The Separation of the Monophysites Syriac Studies Library 93 Sériés Editors Monica Blanchard Cari Griffïn Kristian Heal George Anton Kiraz David G.K. Taylor The Syriac Studies Library brings back to active circulation major reference works in the field of Syriac studies, including dictionaries, grammars, text editions, manuscript catalogues, and monographs. The books were reproduced from originals at The Catholic University of America, one of the largest collections of Eastern Christianity in North America. The project is a collaboration between CUA, Beth Mardutho: The Syriac Institute, and Brigham Young University. The Separation of the Monophysites W. A. Wigram 1 2010 gorgias press Gorgias Press LLC, 954 River Road, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA www.gorgiaspress.com Copyright © 2010 by Gorgias Press LLC Originally published in 1923 All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning or otherwise without the prior written permission of Gorgias Press LLC. ISBN 978-1-61719-185-5 Reprinted from the 1923 London edition. Digitized by Brigham Young University. Printed in the United States of America. Series Foreword This series provides reference works in Syriac studies from original books digitized at the ICOR library of The Catholic University of America under the supervision of Monica Blanchard, ICOR's librarian. The project was carried out by Beth Mardutho: The Syriac Institute and Brigham Young University. About 675 books were digitized, most of which will appear in this series. Our aim is to present the volumes as they have been digitized, preserving images of the covers, front matter, and back matter (if any). Marks by patrons, which may shed some light on the history of the library and its users, have been retained. In some cases, even inserts have been digitized and appear here in the location where they were found. The books digitized by Brigham Young University are in color, even when the original text is not. These have been produced here in grayscale for economic reasons. The grayscale images retain original colors in the form of gray shades. The books digitized by Beth Mardutho and black on white. We are grateful to the head librarian at CUA, Adele R. Chwalek, who was kind enough to permit this project. "We are custodians, not owners of this collection," she generously said at a small gathering that celebrated the completion of the project. We are also grateful to Sidney Griffith who supported the project. PREFACE. THE fortunes of this book have been somewhat peculiar. It was commenced in the year ig 10, to serve as a thesis for the author's degree of D.D. at Cambridge, and was largely written in Kurdistan, where the writer then resided. Some of the material used was, in fact, gathered during wanderings in the Jacobite monasteries of Jebel Tur. In 1914 it was finished and the MS. was despatched, in the June of that fateful year, to Professor Swete at Cambridge, that he and his brother professors might pass judgment on it according to the statutes of the University. It was passed by them as sufficient for the Degree sought, and the official intimation of the fact, forwarded by the Professors to the writer, reached him when he was a civil prisoner in Turkey, and quite unable to take any action in the matter. The writer did not return home till late in 19x9, and then had the pleasure of finding that the MS. of the thesis had vanished, with much that was more valuable, in the general confusion of the war. Fortunately, the mass of the notes and references from which the book had been composed had survived, and from these the book was re-written, and submitted afresh to a new generation of Professors at Cambridge, who again honoured it with their approval. The question of its printing remained. To find a publisher, at the then rate of prices, for a book which is not in the least likely to make any popular appeal, was by no means an easy thing : this difficulty, however, was at last overcome by the enterprise of the " Society of the Faith," and by the generosity of the trustees of the " Hort Memorial Fund " at Cambridge, to both of whom the author wishes to make his grateful acknowledg- ments. The book, having undergone these vicissitudes, is now submitted to the public, in the hope that it may fill what appears to the writer to be a gap in existing Church histories, and also may perhaps rouse some interest in the present descendants of those of viii Preface whom it treats, those " Jacobites " who are among the most innocent victims of the war. In conclusion, the writer would wish to express his thanks to Professor Burkitt of Cambridge, who not only read the MS. as a part of his official duty, but who offered to the author many helpful criticisms and amendments