The Ecumenical Councils
Nicaea I – A.D. 325: This Council formulated the first part
of the Nicene Creed, defining the full divinity of the Son of God. This Council also provided a formula
for the dating of Easter, and was firmly against the teachings of Arianism.
Constantinople I –
A.D. 381: This Council
formulated the second part of the Nicene Creed, defining the full divinity of
the Holy Spirit (no filioque clause). This Council also opposed the teaching
of Apollinarism (Jesus had no mind or soul of a man).
Ephesus – A.D. 431: This Council defined Christ as the
Incarnate Word of God and Mary as Theotokos (God Bearer). It also repudiated the heresies know as
Nestorianism and Pelagianism. This Council also declared it "unlawful for any man to bring forward,
or to write, or to compose a different Faith as a rival to that established by
the holy Fathers assembled with the Holy Ghost in Nicæa."
Chalcedon – A.D. 451: This Council affirmed Christ as perfect
God and perfect Man. It defined
the concept of “Hypostatic Union,” that Christ has two natures, human and
divine, in One Person.
+ The first four
Ecumenical Councils are accepted by the majority of Anglican believers worldwide.
Constantinople II –
A.D. 553: This Council
reconfirmed the doctrines of Trinity and expanded the work of previous Councils
regarding the Person and Work of Christ.
This Council had to
readdress the heresy of Nestorianism, which taught that there
are two separate persons in the Incarnation of Christ.
Constantinople III –
A.D. 680: This Council
affirmed the true humanity of Jesus by insisting upon the reality of His human
will and action. It denounced the
heresy of Monothelitism, which wrongly asserted that Christ had two natures but
only one will.
Nicaea II – A.D. 787: This Council affirmed the propriety of the
veneration icons as genuine expressions of the Christian Faith.
+ The last three
Ecumenical Councils are accepted by most Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and
many Anglican believers.
In Christ's love, Fr. Robert Pax
