Acephali
nounEtymology Borrowed from Late Latin acephalus, from Ancient Greek ἀκέφαλος (aképhalos, “headless”), apparently referring to the various movements’ refusals to accept the decisions of church councils.
9 senses
- 1A group of individuals who didn't adhear to the…
- 2A faction comprised of people who initially refused to…
- 3A radical Monophysite sect in the era after the Council…
- 4A 5th century faction of Eutychians who had no leader.
- 5The followers of Severus of Antioch.
- 6The followers of Patriarch Paul of Alexandria after his…
- 7A 6th century sect with no sucession of priests, who…
- 8A congregation whose priest refuses alleigance to their bishop.
- 9A sect of the Levellers and free socagers who claimed no…
Historical A group of individuals who didn't adhear to the condemnation of Nestorius at the Council of Ephesus (431 CE).
Historical A faction comprised of people who initially refused to acknowledge the authority of the Council of Chalcedon.
Historical A radical Monophysite sect in the era after the Council of Chalcedon (451 CE). This sect eventually split into three groups, the Anthropomorphites, Barsanuphists, and Esianists, before being absorbed by the Jacobites in the 9th century.
Historical A 5th century faction of Eutychians who had no leader.
Historical The followers of Severus of Antioch.
Historical The followers of Patriarch Paul of Alexandria after his deposition, and who later aligned themselves with the Miaphysites.
Historical A 6th century sect with no sucession of priests, who professed to uphold a valid Eucharist by baking bread with the crumbs of blessed bread baked inside it.
Archaic A congregation whose priest refuses alleigance to their bishop.
Archaic, Historical A sect of the Levellers and free socagers who claimed no feudal superior but the King.
- Synonyms
- Acephalite, Nestorian Acephali, Haesitantes, Monophysite Acephali, Alexandrian Acephali, Paulitae, Barsanian, later Semidalite, clerici vagans, vagabundus
- Derived terms
- clerici acephali, Nestorian Acephali, Monophysite Acephali, Alexandrian Acephali
- Related terms
- acephalite, acephali