Person and Nature in Maxentius the Scythian (fl. ca. 518–523)

Abstract

Abstract Although Abbas Maxentius the Scythian (fl. ca. 518–523) played a major role in the post-Chalcedonian debate and his personality is generally appreciated by historians, his specific Christological contribution has remained insufficiently integrated into the narratives of the period. With few exceptions, his activity is reduced to a mere annexe of Justinian’s Church politics. In the present study, after a concise introduction to the life and work of Maxentius and the Cyrillian Chalcedonian tradition of Scythia minor, I analyse Maxentius’ distinction between ‘person’ and ‘nature’ in Christology.