This week in Christian history: Isaac Watts ordained, Felix III becomes pope, First Lateran Council begins

By Michael Gryboski, Mainline Church Editor Sunday, March 13, 2022

Felix III becomes pope – March 13, 483

Felix III (d. 492), an early church leader who became pope in AD 483. | Screengrab: Catholic.org

This week marks the anniversary of when Felix III, a bishop most known for combating a heretical teaching by a priest named Eutyches, was made pope.

Felix reigned until his death in 492, and spent a good deal of his time dealing with Eutyches, who claimed that Jesus Christ had only one nature, versus the orthodox teaching that He had both a human nature and a divine nature.

When Patriarch Acacius of Constantinople attempted to reconcile the two views, Felix protested and eventually excommunicated multiple people tied to the effort, including Peter Mongus, the patriarch of Alexandria.

“In this Felix went beyond all precedent and against the rulings of church councils, such as Chalcedon, which had recognized the patriarchs as equals,” explained the Christian History Institute.

“His attempt to extend Roman rule eastward led to a 35-year schism between the eastern and western churches … Since Acacius had refused to make the journey to Rome, Felix and the council excommunicated him too.”