Actistetes

ACTISTÈTI. — This was the name given to the members of a Monophysite sect closely related to Julianism or Aphthartodocetism (v. AFTARTODOCETI). The a. ('Αλτιστήται, or more correctly, 'Ακτιστήται) are known only through the 4 or 5 lines devoted to them by the priest Timothy of Constantinople in his opusculum De reception haerticorum: PG 136, 4. The Orthodox gave them this name, which is a true nickname, because they held that the flesh of Christ was not only incorruptible but also uncreated (ἀντιστούς). They had reached this conclusion because, concerned not to divide Christ, they did not wish to take account of his two natures after their union, and still less of their properties; instead, they considered everything in relation to the person of the Word, who is in fact uncreated. The a. left no trace whatsoever in history, and none of them has passed into posterity (v. also MONOFISTI).

Martino Jugie