“Only Begotten Son” – Who Wrote the Hymn Sung at Every Liturgy?

Justinian I was a ruler of contrasts: a great legislator, builder of cities and churches, and a defender of Orthodox doctrine on one hand, yet a sovereign who left behind a vast but financially strained empire on the other. Some praised him as wise and cunning, while others criticised him as devious and cruel. He was capable of harsh decisions, but he also provided refuge in his palace for members of a religious movement that opposed him. His character was described in conflicting terms, with one critique declaring him a man in whom “nature has gathered all the evil from other men.” Yet amidst these contradictions, Justinian was known to be deeply religious, striving to live a pious life. 

He seemed contradictory in all things—except his unwavering commitment to preserving and proclaiming the true doctrine of God. 

Justinian succeeded his uncle as emperor and even changed Roman law to marry his beloved Theodora, a former circus entertainer with a controversial past. By the time they met, however, Theodora had repented and transformed her life. She had been influenced by the Monophysites, adherents of a heresy condemned by the Fourth Ecumenical Council at Chalcedon. This heresy taught that Christ possessed only a divine nature, denying His full humanity—a belief rejected by Orthodox Christianity.

Theodora became Justinian’s co-ruler, sharing imperial power and exerting considerable influence over his decisions. In times of crisis, she often acted as his most steadfast support, occasionally displaying greater decisiveness than the emperor himself.

However, in matters of faith, the imperial couple was far from united. While Justinian opposed Monophysitism on a state level, Theodora continued to patronise its followers. Despite nationwide persecution of Monophysites, some lived within the imperial palace under her protection, with Justinian’s tacit approval.

Meanwhile, Justinian immersed himself in ecclesiastical matters, seeking ways to heal divisions and foster understanding among Christians. 

Unlike another famous ruler, King David, who authored many poetic hymns that are now central to Christian worship, Justinian I was more inclined towards theological letters and debates. Yet, despite his focus on theology rather than poetry, he made a lasting contribution to Church hymnography with the timeless hymn Only Begotten Son:

“Only Begotten Son and Immortal Word of God,

Who for our salvation didst will to be incarnate of the holy Theotokos and ever virgin Mary,

Who without change didst become man and wast crucified, O Christ our God,

Trampling down death by death, Who art one of the Holy Trinity,

Glorified with the Father and the Holy Spirit, save us.”

This brief yet spiritually profound hymn conveys the Church’s doctrine of salvation, affirming the dogma of Christ’s two natures, as proclaimed at the Fourth Ecumenical Council in Chalcedon. The words “Who without change didst become man” directly counter the Monophysite heresy, which denied Christ’s humanity by asserting He had only a divine nature. Additionally, the hymn declares the unity of God in Three Persons—”Who art one of the Holy Trinity”—in a way that underscores the Orthodox faith while being intelligible even to those who rejected Christ’s full humanity.

Introduced into the liturgical tradition by Justinian in the early 530s, this hymn served not only as a glorious praise of the incarnate Word but also as an attempt to engage and address theological opponents without compromising Orthodox doctrine.

Despite Justinian’s efforts, including his convening of the Fifth Ecumenical Council, full agreement within the Christian world was not achieved. Throughout his life, Justinian remained deeply engaged in theological questions, continuing to search for the right path even in his later years. Toward the end of his life, he showed sympathy for certain elements of the Monophysite doctrine. However, the Orthodox Church teaches that both Justinian and his wife, Theodora—whom he outlived by 17 years—repented of any erroneous views before their deaths.

On November 27, the Church commemorates these holy and right-believing sovereigns, Emperor Justinian and Empress Theodora. For nearly 1,500 years, the hymn Only Begotten Son has been chanted at every Divine Liturgy in Byzantine-rite churches that uphold the decisions of the Council of Chalcedon. Remarkably, this hymn is also sung in the so-called “pre-Chalcedonian” Churches, such as the Syrian and Armenian traditions, with which theological dialogue continues to this day.

Translated by The Catalogue of Good Deeds
Source: https://foma.ru/edinorodnyj-syne-kto-avtor-gimna-kotoryj-poetsya-na-kazhdoj-liturgii.html