Monotheism
(Gk., ‘only’ + ‘God’). Belief that there is one God (and only one), in contrast to
henotheism
or polytheism.
Monotheletes
or Monothelites
.
Adherents of the doctrine that in Christ there were two natures but only one (Gk.,
monos
) will (
thel
ma
). The matter was settled by the second Council of
Constantinople
(680) which condemned the Monothelete formulas and affirmed the existence of two wills in Christ.
Monsignor
(abbr. Mgr., from Ital.,
monsignore
, ‘my lord’). In the
Roman Catholic Church
, a title given to members of the ‘papal household’. In most cases, however, the holder is a ‘supernumerary’ and the title is only honorary. All
archbishops
and
bishops
are entitled to it.
Monstrance
Montanism
.
An early Christian
heresy
. In the latter half of the 2nd cent.,
Montanus
, claiming the inspiration of the
Holy Spirit
(or
Paraclete
), prophesied that the Heavenly Jerusalem would soon descend near Pepuza in Phrygia. His followers were led by
prophets
and prophetesses, through whom the Paraclete spoke, and embraced a severe
asceticism
, marked by fasting, forbidding of second marriages, and an enthusiastic attitude to
martyrdom
.
Montanus
(2nd cent. CE)
. A self-proclaimed
prophet
, who attracted followers to his message that the end of the world was imminent. Initially the movement had the support of
Tertullian
, but it came to be vigorously opposed, until, at the Synod of Iconium, its baptisms were held to be invalid.