Responder argues Eastern Orthodox venerate Miaphysite saints
The video addresses a question about why the Ethiopian Orthodox Church venerates Saint John of Damascus on December 17 despite his condemnation of them as monophysites and heretics. The responder counters that if all Oriental Orthodox saints are considered heretics, then Eastern Orthodox must explain their veneration of King Kaleb of Axum, who lived in a Miaphysite kingdom that rejected Chalcedon, received orders from a Miaphysite patriarch, and retired to a Miaphysite monastery.
The responder cites Empress Theodora, who was baptized by Miaphysites, actively assisted them, is recognized by scholarship as a non-Chalcedonian empress, and hid Miaphysites from persecution by her husband Justinian. The responder points to Hezekiah of Jerusalem, who opposed Juvenal of Jerusalem, a direct attendee of Chalcedon, wrote against Leo's Tome, and explicitly condemned the Council of Chalcedon by name.
The responder lists Gazan saints venerated by Eastern Orthodox, Isaiah of Scetis, Barsanuphius, and Dositheus, and states they were Miaphysites. The responder asserts that Chalcedonian saints themselves condemned this situation at the Third Council of Constantinople regarding monophysites, and later fabricated additional saints to account for the veneration of heretics.
The responder concludes that if the Ethiopian veneration of John of Damascus stems from a local 13th-century manuscript error, then by the same logic the Eastern Orthodox calendar is filled with Miaphysite saints that would fill an entire church. The responder claims that the same standard would implicate the entire Eastern Orthodox calendar.
Key moments
- The questioner notes that the Ethiopian Orthodox Church commemorates Saint John of Damascus on December 17 even though he explicitly calls them monophysites and heretics.
- The responder counters that if all Oriental Orthodox saints are considered heretics, then Eastern Orthodox must explain their veneration of King Kaleb of Axum, who lived in a Miaphysite kingdom that rejected Chalcedon, received orders from a Miaphysite patriarch, and retired to a Miaphysite monastery.
- The responder cites Empress Theodora, who was baptized by Miaphysites, actively assisted them, is recognized by scholarship as a non-Chalcedonian empress, and hid Miaphysites from persecution by her husband Justinian.
- The responder points to Hezekiah of Jerusalem, who opposed Juvenal of Jerusalem (a direct attendee of Chalcedon), wrote against Leo's Tome, and explicitly condemned the Council of Chalcedon by name.
- The responder lists Gazan saints venerated by Eastern Orthodox, Isaiah of Scetis, Barsanuphius, Dositheus, and states they were Miaphysites.
- The responder asserts that Chalcedonian saints themselves condemned this situation at the Third Council of Constantinople regarding monophysites, and later fabricated additional saints to account for the veneration of heretics.
- The responder concludes that if the Ethiopian veneration of John of Damascus stems from a local 13th-century manuscript error, then by the same logic the Eastern Orthodox calendar is filled with Miaphysite saints that would fill an entire church.