For many centuries, since the birth of the Christian faith, people have tried to accept the revelation of the Lord in all its purity, and false followers distorted it with human speculation. To expose them and discuss canonical and dogmatic problems in the early Christian church, Ecumenical Councils were convened. They united adherents of the faith of Christ from all corners of the Greco-Roman Empire, shepherds and teachers from barbarian countries. The period from the 4th to the 8th centuries in church history is usually called the era of strengthening the true faith; the years of the Ecumenical Councils contributed to this in all their strength.
Historical excursion
For living Christians, the first Ecumenical Councils are very important, and their significance is revealed in a special way. All Orthodox and Catholics should know and understand what the early Christian Church believed in and what it was moving towards. In history one can see the lies of modern cults and sects that claim to have similar dogmatic teachings.
From the very beginnings of the Christian Church, there was already an unshakable and harmonious theology based on the basic doctrines of faith - in the form of dogmas about the Divinity of Christ, the spirit. In addition, certain rules of internal church structure, time and order of services were established. The first Ecumenical Councils were created specifically in order to preserve the dogmas of faith in their true form.
First holy meeting
The first Ecumenical Council took place in 325. Among the fathers present at the holy meeting, the most famous were Spyridon of Trimifuntsky, Archbishop Nicholas of Myra, Bishop of Nizibia, Athanasius the Great and others.
At the council, the teachings of Arius, who rejected the divinity of Christ, were condemned and anathematized. The unchangeable truth about the Face of the Son of God, his equality with the Father God, and the Divine essence itself were affirmed. Church historians note that at the cathedral, the definition of the very concept of faith was announced after lengthy tests and research, so that no opinions would arise that would give rise to a split in the thoughts of Christians themselves. The Spirit of God brought the bishops to agreement. After the end of the Council of Nicea, the heretic Arius suffered a difficult and unexpected death, but his false teaching is still alive among sectarian preachers.
All the decisions that the Ecumenical Councils adopted were not invented by its participants, but were approved by the church fathers through the participation of the Holy Spirit and solely on the basis of Holy Scripture. In order for all believers to have access to the true teaching that Christianity brings, it was set out clearly and briefly in the first seven members of the Creed. This form continues to this day.
Second Holy Assembly
The Second Ecumenical Council was held in 381 in Constantinople. The main reason was the development of the false teaching of Bishop Macedonius and his adherents of the Arian Doukhobors. Heretical statements ranked the Son of God as not consubstantial with God the Father. The Holy Spirit was designated by heretics as the ministering power of the Lord, like angels.
At the second council, the true Christian teaching was defended by Cyril of Jerusalem, Gregory of Nyssa, and George the Theologian, who were among the 150 bishops present. The Holy Fathers approved the dogma of the consubstantiality and equality of God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. In addition, the church elders approved the Nicene Creed, which continues to guide the church to this day.
Third Holy Assembly
The Third Ecumenical Council was convened in Ephesus in 431, and about two hundred bishops gathered. The Fathers decided to recognize the union of two natures in Christ: human and divine. It was decided to preach Christ as a perfect man and a perfect God, and the Virgin Mary as the Mother of God.
Fourth Holy Assembly
The Fourth Ecumenical Council, held in Chalcedon, was convened specifically in order to eliminate all the Monophysite disputes that began to spread around the church. The Holy Assembly, consisting of 650 bishops, defined the only true teaching of the church and rejected all existing false teachings. The Fathers decreed that the Lord Christ is the true, unshakable God and true man. According to his divinity, he is eternally reborn from his father; according to humanity, he was brought into the world from the Virgin Mary, in all likeness to man, except for sin. At the Incarnation, the human and the divine were united in the body of Christ unchangeably, inseparably and inseparably.
It is worth noting that the heresy of the Monophysites brought a lot of evil to the church. The false teaching was not completely eradicated by conciliar condemnation, and for a long time disputes continued to develop between the heretical followers of Eutyches and Nestorius. The main reason for the controversy was the writings of three followers of the church - Fyodor of Mopsuet, Willow of Edessa, Theodoret of Cyrus. The mentioned bishops were condemned by Emperor Justinian, but his decree was not recognized by the Universal Church. Therefore, a dispute arose about the three chapters.
Fifth Holy Assembly
To resolve the controversial issue, the fifth council was held in Constantinople. The bishops' writings were harshly condemned. To highlight the true adherents of the faith, the concept of orthodox Christians and the Catholic Church arose. The Fifth Council failed to achieve the desired results. The Monophysites formed into societies that completely separated from the Catholic Church and continued to instill heresy and generate disputes within Christians.
Sixth Holy Assembly
The history of the Ecumenical Councils says that the struggle of orthodox Christians with heretics lasted for quite a long time. The sixth council (Trullo) was convened in Constantinople, at which the truth was finally to be established. At the meeting, which brought together 170 bishops, the teachings of the Monothelites and Monophysites were condemned and rejected. In Jesus Christ two natures were recognized - divine and human, and, accordingly, two wills - divine and human. After this council, Monothelianism fell, and for about fifty years the Christian church lived relatively calmly. New vague trends appeared later regarding the iconoclastic heresy.
