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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''.

== Oriental Orthodox Communion Churches ==

The Oriental Orthodox Communion communion is a group of churches within Oriental Orthodoxy which are in [[full communion]] directly and indirectly with each other one another [http://groups.yahoo.com/group/arbible/message/25751]. The communion includes:

* The [[Church of Armenia]] Alexandria (Armenian Apostolic ChurchCoptic)* The [[Church of Antioch (Syriac)]] (Syriac Orthodox, "Jacobite")** [[Malankara Jacobite Syriac Orthodox Church]], a branch and an integral part of the Syriac Orthodox Church with the Oriental |Coptic Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch as its supreme head* The [[Church of Alexandria (Coptic)]]

* The [[Ethiopian Church of Antioch (Syriac)|Syriac Orthodox Tewahedo Churchof Antioch]](sometimes called 'Jacobite')* The * [[Eritrean Malankara Jacobite Syriac Orthodox Church|Malankara Syriac Orthodox Tewahedo 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 IndiaArmenia]] (sometimes called the Armenian Apostolic Church)* The [[Church of India|Malankara, Indian Orthodox, Orthodox Syrian Church of ]] (sometimes called the EastIndian Orthodox Church)* The [[Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church|Ethiopian Orthodox Church]]* The [[Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church|Eritrean Orthodox Church]]

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 [[Fourth Ecumenical Council|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.ethiopianorthodoxsyrian-orthodox.com/ Syriac Orthodox Church] (Official Website of the Patriarchate of Antioch)*[http://66.208.37.org78/indexorientalindex.htm Oriental jsp Armenian Orthodox ChurchesChurch 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://St-Takla.org/ Saint Takla Haymanot Coptic Orthodox Church (in Alexandria, Egypt)]*[http://www.stmaryscathedral.net/ index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=21&Itemid=40 Oriental Orthodoxy - St . Mary's Malankara Orthodox Syrian Cathedral (in Philadelphia, PA, USA)]*[http://www.orthodoxunity.org Website on the unity between Oriental and Eastern Orthodox ChurchesUnity]

*A case against reunion is made by this article: [http://www.orthodoxinfo.com/ecumenism/ea_mono.aspx Opposition to Union with the Oriental Orthodox Churches and the Unresolved Theological Differences Between the Two]*[http://www.orthodox-library.org/ Oriental (Eastern Orthodox Library]Article Against Reunion)