on points of detail. W. A. WlGRAM- Athens. October, 1922. SYNOPSIS OF CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. CHURCH AND STATE IN THE 5TH CENTURY. Christianity the established religion in the 5th century ; lines of the implied agreement, 1. The political theory of it ; strength and weakness of State- church ideal, 2—3. Schisms resulting from its application, 3. Causes of the breakdown, 4. (a) National spirit resenting Greek uniformity, 5. (¿1) Alexandrine school of theology versus Antiochene ; Cyril and Theodore, 6—7. The defect of both schools, 7. (c) Jealousy of the inevitable rise of Constantinople to ecclesiastical rank, 8. Imperial support of it from motives of State policy, 9. CHAPTER II. CHALCEDON, AND AFTER. Christological controversy, and quarrels of great sees, contemporaneous varying fortune of conflict ; Council of Ephesus ; episode of " Laetentur Coeli " ; " Latrocinium," 10—11. Chalcedon a victory for Antiochene School, 11. The decision, sound but premature, 12. A party verdict enforced by government, 13. Conjectural result of a postponement, 14. Feeling on the matter in " Orient " and Egypt, 15. Results in Egypt, 16. In Palestine, 17-19. I" Constantinople and Antioch, 20. Decision hated by monks, 21. Drift of thought in age generally Monophysite, 22. CHAPTER III. FIRST ATTEMPTS OF THE MONOPIIYSITES TO CAPTURE THE CHURCH. Consecration of Timothy Aelurus, 23. Murder of Proterius, 24. Question referred to Bishops, 25. Exile of Aelurus, 26. Timothy Salaphakiolus, 27. His tolerance, 28. Peter the. Fuller at Antioch, 29. Unrest; commencement of Monophysite divisions, 29-30. Monophysite restoration under Basiliscus, 30-31. Position of Acacius, 31. Momentary Monophysite success, 32. Political victory of Acacius and return of Zeno, 33. Their joint policy ; Antiochene difficulty, 34-5. Calendio as Bishop, 36. Failure of first Monophysite effort, 37. C H A P T ER IV. THE HENOIICON AND ITS CONSEQUENCES. Zeno's policy, to make peace in the East and disregard the West, 38—9. Consecration of Peter Mongus at Alexandria, 39. Question of his recognition, 40. The Hrnotieon, 41. Its character as a government creed, 42. Attitude of Koine, 43. Deposition and martyrdom of Gulrndto, 43—4. Monophysite triumph within Empire, 44-5. Acacius and Peter Mongus ; their difficulties, 4."5-7. Impossibility of peace, 47. Clear-cut position of Rome, 47-9. Open brcach of communion, 49. Conduct of Felix II., 50. CHAPTER V. MONOPHYSITE SUPREMACY. Monophysite extremists demand anathema on Chalcedon, 51. Euphemius of Constantinople, openly Chalcedonian ; his breach with Peter Mongus on point ; the acknowledged Monophysitism of Egypt, 52. Breach with Rome continues, 52—3. Anastasius Emperor, his policy, 53. Peace impossible, 53. Suggested reconciliation with Rome fails, 54. Antiochene troubles, intrigues against Flavian, 54-5. Exile of Macedonius, 55-6. Constantinople Monophy- site ; exile of Flavian ; election of Severus at Antioch, 57. Previous career, 58. Friend of Philoxenus ; character, 59. His episcopate, 60. Desire of Anastasius for peace with Rome, 61. Demands of Hormisdas, 62—3. Monophvsism supreme in " Imperial Church," 63. Popular feeling on the matter, 64. X Synopsis of Contents. CHAPTER VI. SIDELIGHTS ON THE SIXTH CENTURY. Empire and Christianity, 65. Established Religion, 66. Importance of Monasticism, 67. Its relations to officialism, 68. Peter the Iberian, son of tributary prince of " buffer state," 68-9. Escape from abduction to Persia,69. Lives as ascetic at court of C'ple, 70. Escape to monastic life, adventures at Jerusalem, 71. Position of a prince-monk, 71-2. Becomes Bishop, consecrates Timothy Aelurus, visit to Beyrout, and interview with Calendio, 73. Life at the University; the pagan lad Pralius at Alexandria, 74. Converted to Christianity and mobbed, 75. Discovery of the secret temple, 76. " Heathen- ism scandal " of 579 ; existence of pagan hierarchy, 77. Consequent riot at Antioch and Constantinople, 78. Effects of episode, 79. Instances of practice of magic, 80-1. Life of ordinary folk at the time, 82. Efforts of Severus to rouse them, 83. Clerical life ; episode of Callistus, 84. Severus' difficulties with his own extremists, 85-6. The Theological quarrel as an expression of nationality, 87. CHAPTER VII. JUSTINIAN AND THE JACOBITES. Justinian, emperor quoad ecclrsastica ; " Orthodoxy Sunday " riot ; Proclamation of Chalcedon, 88-9. Petitions against Severus, 90. Negotia- tions with Rome ; Hormisdas' inflexible attitude, 91-2. Imperial Church accepts Chalcedon, 92. Severus exiled ; Orthodoxy imposed at Antioch, 93-4, and throughout empire, excepting Egypt, 95. General outward acceptance and passive resistance, 96. John of Telia organizes malcontents, 97. Monophysite lack of