Seventh Holy Assembly
The last 7th Ecumenical Council was held in Nicaea in 787. 367 bishops took part in it. The holy elders rejected and condemned the iconoclastic heresy and decreed that icons should not be given God-worship, which befits only God alone, but reverence and reverence. Those believers who worshiped icons as God himself were excommunicated from the church. After the 7th Ecumenical Council was held, iconoclasm troubled the church for more than 25 years.
The Meaning of Holy Assemblies
The Seven Ecumenical Councils are of paramount importance in the development of the basic tenets of Christian doctrine, on which all modern faith is based.
- The first one affirmed the divinity of Christ, his equality with the Father God.
- The second condemned the heresy of Macedonius, who rejected the divine essence of the Holy Spirit.
- The third - eliminated the heresy of Nestorius, who preached about the split faces of the God-man.
- The fourth dealt the final blow to the false teaching of Monophysitism.
- The fifth - completed the defeat of heresy and established the confession of two natures in Jesus - human and divine.
- The sixth - condemned the Monothelites and decided to confess two wills in Christ.
- The seventh - overthrew the iconoclastic heresy.
The years of Ecumenical Councils made it possible to introduce certainty and completeness into orthodox Christian teaching.
Eighth Ecumenical Council
Instead of a conclusion
Ecumenical Councils are called Councils convened on behalf of the entire Church to resolve questions about the truths of the doctrine and recognized by the entire Church as the sources of Her dogmatic Tradition and canon law. There were seven such Councils:
The First Ecumenical (I Nicene) Council (325) was convened by St. imp. Constantine the Great to condemn the heresy of the Alexandrian presbyter Arius, who taught that the Son of God is only the highest creation of the Father and is called the Son not by essence, but by adoption. The 318 bishops of the Council condemned this teaching as heresy and affirmed the truth about the consubstantiality of the Son with the Father and His pre-eternal birth. They also composed the first seven members of the Creed and recorded the privileges of the bishops of the four largest metropolises: Rome, Alexandria, Antioch and Jerusalem (6th and 7th canons).
The Second Ecumenical (I Constantinople) Council (381) completed the formation of the Trinitarian dogma. It was convened by St. imp. Theodosius the Great for the final condemnation of various followers of Arius, including the Doukhobor Macedonians, who rejected the Divinity of the Holy Spirit, considering Him to be the creation of the Son. 150 eastern bishops affirmed the truth about the consubstantiality of the Holy Spirit “proceeding from the Father” with the Father and the Son, composed the five remaining members of the Creed and recorded the advantage of the Bishop of Constantinople as the second in honor after Rome - “because this city is the second Rome” (3- th canon).
The III Ecumenical (I Ephesian) Council (431) opened the era of Christological disputes (about the Face of Jesus Christ). It was convened to condemn the heresy of the Bishop of Constantinople, Nestorius, who taught that the Blessed Virgin Mary gave birth to the simple man Christ, with whom God subsequently united morally and graciously dwelt in Him as in a temple. Thus, the divine and human natures in Christ remained separate. The 200 bishops of the Council affirmed the truth that both natures in Christ are united into one Theanthropic Person (Hypostasis).
The IV Ecumenical (Chalcedonian) Council (451) was convened to condemn the heresy of the Constantinople Archimandrite Eutyches, who, denying Nestorianism, went to the opposite extreme and began to teach about the complete merging of the Divine and human nature in Christ. At the same time, the Divinity inevitably absorbed humanity (the so-called Monophysitism), 630 bishops of the Council affirmed the antinomian truth that the two natures in Christ are united “unfused and unchangeable” (against Eutyches), “inseparably and inseparably” (against Nestorius). The canons of the Council finally fixed the so-called. "Pentarchy" - the relationship of the five patriarchates.
The V Ecumenical (II Constantinople) Council (553) was convened by St. Emperor Justinian I to pacify the Monophysite unrest that arose after the Council of Chalcedon. The Monophysites accused the adherents of the Council of Chalcedon of hidden Nestorianism and, in support of this, referred to three Syrian bishops (Theodore of Mopsuet, Theodoret of Cyrus and Iva of Edessa), in whose writings Nestorian opinions were actually heard. In order to facilitate the accession of the Monophysites to Orthodoxy, the Council condemned the errors of the three teachers (the “three heads”), as well as the errors of Origen.
The VI Ecumenical (III Constantinople) Council (680-681; 692) was convened to condemn the heresy of the Monothelites, who, although they recognized two natures in Jesus Christ, united them by one Divine will. The Council of 170 bishops affirmed the truth that Jesus Christ, as true God and true Man, has two wills, but his human will is not contrary, but submissive to the Divine. Thus, the revelation of the Christological dogma was completed.
A direct continuation of this Council was the so-called. Trullo Council, convened 11 years later in the Trullo chambers of the royal palace to approve the existing canonical code. He is also called the “Fifth-Sixth,” implying that he completed, in canonical terms, the acts of the V and VI Ecumenical Councils.
