Ecumenical Councils

orthodoxwikw ^ | April 19, 2010

[don-o]

* I. First Council of Nicea, (325); repudiated Arianism, adopted the Nicene Creed.

* II. First Council of Constantinople, (381); revised the Nicene Creed into the present form used in the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox churches.

* III. Council of Ephesus, (431); repudiated Nestorianism, proclaimed the Virgin Mary as the Mother of God (Greek,

* IV. Council of Chalcedon, (451); repudiated the Eutychian doctrine of Monophysitism, described and delineated the two natures of Christ, human and divine; adopted the Chalcedonian Creed. This and all following councils are not recognized by Oriental Orthodox Communion.

* V. Second Council of Constantinople, (553); reaffirmed decisions and doctrines explicated by previous Councils, condemned new Arian, Nestorian, and Monophysite writings.

* VI. Third Council of Constantinople, (680-681); repudiated Monothelitism, affirmed that Christ had both human and Divine wills.

o Quinisext/Penthekte Council (= Fifth and Sixth) or Council in Trullo, (692); mostly an administrative council that raised some local canons to ecumenical status and established principles of clerical discipline. It is not considered to be a full-fledged council in its own right because it did not determine matters of doctrine. This council is accepted by the Orthodox Church as a part of the Sixth Ecumenical Council, but that is rejected by Roman Catholics.

* VII. Second Council of Nicea, (787); restoration of the veneration of icons and end of the first iconoclasm.

[don-o]

Nicene and Post Nicene Fathers

[Salvation]

Catholic Biblical Apologetics: The Biblical Model for Handing On Truth and Refuting Error: Acts 15, The Council of Jerusalem
Catholic Biblical Apologetics: Acts 15 Model: General or Ecumenical Councils of the Church Universal
Catholic Biblical Apologetics: General Councils of the Church, 49-870
Catholic Biblical Apologetics: General Councils of the Church, 1123-1545
Catholic Biblical Apologetics: General Councils of the Church, 1870-1962

[don-o]

I am curious to see if there can be a discussion of the roots of the Christian faith. I became a Christian (in my twenties, after being raised in a Christian home but never truly converting).

I spent several years as a a "sola" Christian. After years of growing frustration with the incoherence that I saw being presented as the Christian faith, I began to consider that what I believed just might not be right. My journey brought me to the Orthodox Christian faith.

One of the aspects of my study was of the Church Councils of the first millennium. I was astounded to discover how vital matters of doctrine, which I just took as given, were actually defined by gatherings of bishops. I determined to find where that church might be, if it still existed.

I am not interested in saying why I did not become a Roman Catholic. I have huge respect and love for that Church. I am interested in how Christians here view the Councils.

[don-o]

I think what I am seeing from you here is that this type of posting isn’t going to engender much conversation. Is that about right?

[Campion]

Excellent overview of the early councils. There's a whole lot of misinformation running around about them, especially I Nicaea.

Unlike the Orthodox calendar, the (western) Catholic liturgical year doesn't really have days set aside to commemorate the councils. I wonder how much of this important history is taught in confirmation classes or RCIA.