Воспоминание VI Вселенского собора

The VI Ecumenical Council was held in 680 under Emperor Constantine Pogonatus 941 in Constantinople, against the Monothelites, who, in order to reconcile the Monophysite teaching with the Orthodox, recognized in Jesus Christ two natures, like the Orthodox, but, like the Monophysites, allowed in Him only one will - the Divine 942. The spread of this teaching caused great unrest in the Church and aroused zealous defenders of Orthodoxy on the part of the Orthodox, who openly opposed Monothelitism, seeing in it only disguised Monophysitism 943. The edicts of the sovereigns, which clearly recognized one will in Christ, but at the same time, in order to stop the turmoil, ordered to avoid expressions about both “one” and “two wills” in Christ 944 and even most strictly commanded that all debate on the controversial issue should be stopped unconditionally, for fear of civil prosecution of those who disobeyed 945, only gave rise to greater irritation and produced valiant defenders Orthodoxy even martyrs 946. At the same time, the Eastern and Western fathers and representatives of the churches were divided, since among the former there were many Monothelites, and the Western Church openly declared itself against heresy and came out in defense of Orthodox teaching. This finally prompted Emperor Constantine Pogonatus to convene an Ecumenical Council, which was opened in 680, after preliminary communication with Rome. 170 fathers were present at the council, among whom two Eastern patriarchs were personally present: George of Constantinople 947 and Macarius of Antioch 948, both Monothelites; Pope Agathon sent legates from himself. The emperor himself was present at the meetings of the council, which lasted about a year. The fanaticism of the Monothelites reached such a degree of frenzy that one of the Thracian monks, named Polychronius, volunteered before the council to prove the rightness of the Monothelites to resurrect the dead, but with the nationwide experience allowed to him, he was cruelly put to shame. After many heated debates, the council decided to recognize two wills in Jesus Christ, Divine and human, corresponding to two natures. George, Patriarch of Constantinople, confessed his error and was accepted into communion with the Church. But the Patriarch of Antioch Macarius stubbornly remained with the Monothelite heresy, as a result of which he was anathematized with all the previous Monothelites. The Council, which began on November 7, 680, ended on September 16, 681. Byzantine Emperor Constantine IV Pogonatus reigned from 688 to 695. In Alexandria, where Monophysitism was especially strong, the representative of this non-Orthodox teaching was Cyrus, Patriarch of Alexandria (patriarchate from 630 to 640). Patriarch Sergius of Constantinople (610–638) and Pope Honorius (625–638) also did not find anything unorthodox in the teachings of the Monothelites and became his followers, although in order to prevent new confusion in the Church they decided to refrain from any decisive expression regarding this subject, which had not yet been defined by the Church. They were led by Saint Sophronius, Patriarch of Jerusalem (634–644) and Saint Maximus the Confessor, about whom see more in the life of the latter on January 20. This is ekphesis, i.e. statement of faith, Emperor Heraclius, where at the same time it was recognized as an absolute truth that in Christ there is one will. Of course the so-called. A typos of faith issued by Heraclius' successor, Emperor Constans. Among them, especially remarkable are the Monk Maximus the Confessor and Pope Martin I (who occupied the see from 649 to 653). See more about this in the life of St. Maxim on January 20. George I, Patriarch of Constantinople, occupied the see from 678 to 683. Macarius of Antioch was patriarch from 653 to 680. You might be interested in: