Churches Of The Three Councils

The churches of the three councils form a branch of the family of the Eastern Churches. They were born of the refusal of the conclusions of the Council of Chalcedon in 451 and have therefore long been termed " Monophysite ". Today, we talk instead of doctrine " miaphysite.

These churches, in reciprocal communion while remaining independent liturgical and organizational plans, together constitute the "Eastern Orthodox Communion."

The three councils of churches are also known by other names:

• Oriental Orthodox Churches
• Ancient Eastern Orthodox Churches
• Non-Chalcedonian Churches
• Pre-Chalcedonian Churches
• Chalcedonian churches earlier
• Old Oriental Churches
• Ancient Eastern Churches
• Ancient Eastern Churches

Different Churches

Churches that make up the family history of the Oriental Orthodox Churches miaphysites are divided into several cultural traditions, themselves often divided among several churches.

Coptic Church tradition

• the Coptic Orthodox Church
  • the British Orthodox Church
  • Coptic Orthodox Church of France Coptic Orthodox Metropolis of France
• the Ethiopian Orthodox Church
• the Eritrean Orthodox Church

Churches of Syriac tradition

• the Syriac Orthodox Church
  • the Syro-Malankara Orthodox
• the Malankara Orthodox Church
• the Malabar Independent Church
  • the Syrian Orthodox Church Francophone

Churches Armenian tradition

• the Armenian Apostolic Church

Historic Churches

• the Maphrianat of the East Church ("Jacobite" of Mesopotamia)
• the Church of Aghbanie
• the Church of Nubia

Councils recognized

• First Council of Nicaea ( 325 )
• First Council of Constantinople ( 380 - 381 )
• Council of Ephesus ( 431 )

Relations between the various Eastern Orthodox Churches

The intercommunion between the different churches do not prevent disputes and tensions between some of them.

In India , the Syro-Malankara called "Jacobite" remains within the jurisdiction of the Syriac Orthodox Church of Antioch and patriarchal (which restored it for the title of Maphrien ), while the Malankara Church (Orthodox Church India), was proclaimed autocephalous (it is headed by a Catholicos ). Relations between the two Churches are sometimes strained. Many places of worship are closed or played.

The Independent Syrian Church of Malabar (MISC), although deeply rooted in the legacy Syro-Antiochian, its lack of hegemony, proselytizing and competitive spirit, has a special place in ecumenical dialogue (it is headed a Metropolitan).

Each of these historical and autocephalous Churches Syrian India does recognize the spiritual authority of the Patriarch of Antioch and All the East.

The relationship between the Coptic Church and the Ethiopian Church are strained to Jerusalem , accusing the first to occupy the second part of its holy sites. An Ethiopian Orthodox Church in exile was formed after the deposition of Patriarch Abouna Merkorios in 1991 and his exile in the United States.

The independence of Eritrea was followed by the creation of the autocephalous Church of Eritrea. The latter turned to the Coptic Church rather than to the Ethiopian Church. The replacement at the head of the Eritrean Church 2007 Patriarch Antoine ^I. by ^I. Dioscorus is still not recognized by the other Eastern Churches.

Relations with other Churches

Relations with the Orthodox Churches

Relations with the Catholic Church

An International Joint Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Oriental Orthodox Churches was founded in January 2003.

See also

Related article

• Miaphysisme

Bibliography

• Christian CANNUYER Copts, Brepols, Turnhout , 1998 ( ISBN 2503505325 )
• Raymond Janin, Churches and the Eastern rites, Letouzey & Ane, Paris , 1997 ( ISBN 2706302062 ) ^(5th ed. with additional ^{bibliographic,} 1st ed. 1922)
• Jean-Pierre Valognes Life and Death of the Christian Orient, Fayard, Paris , 1994 ( ISBN 2213030642 )

External Links

• Ancient Oriental Churches Category Directory dmoz
• (En) General Information

• Christianity portal
• Christians of the East Portal

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