Monophysite or Miaphysite

In our 2nd lecture in Dogma - we will learn about the nature of God.

One of the related topics is the dialogue about monophysitism and miaphysitism and what does our Coptic Orthodox Church believe in, so let’s first explore the definition or the meaning of the two terms.

The term Monophysite comes from two Greek words meaning "single nature".

The term Miaphysite comes from two Greek words meaning "One nature".

Monophysitism merged Christ's humanity into His divinity so that effectively it meant that in Christ there was only one single nature, a divine nature.

This is NOT inline with what the Coptic Orthodox believes.

We believe that "Christ's divinity parted not from His humanity, not for a single moment nor a twinkling of an eye" and we recite this statement in every liturgy. As a result,

We are Oriental Orthodox and believe in Miaphysite and not Monophysite

Miaphysitism (one nature) means the Lord Jesus Christ is perfect human and perfect divine and these two natures are united together without mingling, nor confusion, nor alteration in one nature; the nature of God incarnate. Oriental Orthodoxes: Coptic, Ethiopian, Eritrean, Syrian, Armenian and Indian.

according to the words of St. Cyril of Alexandria Miaphysis

“tou theo tou logo se sarkomeeni” which means “one nature for the incarnated Logos of God”.

St. Cyril the Pillar of Faith explained the unity of Christ as one between iron(humanity) and fire(divinity). If you put a iron in fire the two become totally united. This is the Cyrilic Formula “The one united nature of Christ”.

H.H. Pope Shenoda III wrote in his book “ Nature of Christ”

By "one Nature", we mean a real union. This does not involve mingling as of wheat and barely, nor confusion as of wine and water or milk and tea. Moreover, no change occurred as in the case of chemical reaction. For example carbon dioxide consists of carbon and oxygen, and the nature of both changes when they are combined; each loses its properties which distinguished it before the unity. In contrast, no change occurred in the Divine or Human nature as a result of their unity.

Furthermore, unity between the two natures occurred without transmutation.

Thus, neither did the Divine nature transmute to the human nature, nor did the human nature, transmute to the Divine nature. The Divine nature did not mix with the human nature nor mingle with it, but it was a unity that led to Oneness of Nature.

It is One Nature (one entity) but has all the properties of two natures:

It has all the properties of the Divine nature and all those of the human nature. In this One Nature, the. body was not transmuted to the Divine nature but remained as a body, the body of God the Logos. The Logos, also was not transmuted to be a human nature but remained as it is the Divine nature though united with a body. His Divine nature is not susceptible to death while His human nature is liable to die. Both the Divine and the human natures united in essence in the Hypostasis and in nature without separation.

No separation occurred between the Divine nature and the human nature at Christ's death:

As we say in the Syrian Fraction, concerning the death of Christ "The soul left the body but His Divinity never departed neither from His Soul nor from His Body. His Soul likewise, whilst united with His Godhead, descended into hell to preach those who died in the faith and to open to them the gates of Paradise and let them enter. Yet His Body, also united with His Godhead, remained in the grave. "

On the third day His soul, united with His Godhead, came to unite with His body which was also united with His Godhead; Thus resurrection took place.

Consequently, the Incarnate God risen from the dead was capable of coming out of the tomb while it was closed and sealed by a huge stone. It was also possible for the One Lord to enter through the closed doors and meet with His disciples (John. 20:19).

Did He enter through the closed doors by His Divine nature or by His human nature? Is not this an evidence of the One Nature? and which one came out of the tomb? was it the Divine nature, the human nature, or Christ the Incarnate Logos?

We are not dealing here with two natures: God and a man, for this expression signifies two and not one, and the term "Two" does not ever denote unity.