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The term '''''Oriental Orthodox''''' refers to the churches of Eastern Christian traditions that keep the faith of only the first three [[Ecumenical Council]]s of the undivided [[Orthodox Church]] - the —the councils of [[First Ecumenical Council|Nicea I]], [[Second Ecumenical Council|Constantinople I]] and [[Third Ecumenical Council|Ephesus]]. The Oriental Orthodox churches rejected the [[dogma|dogmatic definition]]s of the [[Fourth Ecumenical Council|Council of Chalcedon]](A.D. 451).

Thus, despite potentially confusing nomenclature, Oriental Orthodox churches are distinct from the churches that collectively refer are referred to themselves as ''[[Orthodox Church|Eastern Orthodoxy]]''.

The Oriental Orthodox churches came to a [[schism|parting of the ways]] with the remainder of [[Christianity]] in the 5th century. The separation resulted in part from the Oriental Orthodox churches' refusal to accept the [[Christology|Christological]] [[dogma]]s promulgated by the Council of [[Fourth Ecumenical Council|Council of Chalcedon]], which held that [[Jesus Christ]] has is in two [[physis|nature]]s — natures — one divine and one human, although these were inseparable and only act as one [[hypostasis]]. To the [[hierarch]]s who would lead the Oriental Orthodox, this was tantamount to accepting [[Nestorianism]]. In response, they advocated a formula that stressed unity of the [[Incarnation]] over all other considerations, that being "one nature of God the Word Incarnate", "of/from two natures" in and after the union. The Oriental Orthodox churches are therefore often called "[[Monophysitism|Monophysite]]" churches, although they reject this label, which is associated with [[Eutychianism|Eutychian Monophysitism]], preferring the term "''non-Chalcedonian" '' or "''Miaphysite" '' churches. Oriental Orthodox Christians anathematize the Monophysite teachings of [[Eutyches]]. They are sometimes also known as "''anti-Chalcedonians''."

In the 20th century, a number of dialogues have occurred between the Oriental Orthodox and the Eastern/Byzantine Chalcedonian Orthodox which have led some to suggest revealed that both communions now share a common [[christologyChristology]] with differing terminology. However, the fact remains that all the Oriental Churches still do not accept the [[Ecumenical Councils]] beyond the third as of As yet, and [[full communion]] has not been restored. And even though the Oriental Orthodox may not accept Eutychian Monophysitism, certain contemporary writings such as [[Shenouda III (Gayyid) of Alexandria|Pope Shenouda]]'s book, ''The Nature of Christ'', There have led also been some to believe that anti-Chalcedonian christology teaches that Christ has one will and operation. Anti-Chalcedonian christology is therefore characterized by some as a [[Monothelitism|Monothelite]] christology of the kind specifically condemned by St. [[Maximos the Confessor]]. Many of the individuals who claim that there are no differences between the churches are also not thoroughly familiar agreed Christological statements issued in conjunction with the earlier apologetic writings of the saints from both sides of the conflict. For just one example of these writings, see St. [[John of DamascusRoman Catholic Church]]' writings concerning and the anti-Eastern Orthodox (Chalcedonian liturgical innovations in the [[Trisagion]] hymn ) family (Ecumenical Patriarchate and official representatives of other Eastern Orthodox Churches) [http://www.ccelmonachos.orgnet/mb/ccelmessages/schaff4225/npnf209.iii.iv.iii.x.html]ORIENT3-20256. The Oriental churches have also reached some agreed christological statements issued in conjuction with the [[Roman Catholic Church]doc].

==Oriental Orthodox CommunionChurches ==The Oriental Orthodox Communion is a group of churches within Oriental Orthodoxy which are in [[full communion]] with each other. The communion includes:* The [[Church of Armenia]] (Armenian Apostolic Church)* The [[Church of Antioch (Jacobite)]] (Syrian Orthodox)* The [[Church of Alexandria (Coptic)]]* The [http://britishorthodox.org/about_boc.php British Orthodox Church], canonically part of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria since 1994* The [[Church of Ethiopia]] (Tewahedo Church)* The [[Church of Eritrea]] (Tewahedo Church)* The [[Church of India]] (Malankara, Indian Orthodox, Orthodox Syrian Church of the East){{orientalchurches}}

