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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 suggest revealed that both communions now share a common [[christologyChristology]] with differing terminology. As yet, [[full communion]] has not been restored. There have also been some agreed christological Christological statements issued in conjuction conjunction with the [[Roman Catholic Church]] and the Eastern Orthodox (Chalcedonian) family (Ecumenical Patriarchate and official representatives of other Eastern Orthodox Churches) [http://www.monachos.net/mb/messages/4225/ORIENT3-20256.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 [[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:

==External links==* The [[Church of Alexandria (Coptic)|Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria]]* * The [[http://www.armenianchurch.org The Armenian Apostolic British Orthodox Church (Coptic)|British Orthodox Church]], canonically part of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria since 1994* The [[http://www.prounione.urbe.it/dia-int/oo-rc_syrindia/doc/i_oo-rc_syrindia_1984.html Common declaration Church of Antioch (Syriac)|Syriac Orthodox Church of Pope John Paul II and Patriarch Mar Ignatius Zakka I IwasAntioch]](sometimes called 'Jacobite')* * [[http://www.coptic.org The Coptic Malankara Jacobite Syriac Orthodox Church|Malankara Syriac Orthodox Church]], a branch and integral part of the Syriac Orthodox Church in with the Diaspora]Oriental Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch as its supreme head.* The [[http://www.eotc.faithweb.com/orth.html The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Churchof Armenia]](sometimes called the Armenian Apostolic Church)* The [[http://St-Takla.org/ Saint Takla Haymanot Coptic Church of India|Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church ]] (Alexandria, Egypt]sometimes called the Indian Orthodox Church)* The [[http://www.socdigest.org Shroro - Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church|Ethiopian Orthodox Christian DigestChurch]]* The [[http://www.orthodoxunity.org Website on the unity between Oriental and Eastern Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church|Eritrean Orthodox ChurchesChurch]]

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