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Definition of the Union of the
Divine and Human
Natures in the Person of Christ
Council of Chalcedon, 451 A.D., Act V
Therefore, following the holy fathers, we all with one accord
teach men to acknowledge one and the same Son, our Lord Jesus
Christ, at once complete in Godhead and complete in manhood, truly
God and truly man, consisting also of a reasonable soul and body; of
one substance (homoousios) with the Father as regards his Godhead,
and at the same time of one substance with us as regards his
manhood; like us in all respects, apart from sin; as regards his
Godhead, begotten of the Father before the ages, but yet as regards
his manhood begotten, for us men and for our salvation, of Mary the
Virgin, the God-bearer (Theotokos); one and the same Christ, Son,
Lord, Only-begotten, recognized in two natures, without confusion,
without change, without division, without separation; the
distinction of natures being in no way annulled by the union, but
rather the characteristics of each nature being preserved and coming
together to form one person and subsistence, not as parted or
separated into two persons, but one and the same Son and
Only-begotten God the Word, Lord Jesus Christ; even as the
prophets from earliest times spoke of him, and our Lord Jesus Christ
himself taught us, and the creed of the Fathers has handed down to
us. |