Why the Church of the East should become full Nicene
A major controversy in the early church was a guy named Nestorius, and he was actually considered one of the major heretics in the early church. Infact, his condemnation was one of the primary reasons that the Council of Ephesus was formed, along with Pelagius and Caelestius.
Nestorius called Mary Christokos instead of Theotokos, and called her the “Mother of Jesus” instead of the “Mother of God”. Not only did this bring into question the virginity of Mary, but it entirely undermined the role of the divinity of Christ. Nestorius wasn’t just doing a simple argument on wording, but his idea on the divinity of Christ and who God was, is entirely heretical. The Council of Nicea already confirmed the Nicene creed over a century prior, and the Council of Ephesus reconfirmed the creed, and excommunicated Nestorius.
The Nicene Creed is an affirmation of the faith, and emphasizes the importance that Christ is “true God of true God”, begotten not created, in one essence, and how he was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary.
We believe in one God, God the Father, the Pantocrator who created heaven and earth, and all things seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only-Begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all ages; Light of Light, true God of true God, begotten not created, of one essence with the Father, by whom all things were made; Who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven, and was incarnate of the Holy spirit and the Virgin Mary and became Man. And He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, suffered and was buried. And on the third day He rose from the dead, according to the scriptures, ascended to the heavens; He sits at the right hand of his Father, and He is coming again in His glory to judge the living and the dead, Whose kingdom shall have no end.
Yes, we believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Life-Giver, Who proceeds from the Father, Who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who spoke by the prophets.
And in one holy, catholic and apostolic church. We confess one baptism for the remission of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the coming age. Amen.
Now here comes the controversy today, the Assyrian Church of the East (as well as other related “of the east” group churches), have still adopted Nestorian heresies. Many still claim they want to use Christokos and the subject of their current continued hereticism is that of debate.
The great schism of 1552, was mostly political, but many people realized that Nestorianism was heretical. This caused a saint known as St. Shimun VIII Yohannan Sulaqa, to become the first patriarch of what is now the Chaldean Catholic Church. He accepted Catholicism, and confessed anti-nestorian beliefs infront of the Pope of Rome. He actually tried joining the Syriac Orthodox line, but had a failed attempt prior to merging with Catholicism. Upon his arrival, the Patriarch of the East (who was of the Eliya line) had great opposition. Due to opposition of Nestorians, the Ottoman leader of Amadiya tortured and executed him, and he received the crown of Martyrdom.
I want to emphasize that the first official patriarch of the Chaldean church, was martyred and from my understanding, fully defended the Theotokos.
This leads us to where we are in the Church of the East today. They claim to have accepted the Nicene creed, but fail to deny usage of Christokos, and failed to denounce Nestorius and the original spreaders of the heresy. They claim to believe in the Nicene creed, wanting to be in better communion with the apostolic church, and are this close to fully doing so. In terms of ecumenical relations, in 1997 they entered into negotiations with the Syriac Orthodox Church in terms of seizing to shun each other. The three people that the oriental orthodox churches are condemning are Diodore of Tarsus, Nestorius, and Theodore of Mopsuestia.
Most recent attempts at being considered an apostolic church was the, “Common Christological Declaration Between the Catholic Church and the Assyrian Church of the East”. That was in 1994. However, it seems their best interest may be merging with Syriac Orthodoxy. I personally believe that the Assyrian Church of the East, should adopt Miaphysitism. Jesus is one person, who is of fully divine and human nature in one inseparable physis. This uniqueness in nature is inseparable, and isn’t mingled nor mixed.
The common confession is:
We believe that our Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ, the Incarnate-Logos, is perfect in His Divinity and perfect in His Humanity. He made His Humanity one with His Divinity without mixture nor mingling, nor confusion. His Divinity was not separated from His Humanity even for a moment or twinkling of an eye. At the same time, we anathematize the doctrines of both Nestorius and Eutyches.
— Mixed Commission of the Dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Coptic Orthodox Church: Common formula on Christology
The churches also has this to say:
We confess that our Lord and God and Savior and King of us all, Jesus Christ, is perfect God with respect to His Divinity, perfect man with respect to His humanity. In Him His divinity is united with His humanity in a real, perfect union without mingling, without commixtion, without confusion, without alteration, without division, without separation. His divinity did not separate from His humanity for an instant, not for the twinkling of an eye. He who is God eternal and invisible became visible in the flesh, and took upon Himself the form of a servant. In Him are preserved all the properties of the divinity and all the properties of the humanity, together in a real, perfect, indivisible and inseparable union.
— Common Declaration of Pope Paul VI and of the Pope of Alexandria Shenouda III
Both the Catholic and Orthodox churches are considered apostolic. Even with some major theological separations including the Filioque, and the dyophysite nature of some non-oriental churches, as well as separation over indulgences, purgatory, and papal infallibility, this still holds true. This is because the major agreement over the Nicene creed, general Trinitarian understanding, and knowledge of the sacraments, makes Catholicism apostolic in nature. They also follow a lineage of apostolic succession.
However, nobody at this point considers the Church of the East fully non-heretical. If they can condemn nestorianism and its successors, fully reaffirm the Nicene creed, condemn violence to martyrs done under nestorianism, use Theotokos and agree on Miaphysitism, likely they can merge with the Syriac Orthodox Church or even perhaps become titled the Persian Orthodox Church (who knows). I would like more steps taken towards ecumenical councils, and perhaps they will take those steps. I do believe that if the right things happen, the full hereticism of Nestorian teachings can be gone after what have been now nearly sixteen centuries.
This article by the way isn’t an attack on anybody, but rather a theological and dogmatic call to action. If the heresy of Nestorianism isn’t removed now, what will happen to their children to follow?