==Assyrian Church of the East==The [[Assyrian Church Oriental Orthodox communion is a group of the East]] ([[Nestorianism|Nestorian]] Church) is sometimes considered an churches within Oriental Orthodox Church, although they left the [[One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church|one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church]] Orthodoxy which are in reaction to the [[Third Ecumenical Council|Council of Ephesusfull communion]] 20 years earlier directly and revere as indirectly with one another [[saint]]s men anathematized by the previously mentioned Churcheshttp://groups.yahoo. In addition, they accept a [[Nestorianism|Nestorian]] or Nestorian-like [[christology]com/group/arbible/message/25751] that is categorically rejected by the Oriental Orthodox Communion. The communion includes:

* The [[Church of Alexandria (Coptic)|Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria]]** The [[British Orthodox Church (Coptic)|British Orthodox Church]], canonically part of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria since 1994* The [[Church of Antioch (Syriac)|Syriac Orthodox Church of Antioch]] (sometimes called 'Jacobite')** [[Malankara Jacobite Syriac Orthodox Church|Malankara Syriac Orthodox Church]], a branch and integral part of the Syriac Orthodox Church with the Oriental Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch as its supreme head.* The [[Church of Armenia]] (sometimes called the Armenian Apostolic Church)* The [[Church of India|Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church]] (sometimes called the Indian Orthodox Church)* The [[Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church|Ethiopian Orthodox Church]]* The [[Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church|Eritrean Orthodox Church]] == Assyrian Church of the East == The [[Assyrian Church of the East]] is sometimes considered an Oriental Orthodox Church, although it is not in communion with Oriental Orthodox churches and they have a [[Nestorianism|Nestorian]] or Nestorian-like Christology that differs from the declaration of the Council of Chalcedon in an opposite way from the [[Miaphysitism|Miaphysites]]. By the time of the Monophysite controversy, the Assyrians had already separated from the Orthodox Church with the [[Third Ecumenical Council|Council of Ephesus]]. The Church follows the [[East Syrian Rite|East Syrian rite]]. ==External linksLinks==*[http://copticpope.org/ Coptic Orthodox Church] (Official Website of the Patriarchate of Alexandria)*[http://www.syrian-orthodox.com/ Syriac Orthodox Church] (Official Website of the Patriarchate of Antioch)*[http://66.208.37.78/index.jsp Armenian Orthodox Church of Echmiadzin] (Official Website)* [http://www.armenianchurcharmenianorthodoxchurch.org The / Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Church of Cilicia] (Official Website)*[http://www.zeorthodox.org/ Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido Church] (Official Website)*[http://mosc.in/ Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church](Official Website)* [http://www.prounione.urbe.it/dia-int/oo-rc_syrindia/doc/i_oo-rc_syrindia_1984.html Common declaration Declaration of Pope John Paul II and Patriarch Mar Mor Ignatius Zakka I Iwas]* [http://www.coptic.org The Coptic Orthodox Church in the Diaspora]* [http://www.eotc.faithweb.com/orth.html The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church]* [http://St-Takla.org/ Saint Takla Haymanot Coptic Orthodox Church (in Alexandria, Egypt)]*[http://stmaryscathedral.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=21&Itemid=40 Oriental Orthodoxy - St. Mary's Malankara Orthodox Cathedral in Philadelphia, PA]* [http://www.socdigestorthodoxunity.org Shroro - Orthodox Christian DigestUnity]* [http://www.orthodoxunityorthodoxsermons.org Website Collection of Sermons on the unity between Oriental and Eastern Orthodox ChurchesOrthodoxy (Coptic)]* [http://aggreen.net/autocephaly/oriental.html Oriental Orthodox Churches]* [http://www.socdigest.org/ Shroro - The Syriac Orthodox Christian Digest]* [http://www.copticchurch.org/Texts/Spirituals/Natofchr.pdf ''The Nature of Christ''] (PDF) by Pope [[Shenouda III (Gayyid) of Alexandria]]*[http://www.orthodoxunity.org/statements.html Eastern-Oriental Orthodox Unity - Official Satements]* [http://www.orthodoxinfo.com/ecumenism/ea_mono.aspx Opposition to Union with the Oriental Orthodox Churches and the Unresolved Theological Differences Between the Two] (Eastern Orthodox Article Against Reunion)*[http://www.orthodox-icons-olympia.blogspot.com/ Oriental Orthodox Iconographer]

[[Category:Oriental Orthodox|*]] [[ar:الكنائس الأرثوذكسية الشرقية]][[fr:Églises orthodoxes orientales]][[ro:Biserici Orientale Ortodoxe]]