Q&A Home > S > Synaxarium I was reading and reflecting on the Synaxarium for Paope 27 concerning the martyrdom of St. Macarius Bishop of Edkow and noticed that the reading specifically states that this bishop, along with Dioscorus, considered the two natures of Christ stated in the Council of Chalcedon as heresy. (I believe the specific word used in the Synexarium is infidel). As I understand it, we believe in the Cyrillian terminology of "one nature of the Incarnate Logos" while maintaining and acknowledging both His humanity and divinity. However, despite reading resources on Christology and reading about some of the background concerning this council, given that we state the Chalcedonian formula is considered acceptable in its use today, why do we still read this in the Synexarium with the wording that the belief of "two natures" is heresy, along with the use of describing the Chalcedonians as "infidels" (especially since the description of two natures is acceptable (even as we say in the Confession at the end of the Liturgy, "His Divinity parted not from His humanity for a single moment nor a twinkling of an eye”)? The Synaxarium provides a brief summary of the lives of saints and also of specific historic occasions. Although revisions are underway to correct the errors due to translation, for the most part, the content is fairly accurate. We use the Synaxarium as one of the five readings during the Divine Liturgy, and it is read by the appointment of the highest ranking priest in attendance, whether he, himself, reads it, or someone else he appoints. It follows a reading from the Holy Book of Acts and is read before the Holy Gospel to illustrate the application of exemplary Christian life.
What is recorded in the Synaxarium regarding the events of the Chalcedonian Council and the roles of St. Dioscorus and St. Macarius, Bishop of Edkow, are historic accounts of the events at that time. It would not be prudent to alter the specific discourse which was recorded and maintained in the history books, unless we discover some other contradictory translation. Perhaps, in the revised edition, an addendum could be inserted at the end to include the current phase of reconciliation amongst the churches today which addressed and resolved many of the issues which arose at that time.
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