Dioscorus (2)

Dioscorus bishop of Alexandria (t 454), who succeeded Cyril in that see, A.D. 444. Inferior to his predecessor in learning, he excelled him in ambition, energy, and bitterness. Eutyches (q.v.) taught that in Jesus Christ was but one nature, compounded of the divine and human natures; so that our Lord was not properly either God or man, but a sort of third being between the two. He was deposed for this heresy by a local synod of bishops at Constantinople, under Flavian, A.D. 448. Dioscorus took his side, and induced Theodosius II to call a council at Ephesus (A.D. 449), which, under the direction of Dioscorus, acted with the most savage violence against the defenders of orthodoxy, and restored Eutyches. This council has secured the enviable title of the "Robber Council." The fourth cecumenical Council of Chalcedon (A.D. 451) condemned Dioscorus and Eutyches, and established the doctrine that in our Lord Jesus Christ there are two perfect and distinct natures, the Godhead and manhood, united in one person, without mixture, change, or confusion, SEE CHALCEDON; SEE CHRISTOLOGY,. At this Council of Chalcedon Dioscorus was accused of gross vices as well as of heresy, was condemned, deposed, and banished to Gangra, Paphlagonia, where, in three years after, he died. See Landon, Manual of Councils, 120; Hefele, Conciliengeschichte, 2:296 sq.; Dupin, Ecclesiastes Writers, 5th century; Schaff, Hist. of the Christian Church, 3 § 140, 141; Neander, Church History (Torrey's transl.), 2:500, 522; Milman, Latin Christianity, 1:286-316. SEE EPHESUS, ROBBER COUNCIL OF.