Monothelitism

The Monothelitism (from the Greek monos - only, and Thelo - want ) is a Christological doctrine, according to which Christ two natures - a divine and a human - but only one will ( goal, goal orientation) has. Although Christ had its own human nature, his will was, however, completely dictated by God.

It was developed at the beginning of the 7th century under the Byzantine Emperor Heraclius to reconcile defined at the Council of Chalcedon two natures of Christ with the Monophysite doctrine. The Monophysites should be incorporated in this way again in the imperial church, from which they had previously been excommunicated.

Despite the sympathy of the Emperor and the Pope Honorius I was the Monothelitism from both the East and from the West Church ultimately rejected and not even accepted by the Monophysites. Maximus the Confessor turned intensively against this doctrine. At the Third Council of Constantinople in the year 680 the Opel doctrine was condemned as heresy, and output the still existing doctrine that Christ to each of his two natures has a will and the human will is subordinated to the divine will.

In the Byzantine Empire under Emperor learned of Monothelitism Philippikos Bardanes ( 711-713 ) a brief revival, which was one of the causes for the early fall of this emperor.

The Maronites in Lebanon and the world are no longer Monothelites since the 12th century.