For centuries, Christianity has been marked by divisions.
However, one long-standing split could be on its way to becoming mended, after senior theologians from the Anglican Communion and Oriental Orthodox Churches signed historic agreements on their mutual understanding of Christ's incarnation.
The Agreed Statement on Christology, published in North Wales this week by the Anglican-Oriental Orthodox International Commission, contained 10 statements about how Jesus Christ was made flesh to which the two Churches mutually agreed to.
For instance, the Anglican and Oriental Churches agreed that "our Lord, God and Saviour Jesus Christ is the Only-Begotten Son of God who became incarnate and was made human in the fullness of time for us and for our salvation."
They also agreed that there is "one incarnate nature of the Word of God, two different natures, distinguished in thought alone continue to exist without separation, without division, without change, and without confusion."
The agreement was an outcome of several meetings by representatives from both Churches held at Gladstone's Library in Hawarden, Wales, to engage in theological dialogue.
The Metropolitan Bishop from the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria in Egypt, who co-chairs the commission, believes the agreement will pave the way towards the process of reconciliation between the two churches.
"With this agreement we are able to heal the cause of the division between the two families of the churches worldwide which started at Chalcedon," the bishop said.
"The publication of our Agreed Statement on Christology is a great outcome of sharing dialogue together. It is a very beautiful piece of theology which is very encouraging and easily understandable to the people and pleasing to the theologians," he added.
Aside from agreeing on major theological points on Christology, the two Churches are also making substantial progress in discussing issues concerning the Holy Spirit—a major point of contention between the Anglican and Oriental Churches for decades.
The Commission will meet again in Lebanon later this month to continue their dialogue on theological points about the Holy Spirit.
