Ecthesis

From OrthodoxWiki
Revision as of 13:47, January 23, 2005 by ASDamick (talk | contribs)
Jump to: navigation, search

The Ecthesis (from Greek εκθεσις, "statement of faith") was a heretical formula issued in 638 by Emperor Heraclius.

It forbid the mention of "energies," either one or two, in the person of Jesus Christ. It also asserted that the two natures of Christ were united in a single will (i.e., Monothelitism). It had been drafted earlier in 638 by Patriarch Sergius of Constantinople after consultation with Pope Honorius of Rome. It was accepted by synods held in the Imperial capital, but quickly repudiated by Heraclius as well as Honorius' two successors (Popes Severinus and John IV).

It was later superseded by Emperor Constans II's Typos.


The text of the Ecthesis is preserved in the Acta of the Lateran Council of 649.


Source

The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church (3rd ed.), p. 528