monofysitismin

Monofysitismin is a theological doctrine primarily associated with certain branches of Oriental Orthodox Christianity. It asserts that Jesus Christ had only one nature, which is divine, and that his human nature was absorbed into his divine nature. This stands in contrast to the Chalcedonian definition, which states that Christ has two natures, divine and human, united without confusion, change, division, or separation.

The term "monophysitism" itself is often considered a pejorative by those it describes, who generally prefer to identify themselves as Miaphysites. Miaphysitism holds that Christ has one composite nature, meaning the divine and human are so intimately united that they form a single, unified nature. The Council of Chalcedon in 451 AD condemned what it understood as monophysitism, leading to a schism within the early Church.

Churches that historically adhere to miaphysite theology include the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria, the Armenian Apostolic Church, the Syriac Orthodox Church, the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, and the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church. These churches view their Christology as a faithful continuation of earlier apostolic traditions and as a distinct, yet orthodox, understanding of Christ's person. Dialogue between Oriental Orthodox and Eastern Orthodox churches has sought to bridge this historical Christological divide, with some theological agreements being reached.