Council of Manzikert

TheCouncil of Manzikert(orManazkert) met in 726 to reconcile theArmenian ApostolicandSyriac Orthodoxchurches. It was convoked by the Armenian catholicosJohn of Odzunand attended by many Armenian bishops and six bishops of the Syriac church sent by PatriarchAthanasius III.It took place inManzikert(Manazkert).^[1]^[2]

Both the Armenian church and the Syriac weremiaphysitein their theology and rejected theCouncil of Chalcedon(451). In the canons of the council, the Armenians anathematized both theaphthartodocetists(who believed thatJesus' body was incorruptible) and some of the more heretical followers ofSeverus of Antioch(who was himself nonetheless accepted) in favour of the moderate formulation ofCyril of Alexandria.The council formally withdrew the Armenian church from communion with theGreek Orthodox church.It affirmed that Christ was true God, only-begotten Son, asingle hypostasisand asingle natureof the incarnate Word. While his human body was capable of pain and suffering, "of his divine nature he was above suffering". This formulation was arguably consistent with Chalcedon (if taken in light of theSecond Council of Constantinople).^[1]This Council also led to the canonization and re-acceptance of Severus of Antioch for the Armenians.^[3]The council also addressed the rise of thePaulicians.^[4]

The Syriac church, which disagreed with many distinctive Armenian customs, was not entirely pleased with the outcome at Manzikert, but accepted communion with the Armenians nonetheless. The canons of Manzikert are often credited with confirming the Armenian church in its distinctive non-Chalcedonian theology and setting it apart from other churches. After the council, Armenian Chalcedonism was suppressed.^[1]

References

^^a ^b ^cKrzysztof Stopka,Armenia Christiana: Armenian Religious Identity and the Churches of Constantinople and Rome (4th–15th century)(Jagiellonian University Press, 2016), pp. 89–91.
^Edward Mathews,Armenian Commentary on Genesis Attributed to Ephrem the Syrian(Peeters, 1998), p. xlvii–xlviii.
^Samuel, V.C. (2001).The Council of Chalcedon Re-Examined.Xlibris. pp. 167–168.
^Simon Payaslian,The History of Armenia: From the Origins to the Present(Palgrave Macmillan, 2007), p. 56.

[Stopka-1] Krzysztof Stopka,Armenia Christiana: Armenian Religious Identity and the Churches of Constantinople and Rome (4th–15th century)(Jagiellonian University Press, 2016), pp. 89–91.

[2] Edward Mathews,Armenian Commentary on Genesis Attributed to Ephrem the Syrian(Peeters, 1998), p. xlvii–xlviii.

[3] Samuel, V.C. (2001).The Council of Chalcedon Re-Examined.Xlibris. pp. 167–168.

[4] Simon Payaslian,The History of Armenia: From the Origins to the Present(Palgrave Macmillan, 2007), p. 56.

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