a Monophysite. As a matter of fact, there is an established epithet for the separated Armenians. It is a good example of what has been said about technical names. To distinguish them from the Uniates they are commonly called the Gregorian Armenians. This patently begs the whole question, as far as the real meaning of words goes. The name comes from St. Gregory the Illuminator, the honoured apostle of Armenia. Of course, the Uniates claim him too, and with reason. St. Gregory was not a Monophysite, he was certainly in union with Rome. Yet, since the name "Gregorian" is commonly given to the Monophysites, since it is always understood as meaning them, we will show that we are sensible people by using it of them. Plainly, we do not admit what it implies; but, once more, no one is ever expected to admit what any technical name implies. We have, then, the "Gregorian Armenian Church" and the "Uniate Armenians."
Abyssinia and Ethiopia are names used almost indifferently[1] for the country south of Egypt ruled by the Negus. There is no difficulty about the name of his Church. It is the religion of practically the whole nation and only of that nation. So we speak indifferently of the Abyssinian or Ethiopic Church. For the very small number of Uniates here Abyssinian or Ethiopic Uniate will suffice. Malabar (as a noun or adjective) and Malabar Uniate are obvious names too, geographical and universally accepted. The people themselves have a legend that they were founded by the Apostle St. Thomas, and so call themselves Christians of St. Thomas—harmless, but unnecessary, since Malabar is enough.
We have seen that, theologically, there is no unity among these sects. On the other hand, from the point of view of Church history and archaeology, all Eastern Churches, including the Orthodox, have something in common. There are, namely, certain ways of doing things, a certain general attitude of mind, even certain ideas, which in a broad sense we may call Eastern, common to all these, as opposed to Western customs and ideas.[2]
