An Exposition of the Orthodox Faith 53

1 BOOK III — CHAPTER 9: In reply to the question whether there is Nature that has no Subsistence.

2 For although there is no nature without subsistence, nor essence apart from person, yet it does not necessarily follow that the natures that are united to one another in subsistence should have each its own proper subsistence. For after they have come together into one subsistence, it is possible that neither should they be without subsistence, nor should each have its own peculiar subsistence, but that both should have one and the same subsistence.

3 For since one and the same subsistence of the Word has become the subsistence of the natures, neither of them is permitted to be without subsistence, nor are they allowed to have subsistences that differ from each other, but always without division or separation they both have the same subsistence — a subsistence which belongs wholly to this and wholly to that in its absolute entirety. For the flesh of God the Word did not subsist as an independent subsistence, nor did there arise another subsistence besides that of God the Word, and thus neither does it lack subsistence altogether, nor yet is there thus introduced into the Trinity another subsistence.