Aphthartodocetism

   Greek for "to appear incorruptible," referring to the radical variation of Monophysitism (q.v.) promoted by Julian of Halikarnassos, who believed that Christ's human body underwent no change and had been free of all passions since the moment of conception. Julian's ally, Severos of Antioch (q.v.), eventually distanced himself from this doctrine by accepting that Christ possessed a corruptible body while on earth. However, after Julian's death in 527 Justinian I (q.v.) adopted his views as a way to please the Aphthartodocetists, who had become the largest sect of Monophysites in Egypt (q.v.). Opposition came from the patriarch of Constantinople, Eutychios (qq.v.), but Justinian deposed him in early 565. After Justinian I's death the sect declined.