Mor Ephrem,
The issues surrounding Monophysitism are problematic on many levels. Since the Church's decisions carry force across time, the decisions of the Holy Fourth Ecumenical Synod are of such binding character that the Church can make no contrary decisions without refuting Herself and declaring that She was in fact not guided "in all truths" by the Holy Spirit.
In keeping with this, the phrase, "We now clearly understand...," has no place among Orthodox. The only dictum is Patristic and it says, "Following the Holy Fathers...".
We hear it said so often today, that one must not use so-called "polemical" theological nomenclature, that is, the language with which the Holy Fathers refute heretics, but a language that glosses over the divisions. This language inadvertantly misleads these same people who never understood the theological terms to begin with.
We do not believe that the present theological engagement of heretics outside the Church serves the Truth. First, because the language of the Church with regard to heretics has always been, since Apostolic times, refutative: "Better, indeed, a laudable war than a peace which severs one from God" (Saint Gregory the Theologian). This stand of the Church is actually charitable, for it both protects the Flock of Christ from heresy and provides heretics with motives and reasons for returning to the Church.
Also, the Ecclesiastical Body is comprised of Baptized Orthodox Christians, and of them alone. The preservation of the unity of the Ecclesiastical Body means the ensuring of their Orthodoxy and their perseverance to the end within the bosom of the Church; and this precisely constitutes the first and foremost important part of the the Church's pastoral concern. We do not include within the Ecclesiastical Body, however, heretics outside the Church. The struggle and the concern of the Church reach even to them, but the intent of that struggle is their return to the Church and not the devising by contrived means of peaceful co-existence with them under some nebulous ecuspeak.
Therefore, I say, we could discuss whether historical "non-chalcedoneans" were heretics and whether their modern ancestors still hold these views (which I know they do). But ultimatley it is enough to point out that "non-chalcedonians" were cut-off from the Church and are in need to be received, Baptised, Communed, Ordained and so forth. For there can be no Apostolic succession outside the Church, it is as simple as that. Obviously the "non-Chalcedonians" are not concerned by such things. I wonder now if someone is now going to start espousing the idea of "branches"??
I invite you to start a Monophysite thread so we could discuss your current beliefs.
