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

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