Those in Persia refered to themselves
> as 'The
> >Church of the East', became known as 'Assyrians', 'Chaldeans and
> >'Nestorians' - of course. However, the term Nestorianism is some
> what
> >misleading as the Nestorians attributed not particular importance to
> him,
> >but rather to Theodor of Mopsuestia>
Some years ago, I had the honour of an audience with the Mar Dinkha,
the spiritual head of the 'Church of the East'. His communion had
recently moved the titular site of its patriarchate from Antioch to
Damascus; in practice, he resided in San Francisco. He too claimed
that the term 'Nestorian' was misleading. However, I found that his
Christological beliefs, when my companions and I pressed him, were
indistinguishable from those attributed to Nestorius. He illustrated
his argument in a way made his point very clearly, but which is
difficult to reproduce on e-mail. He held up the index fingers of his
two hands, side by side and touching. This, he said, was how 'the
western Church' (i.e. west of Baghdad) thought of Christ. Then he held
up the same fingers, a couple of inches apart. This, he said, was how
the 'Church of the East' thought of Christ. There was a very clear
division and separation between the two natures; quite contrary to the
definition of Chalcedon.
The Supple Doctor
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