due to his canonical violations at the Robber Synod of Ephesus.
==New formula of faith==
==Exile of Dioscorus==
After those incidents, a messenger from Constantinople arrived in Alexandria announcing the exile of the Patriarch Dioscorus, and the appointment of an Alexandrian priest named [[Proterius of Alexandria|Proterius]] as an imperial [, i.e. , alien/foreign/non-Egyptian] , patriarch over Alexandria, with the approval of the emperor. He threatened whoever dared to show disobedience. The [[MelchiteMelkite]] patriarch who was appointed by the emperor became surrounded by soldiers willing to punish those who might resist the imperial command.
In the year 457 Patriarch Dioscorus died in exile, and when the Copts heard that, they met with the clergymen and elected Timothy, the disciple of Dioscorus, to be the new Patriarch. This became a regular practice of the Coptic Church, who have not been reconciled to the Orthodox Patriarchates to this day.
Dioscorus I (died c. 454/457) in Asia Minor, [[September 11]], 454.<ref>[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/05019a.htm Catholic Encyclopedia]</ref>
==References==
<references/>
{{start box}}{{succession|before=[[Cyril of Alexandria|Cyril I]]|title=External links[[Patriarch of Alexandria]]|years=444-451|after=* [http://www.coptic.net Encyclopedia Coptica: The Christian Coptic Orthodox Church Of Egypt[‎Proterius of Alexandria|Proterius]]* (Chalcedonian succession)<br>Timothy II ([[http://www.copticchurch.net/synaxarium/1_7.html#1 Lives List of Saints :: Tout 7 — 1. The Departure of Dioscorus, 25th Pope of Alexandria.Coptic Popes|Non-Chalcedonian succession]])|}}{{end box}}
==See also==
*[[List of Coptic Orthodox Popes of Alexandria]]
*[[Coptic Orthodox Church]]
*[[List of Orthodox Patriarchs of Alexandria|Orthodox Patriarchs of Alexandria]]
*[[List of Coptic Popes|Coptic Popes]]
== External links References==* [http:<references//www.romanity.org/htm/rom.06.en.orthodox_and_oriental_orthodox_consultation.htm ORTHODOX AND ORIENTAL ORTHODOX CONSULTATION]*[http://orthodoxinfo.com/ecumenism/ea_mono.aspx The Monophysites (Non-Chalcedonians)]>
{{nofootnote==Source==*[[w:Pope Dioscorus I of Alexandria&oldid=118470836|article|date=February 2007}}''Pope Dioscorus I of Alexandria'' at Wikipedia]]
{{s-start}} {{s-bef|rows=2|before=External links==*[[Cyril of Alexandria|Cyril Ihttp://www.coptic.net Encyclopedia Coptica: The Christian Coptic Orthodox Church Of Egypt]]}}{{s-ttl|title=*[[List http://www.copticchurch.net/synaxarium/1_7.html#1 Lives of Patriarchs Saints :: Tout 7 — 1. The Departure of Alexandria|Chalcedonian Patriarch Dioscorus, 25th Pope of Alexandria.]]|years=[[444]]-[[451]]}}{{s-aft|after=[*[Proterius of Alexandria|Proterius I]http://www.romanity.org/htm/rom.06.en.orthodox_and_oriental_orthodox_consultation.htm Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox Consultation]}}|-{{s-ttl|title=*[[List of Coptic Popes|http://orthodoxinfo.com/ecumenism/ea_mono.aspx The Monophysites (Non-Chalcedonian Patriarch of Alexandria]]|years=[[444]]-[[457]]}}{{s-aft|after=[[Pope Timothy II of Alexandria|Timothy II]Chalcedonians)]}}|-{{end}} {{Coptic Popes}}
[[Category:Egyptian saintsSaints|Dioscorus, Pope of Alexandria]][[Category:454 deathsNon-Chalcedonian Saints]]
[[Category:Patriarchs of Alexandria]]
[[Category:Christianity in Egypt]]
[[ar:ديوسقورس الأول]]
[[dero:Dioskoros I. von Alexandria]][[sv:Dioskoros av Alexandria]][[zh:狄奧斯庫若Dioscor al Alexandriei]]
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