Monothelites (Monoenergists)

Leaders

• Sergius I of Constantinople
• Heraclius
• Cyrus of Phasis/Alexandria
• Pyrrhus
• Honorius I (accepted "one will")
• Macarius of Antioch

Beliefs

A compromise between Chalcedonians and Miaphysites: Christ has two natures but one 'energy' (Monoenergism, 633) or one will (Ecthesis, 638).

Home bases

No home base of its own is pinned in this drop.

Also named in earlier place batches: Constantinople (see council records in Part B).

Spread

An imperial policy rather than a popular movement, enforced in Constantinople, Alexandria and Syria. Constans II's Typos (648) banned discussion.

Books

None linked.

What happened to it

Opposed by Sophronius of Jerusalem, Maximus the Confessor (mutilated, d. 662) and Pope Martin I (exiled, d. 655). It was condemned at the Lateran Synod (649) and Constantinople III (680–681), which also anathematized Pope Honorius. The Maronites were long accused of Monothelitism, which the Maronite Church rejects, and the historical question is disputed.

Hostile sources

• Maximus the Confessor. Disputation with Pyrrhus; opuscula 645 and after

  Hostile.

• Council of Constantinople III. Definition 681

  Hostile.

Their own words

• Heraclius. Ecthesis 638

  Insider (imperial edict, preserved in council acts).

Sources

• Monothelitism and MonothelitesConfessional source

  Catholic Encyclopedia 1913 (confessional). Accessed 2026-11-11.

• Monothelitism

  Wikipedia. Accessed 2026-11-11.