==Doctrine==The Orthodox doctrine of Christ incarnate is: *True God and true man, *one person in two natures, without separation and without confusion: a single person, but endowed with two wills and two energies. From the [[Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed]]: '''Incarnation''' is the act "... and He was incarnate of clothing with flesh, or the state of being so clothed; Holy Spirit and the act of taking, or being manifested in, a human body Virgin Mary and naturebecame man."''

In The Orthodox Church teaches that the Incarnation is the fulfillment of the promise to [[Abraham]]. It is the early Christian era many divisions broke out concerning completion of the true nature Law of [[Moses]] and the fulfillment of the [[prophet]]s. To the Church, Christincarnate is the final Prophet, Teacher, and King. Christians believed that He was is the Son Great High Priest of GodSalvation. But how was He both Son of God and truly man?

The final definitions of In the incarnation and early Christian era many divisions broke out concerning the true nature of Jesus were made by [[Christ]]. Christians believed that He was the early church at the Council Son of Ephesus and the Council of ChalcedonGod. These councils declared that Jesus But how was He both fully Son of God, begotten from the Father; and fully truly man, taking His flesh and human nature from the Virgin Mary. These two natures, human and divine, were hypostatically united into the one personhood of Jesus Christ.?

The significance final definitions of the Incarnation has been extensively written-upon throughout Christian history, and is the subject nature of Jesus were made by the early Church at the [[Council of countless hymns Ephesus]] and prayersthe [[Council of Chalcedon]]. For instanceThese councils declared that Jesus was both fully God, begotten from the Father; and fully man, taking His flesh and human nature from the Liturgy of St[[Theotokos]]. John ChrysostomThese two natures, as used by Orthodox human and Byzantine Catholicsdivine, includes were hypostatically united into the "Hymn to the Only Begotten Son":one personhood of Jesus Christ.

O only begotten Son The doctrine was reaffirmed and Word of God, Who, being immortal, deigned for our salvation to become incarnate of clarified by the holy Theotokos and ever-virgin Mary[[Fifth Ecumenical Council]], and became man without change; You were also crucified, O Christ our God, and called by death have trampled Death, being One of the Holy Trinity, glorified with the Father and Byzantine Emperor [[Justinian]] in the Holy Spirit— Save us!sixth century.

Because of the [[Monothelitism|Monothelite]] Controversy, the [[Sixth Ecumenical Council]] (Constantinople 680-681) had to further reaffirm and clarify the doctrine. The Incarnation itself is a major reason why the Church encourages the use of [[icon]]s. Defenders of the veneration of the holy icons, led by Saints [[John of Damascus|John Damascene]] and [[Theodore the Studite|Theodore Studion]], claimed that the central point of the Christian faith is that "the Word became flesh and dwelt among us" and that "we have beheld His glory" (Jn 1:14). The [[Seventh Ecumenical Council]], held in [[Nicea]] in 787, officially declared that the faith is to be proclaimed "in words and images." Icons safeguard the doctrine of the Incarnation.  The [[Athanasian Creed ]] contains what may be considered a comprehensive definition of the Incarnation. ==Hymns==The significance of the Incarnation has been extensively written upon throughout Christian history and is the subject of countless [[hymn]]s and [[prayer]]s. For instance, the [[Divine Liturgy|Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom]], as used by Orthodox and Byzantine Catholics, includes the "Hymn to the Only Begotten Son" by the Emperor Justinian:  :O only begotten Son and Word of God,:Who, being immortal,:deigned for our salvation:to become incarnate:of the holy Theotokos and ever-virgin Mary,:and became man without change;:You were also crucified,:O Christ our God,:and by death have trampled Death,:being One of the Holy Trinity,:glorified with the Father and the Holy Spirit—:Save us! ==Loving-kindness towards mankind ==The view of [[Maximus the Confessor]], [[Isaac the Syrian]], and other Orthodox writers is that the Incarnation was an act of love towards mankind. Even if man had never fallen, God in His love for humanity would still have become man.  Because man fell, it is not only an act of love but an act of [[soteriology|salvation]]. Jesus Christ, by uniting man and God in His own person, reopened the path for all people to have union with God. ==Source==*[[Wikipedia:Incarnation|''Incarnation'' at Wikipedia]]==External links==*[http://www.oca.org/OCchapter.asp?SID=2&ID=19 Incarnation] from ''The Orthodox Faith'' by the V. Rev. [[Thomas Hopko]] *[http://www.fatheralexander.org/booklets/english/history_timothy_ware_2.htm#n2 Excerpts from the Orthodox Church] by Bishop [[Kallistos Ware]] [[Category:Creeds]][[Category:Theology]] [[ro:Întruparea]]