Sempiternus Rex

With the encyclical sempiternus Rex Christ (Latin: Christ, the Eternal King ) commemorates Pope Pius XII. on September 8, 1951 the 1500th anniversary of the Ecumenical Council of Chalcedon.

The belief in the succession and the teaching of Christ was defended at the Council of Chalcedon in the previous ecumenical councils at Nicaea, Ephesus and fifteen centuries ago. Therefore, it is of particular concern to recall the council and to celebrate its anniversary.

The Pope brings the encyclical Lux Veritatis in memory, with which his predecessor Pius XI. have honored the 1500. anniversary of the Council of Ephesus. This honor should now know as the Council of Chalcedon. Pius XII. stated that two important decisions were taken by these councils: the First, the primacy of the Roman Pontiff and the Second the dogmatic definitions of the Trinity of God and the nature of Christ.

It follows the historical and dogmatic description of the council, which will be completed with the presentation of all negotiations and processes in chronological order. By the Council of Chalcedon the heretical statements of Eutyches be mentioned, who was a proponent of Monophysitism and thus followed the false teachings of Nestorius. Consequently, had to be discussed and defined the religious and Christian foundations at the Council of Chalcedon.

The result of the council describes Pope Pius XII. in his summary and concluding paragraphs. He laments the suffering of the witnesses to the faith until the present time, and stresses that the current dogmas of the two is important for the early Church Councils of Ephesus and Chalcedon - here especially the Declaration on the human and divine nature of Christ - unchanged are of importance.