Church Councils
Two weeks ago in our Acts of the Apostles Bible study we covered Acts 15 where we heard about the Council of Jerusalem in AD 52.
In our discussion we also spoke about Ecumenical Councils, when the bishops of the world are gathered together to settle issues facing the Church. I said I would put something up here listing those councils. Here they are…
AD 325: Nicea
Issue: The Divinity of Christ
AD 381: Constantinople
Issue: The Divinity of Holy Spirit
AD 431: Ephesus
Issue: Mary as “Theotokos” (“God Bearer”)
AD 46I: Chalcedon
Issue: The two natures in Christ
AD 476: The Fall of Rome
AD 553: Constantinople II
Issue: Condemned a variety of writings.
AD 680: Constantinople III
Issue: The two wills in Christ
AD 787: Nicea II
Issue: The veneration of images
AD 869: Constantinople IV
AD 1054 Eastern Schism. The East has never held another council.
AD 1123, 1139, 1179, 1215: Lateran I, II, III and IV
AD 1245 & 1274: Lyons I & II
AD 1311: Vienne
AD 1414: Constance
Western Schism
AD 1453 Fall of Constantinople
AD 1512: Lateran V
AD 1545: Trent
Issue: Dealt with Luther’s teachings and made Church reforms
AD 1869: Vatican I
AD 1963: Vatican II
Nice list! but, not that I wish to be picky (moi?) but I will slightly amend the comment for 1054. It is not that the East has not held another council, but that they have not attended another council. No Pope, no council, if you see what I mean. The Orthodox do.
Agh, I need to re-read things. In the first line “will” should be “would”.. and the “but” should be “But”.
Age…..
Picky? That doesn’t sound like you… 😉
It’s funny, I was speaking about this issue with an Orthodox Christian just the other day.
Tell your Orthodox friend that they are welcome to come back Rome… oops, home. :-p
He stopped responding when I asked him on what objective basis he rejects the Second Council of Ephesus :-/