Bishops, 98. Paul of Antioch, persecutor, 99. His policy continued by Ephraim of Amida, 100, Monophysite counter- measures, lor. Arrest of John of Telia, 102. Debates with his captors; the merely verbal difference between them, 103-4. Limitations of the persecution ; the semi-official refuges, 104-5. CHAPTER VIII. EMPEROR AND EMPRESS. A SERIES OF CONCESSIONS. Justinian, politically Chalcedonian, but desirous to reconcile Monophysites, 107. Theodora, frankly Monophysite, 108. Her monastery at Constanti- nople, 108—9. A refuge for zealots, and a reservoir of organizers, 109. Episode of John of Hephaestus, no—11. Series of concessions; formula " One of the Trinity was crucified " allowed ; Condemnation of Euphemius and Macedonius dropped, 111-113. First " Collatio " with Monophysites, (53x), 114. Second "Collatio," presence of Severus and Anthimus, 115. Reconciliation only stopped by the embassy of Agapetus and the political argument, 116. Death of Agapetus, 117. Council of 536 condemns Monophy- sites, 117. Charges against their leaders, 118. Death of Severus; compact of Theodora with Vigilius, 119. Death of Silverius, 120. Work of Leontius (note on), 120. CHAPTER IX. MONOPHYSITE DIVISIONS. THE 5TH GENERAL COUNCIL. Aphthartist dispute among Monophysites, 121. Gaianist dispute at Alexandria, 122. Theodosius consecrated, and expelled, 123. Residence at Constantinople, 124. Paul of Tanis consecrated, but proves impossible. 125-6. The Plague, 126—7. Origenist dispute ; Justinian lured in, 128, Starting of the " Three Chapters " controversy, 129. The 5th Geneial Council ; its concessions to Monophysites, 130-31. SYNOPSIS OF CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. CHURCH AND STATE IN THE 5TH CENTURY. Christianity the established religion in the 5th century ; lines of the implied agreement, 1. The political theory of it ; strength and weakness of State- church ideal, 2-3. Schisms resulting from its application, 3. Causes of the breakdown, 4. (a) National spirit resenting Greek uniformity, 5. (6) Alexandrine school of theology versus Antiochene ; Cyril and Theodore, 6-7. The defect of both schools, 7. (c) Jealousy of the inevitable rise of Constantinople to ecclesiastical rank, 8. Imperial support of it from motives of State policy, 9. CHAPTER II. CHALCEDON, AND AFTER. Christological controversy, and quarrels of great sees, contemporaneous ; varying fortune of conflict ; Council of Ephesus ; episode of " Laetentur Coeli " ; " Latrocinium," 10-11. Chalcedon a victory for Antiochene School, 11. The decision, sound but premature, 12. A party verdict enforced by government, 13. Conjectural result of a postponement, 14. Feeling on the matter in " Orient " and Egypt, 15. Results in Egypt, 16. In Palestine, 17-19. In Constantinople and Antioch, 20. Decision hated by monks, 21. Drift of thought in age generally Monophysite, 22. CHAPTER III. FIRST ATTEMPTS OF THE MONOPHYSITES TO CAPTURE THE CHURCH. Consecration of Timothy Aelurus, 23. Murder of Proterius, 24. Question referred to Bishops, 25. Exile of Aelurus, 26. Timothy Salaphakiolus, 27. His tolerance, 28. Peter the Fuller at Antioch, 29. Unrest; commencement of Monophysite divisions, 29-30. Monophysite- restoration under Basiliscus, 30-31. Position of Acacius, 31. Momentary Monophysite success, 32. Political victory of Acacius and return of Zeno, 33. Their joint policy ; Antiochene difficulty, 34-5. Calendio as Bishop, 36. Failure of first Monophysite effort, 37. CHAPTER IV. THE HENOTICON AND ITS CONSEQUENCES. Zeno's policy, to make peace in the East and disregard the West, 38—9. Consecration of Peter Mongus at Alexandria, 39. Question of his recognition, 40. Tlio Henoticon, 41. Its character as a government creed, 42. Attitude of Koine, 43. Deposition and martyrdom of CUcndio, 43—4. Monophysite triumph within Empire, 44—5. Acacius and Peter Mongus ; their difficulties, 45-7. Impossibility of peace, 47. Clear-cut position of Rome, 47-9. Open breach of communion, 49. Conduct of Felix II., 50. CHAPTER V. MONOPHYSITE SUPREMACY. Monophysite extremists demand anathema on Chalcedon, 51. Euphemius of Constantinople, openly Chalcedonian ; his breach with Peter Mongus on point ; the acknowledged Monophysitism of Egypt, 52. Breach with Rome continues, 52—3. Anastasius Emperor, his policy, 53. Peace impossible, 53. Suggested reconciliation with Rome fails, 54. Antiochene troubles, intrigues against Flavian, 54—5. Exile of Macedonius, 55—6. Constantinople Monophy- site ; exile of Flavian ; election of Severus at Antioch, 57. Previous career, 58. Friend of Philoxenus ; character, 59. His episcopate, 60. Desire of Anastasius for peace with Rome, 61. Demands of Hormisdas, 62—3. Monophvsism supreme in " Imperial Church," 63. Popular feeling 011 the matter, (14.