| NAME | WHERE AND WHEN | WHAT |
| First Ecumenical Council | Nicea,
325 A.D. Under Emperor Constantine the Great |
DEBATE:
was Jesus God, man or both? Arian Movement deemed a heresy. Arius defined Jesus as human. The Council deemed Jesus one in essence "homoousios" with God. Definition of Faith : the First Part of the Creed which defined the nature of Christ. |
| Second
Ecumenical Council |
Constantinople
381 A.D. Under Emperor Theodosius the Great Patriarch of Constantinople St Gregory of Nazianzus, the Theologian Presided. |
DEBATE:
was the Holy Spirit a person or a power of God? Macedonius Movement deemed the Spirit a power of God. They recognize two persons; Father and Son. The Council condemned Macedonians as heretics and decreed God as 3 persons: Father, Son and Spirit. Completion of Part 2 of the Creed. |
| Third
Ecumenical Council . |
Ephesus,
Asia Minor 431 A.D. Under Emperor Theodosius II St. Cyril of Alexandria, Doctor of the Church (d.444), was the bishop presiding. |
DEBATE:
What is the nature of Jesus, and then what part does Mary his Mother play?
Nestorius and his followers the Nestorians saw Mary giving birth to a man. They deemed the Christ "Logos" as dwelling in Jesus the Man. So Mary is the Christotokos, Christ Bearer. Council deemed Nestorians as heretics. The Council deemed Jesus as both complete God and complete man in one person. Mary is the "theotokos", "God Bearer" because she gave birth to both God and Man. Council declared Parts 1 and 2 of the Creed complete and final. |
| Fourth Ecumenical Council | Chalcedon,
Asia Minor 451 A.D. Under Emperor Marcian |
DEBATE:
How can Jesus be Both God and Man? Monophysites taught that Jesus's humanity dissolved in the presence of his divinity. So Jesus was only divine. The Council condemned this teaching and proclaimed that Jesus is complete God and complete man. |
| Fifth Ecumenical Council | Constantinople,
553 AD Under Emperor Justinian the Great |
DEBATE:
Jesus as God and Man Council confirmed the 2 natures of Jesus (Divine and Human). Justinian professed this Orthodoxy by the hymn"Only Begotton Son and Word of God". |
| Sixth Ecumenical Council | Constantinople
680A.D. Emperor Constantine IV |
DEBATE:
If Jesus was 2 natures, which one made the decisions? The Monothelites taught that the divine nature was in charge and the human nature just carried out orders. The Council condemned this. They deemed that both natures acted freely and in concert. They are united "mystically" in one divine person. |
| Qinisext Council (Trullo) | Constantinople
692 A.D. In the Palace Dome(Trullo) |
Completed
the 5th and 6th Ecumenical. Purely adiministrative Council. Ratified canons.
|
| Seventh Ecumenical Council | Nicea, 787AD | The
Iconoclast Controversy
DEBATE: What to do with images of God? The Iconoclasts demanded by force that the Church destroy all depictions of God and Jesus, Icons, Paintings, sculptures. Many many were killed protecting religious works of art. The Council decided that it is proper to venerate such images, but true Worship is only for God. Called " The Sunday of Orthodoxy" |