The Armenian Apostolic Church and the Council of Chalcedon

The development of Armenian Christianity was also shaped by theological disagreements within the wider Christian world.

The Council of Chalcedon was convened in 451.

Its principal doctrinal debates concerned the relationship between the divine and human natures of Jesus Christ.

The Chalcedonian Definition

The council affirmed that Christ is one person acknowledged in two natures, divine and human, without confusion, change, division, or separation.

The definition became authoritative for the churches that accepted Chalcedon, including the imperial church of Constantinople and, eventually, the Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic traditions.

The Armenian Position

The Armenian Church did not immediately participate in the Chalcedonian settlement.

The political and military circumstances surrounding Avarayr limited Armenian involvement.

During the following decades, Armenian ecclesiastical leaders developed positions that differed from Chalcedonian formulations.

The rejection of Chalcedon became increasingly explicit in the sixth century, particularly in connection with the Council of Dvin in 506 and subsequent developments.

It would be historically inaccurate to say that the Armenian Church definitively rejected Chalcedon in 451 at the moment the council took place.

Oriental Orthodoxy

The Armenian Apostolic Church belongs to the family of Oriental Orthodox Churches.

This family also includes the Coptic Orthodox Church, Syriac Orthodox Church, Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church, and Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church.

The Armenian Church follows a miaphysite Christological tradition, emphasizing the unity of Christ's incarnate divine and human reality.

The term miaphysite should not be confused with the claim that Christ's humanity was denied or absorbed.

Modern theological dialogue has clarified that historical disagreements often involved differences in terminology and interpretation, although significant ecclesiastical divisions remain.

The Armenian Church Is Not Roman Catholic or Eastern Orthodox

The Armenian Apostolic Church is an independent apostolic church within Oriental Orthodoxy.

It is not under the jurisdiction of the Pope of Rome.

It is also not part of the Eastern Orthodox communion centered on the Byzantine Chalcedonian tradition.

Its ecclesiastical structure, liturgy, theological inheritance, and historical development are distinctive.