Monoenergism

Monoenergism (Greek: μονοενεργητισμός) was a notion in early medieval Christian theology, representing the belief that Christ had only one "energy" (energeia). The teaching of one energy was propagated during the first half of the seventh century by Patriarch Sergius I of Constantinople but opposition to Dyoenergism would persist until Dyoenergism was espoused as Orthodoxy at the Sixth Ecumenical Council. Ultimately, monoenergism was rejected as heresy, in favour of dyoenergism[1].

Not to be confused with Monergism.

After the failure of Emperor Justinian I and the Second Council of Constantinople to mend the Chalcedonian schism and unify main Christian communities within the Byzantine Empire by a single Christology, similar efforts were renewed by Heraclius (610–641) who attempted to solve the schism between the Eastern Orthodox Chalcedonian party and the monophysite non-Chalcedonian party, suggesting the compromise of monoenergism. This compromise adopted the Chalcedonian dyophysite belief that Christ the Incarnate Logos of God is of and in two natures, but tried to address monophysite misgivings by the view that Christ had one "energy" (energeia), a term whose definition was left deliberately vague. Monoenergism was accepted by the Patriarchs of Constantinople, Antioch, and Alexandria, as well as by the Armenians and was not clearly criticized by Pope Honorius I of Rome in his 635 epistle. However, it was rejected by Athanasius I Gammolo and the strong opposition of Patriarch Sophronius of Jerusalem won wide support. This led Heraclius to abandon the teaching in 638 (though still condemning Dyoenergism) and to attempt to enforce instead the doctrine of monothelitism, opposed most notably by Maximus the Confessor. This too failed to heal the schism and theologically unite the empire.

Both monoenergism as well as monotheletism were condemned as heresies by the Sixth Ecumenical Council, held in Constantinople in 680.[2]

See also

• Essence–energies distinction
• Miaphysitism
• Monergism
• Monothelitism

References

Footnotes

1. Meyendorff 1989, pp. 336–339.
2. Meyendorff 1989, pp. 369–373.

Bibliography

- Allen, Pauline: "Sophronius of Jerusalem and Seventh Century Heresy" Oxford University Press 2009

Hovorun, Cyril (2008). Will, Action and Freedom: Christological Controversies in the Seventh Century. The Medieval Mediterranean. 77. Leiden, Netherlands: Brill. ISBN 978-90-04-16666-0. ISSN 0928-5520.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)

Meyendorff, John (1979) [1974]. Byzantine Theology: Historical Trends and Doctrinal Themes (2nd ed.). New York: Fordham University Press (published 1983). ISBN 978-0-8232-0967-5.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)

 ———  (1989). Imperial Unity and Christian Divisions: The Church, 450–680 AD. The Church in History. 2. Crestwood, New York: St. Vladimir's Seminary Press. ISBN 978-0-88141-055-6.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)

Ostrogorsky, George (1969) [1956]. History of the Byzantine State. Translated by Hussey, Joan (rev. ed.). New Brunswick, New Jersey: Rutgers University Press. ISBN 978-0-8135-0599-2. Retrieved 18 March 2018.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)

Further reading

Chapman, John (1911). "Monothelitism and Monothelites" . In Herbermann, Charles G.; Pace, Edward A.; Pallen, Condé B.; Shahan, Thomas J.; Wynne, John J. (eds.). Catholic Encyclopedia. 10. New York: The Encyclopedia Press (published 1913). pp. 502–508.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)