Aphthartodocetae (translated from the Greek "aphthorá" as the Incorruptibles) were members of a 6th century Monophysite sect. Their leader Julian, Bishop of Halicarnassus taught that Christ's body was always incorruptible. This was in disagreement with another Monophysitie leader, Severus of Antioch who insisted that Christ's body was incorruptible only following the ressurection. In 564, the Emperor Justinian the Great adopted the tenets of the Aphthartodocetae and attempted to elevate their beliefs to the rank of Orthodox dogma. Patriarch Eutychius of Constantinople who had presided over the Fifth General Council resisted Justinian's efforts by arguing the incompatibility of the Aphthartodocetic beliefs with scripture. Eutychius was exiled from his see by Justinian and replaced by John Scholasticus, the Patriarch of Antioch Anastasius was threatened with the same fate. Justinian prepared an edict to enforce the tenets among the communions throughout the empire but its issue was prevented when Justinian died on November 565, during the thirty-ninth year of his reign.

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