Chalcedon, Council of

   The Fourth Ecumenical Council, held in Chalcedon (q.v.) in 451. This council was presided over by the emperor Marcian (q.v.), and it marked a personal victory for his consort Pulcheria (q.v.). The 449 "Robber" Council of Ephesus (q.v.) was condemned, along with Eutyches and Dioskoros (qq.v.), and all others who supported Monophysitism (q.v.). The condemnation of Nestorianism at the Council of Ephesus (qq.v.) in 431 was reiterated, although the omission of three Nestorian writers in the condemnation would later embroil Justinian I (q.v.) in the so-called affair of the Three Chapters (q.v.). Nevertheless, the Council of Chalcedon was decisive in the formulation of Orthodoxy (q.v.), confirming the existence of Christ's dual natures, human and divine, united inseparably and unconfusedly in a single, unique Person (hypostatis). It was also a serious blow to the prestige of the see of Alexandria (q.v.), which had supported Monophysitism (q.v.). This council raised the status of the patriarchate of Constantinople (qq.v.) by increasing its territory with the addition of the dioceses of Thrace, Asia, and Pontos (qq.v.), allowing it to consecrate regional metropolitans (q.v.) and hear appeals from them. It also placed under the see of Constantinople the jurisdiction of missionary areas to the north of these three provinces. In effect, Constantinople was elevated to the most powerful see in the East. Canon 28 confirmed Constantinople's ranking as second only to the see of Rome (q.v.), and increased the power of all bishops (q.v.) by putting monasteries under the authority of their local bishops.