The VIIth Ecumenical (II Nicene) Council (787) was convened by Empress Irene to condemn the so-called. iconoclastic heresy - the last imperial heresy, which rejected icon veneration as idolatry. The council revealed the dogmatic essence of the icon and approved the obligatory nature of icon veneration.
Note. The Ecumenical Orthodox Church settled on seven Ecumenical Councils and confesses itself to be the Church of seven Ecumenical Councils. T.N. The Ancient Orthodox (or Eastern Orthodox) Churches stopped at the first three Ecumenical Councils, without accepting the IV, Chalcedonian (the so-called non-Chalcedonians). The Western Roman Catholic Church continues its dogmatic development and already has 21 Councils (and the last 14 Councils are also called Ecumenical Councils). Protestant denominations do not recognize Ecumenical Councils at all.
The division into “East” and “West” is quite arbitrary. However, it is useful for showing a schematic history of Christianity. On the right side of the diagram
Eastern Christianity, i.e. predominantly Orthodoxy. On the left side
Western Christianity, i.e. Roman Catholicism and Protestant denominations.
First Church Council
During the state period there was a sharp struggle over the problems of the true interpretation of dogmas. To develop a common opinion on the most important issues, on the initiative of Emperor Constantine, a meeting was convened 1 church cathedral, which was supposed to lay the foundations of a united Christian church. The formalization of Christian dogmas took place thanks to the active work of the church fathers. These include those Christian teachers and writers whom the church has recognized as the most authoritative interpreters of Christianity. Studying their teachings patristics(the teaching of the church fathers themselves and the teaching about the church fathers). Prominent theologians called "universal teachers" were: Athanasius of Alexandria, Gregory of Nyssa, John Chrysostom, Augustine the Blessed etc. The works of the church fathers are an integral part Sacred Tradition, which together with Holy Scripture(The Bible) constituted the Christian doctrine.
1 The Council was held in Nicaea in 325. The main question was devoted to the teaching of the Alexandrian priest Aria(d. 336). He and his followers (ariano) recognized God the Father as a perfect closed unity, the essence of which cannot be transferred to anyone else. Therefore, God the Son is only the highest creation of God, alien and unlike God. This teaching was sharply criticized, and a clarification was made to the baptismal Creed about consubstantiality of God the Son with God the Father, which meant the equality of the Father and the Son in essence. The resolutions of the council were adopted not only on behalf of the holy fathers, but also on behalf of Emperor Constantine, which cemented the special role of the emperor in relations with the church.
At the council, in addition to dogmatic decisions, decisions of a canonical nature were adopted (on the procedure for selecting and approving provincial bishops, on the distribution of power between different episcopates, etc.).
However, the victory over the Arians was not final. During the last years of Constantine's reign, the Arians were victorious over the adherents of the Nicene Creed, who had been persecuted for several decades. As the Christianization of the Germanic peoples took place during these decades, they accepted Christianity in the form of Arianism.
Ecumenical Council took place in 381 Constantinople. Here the Nicene Creed was confirmed and expanded, which was now called Niko-Tsaregradsky. It contained a brief formulation of the main provisions Trinitarian teaching: the unity of the nature of God and at the same time his trinity in persons was recognized as true ( hypostases): God is Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The Persons of the Trinity are not subordinate, they are completely equal to each other, consubstantial. The council also adopted canonical decisions (rules for the admission of repentant heretics into the church; five eastern districts with special ecclesiastical courts were identified; the place of the see of Constantinople in the hierarchy of Christian bishops was determined; it was named second after Rome, since Constantinople was called New Rome) .
Ecumenical Council took place in Ephesus in 431. The focus was on the teachings of the Patriarch of Constantinople Nestoria, who rejected the divine and recognized only the human nature of Jesus Christ. According to Nestorius, Jesus Christ was only an instrument of human salvation, a God-bearer. The Council decided to balance of natures in the God-Man. The Council of Ephesus proclaimed the dogma of To the Most Holy Theotokos.
Fourth Ecumenical Council
IV Ecumenical Council was the most representative, 650 hierarchs arrived. It took place in 451 Chalcedon. The council discussed the teachings of the archimandrite of one of the Constantinople monasteries Eutychia. Unlike Nestorius, he affirmed the divine nature in Christ, believing that everything in him was swallowed up by the divine hypostasis and Jesus Christ had only apparent human flesh. This doctrine was called monophysitism(one nature). The Council adopted the dogma “About her two tests...”, asserting that God the Son had two incarnations: divine and human. The resolution stated that in one person Jesus Christ unites two natures, while each of them retains its inherent properties. Since many hierarchs did not sign the decision of the council, resolutions were adopted to punish laymen and clergy who did not accept this definition of religion (defrocking, excommunication, etc.). Among the canonical decisions of the council, the 28th rule was of great importance, equalizing the rights of the Patriarch of Constantinople for the eastern dioceses with the rights of the Roman for the western ones.
Fifth Ecumenical Council
V Ecumenical Council took place in Constantinople in 553 He continued to work on the formation of Christian dogma. Now the doctrine was examined that in Jesus Christ there is one will in the presence of two essences. It got the name monothelitism(one will).
Sixth Ecumenical Council
This discussion continued on VI Ecumenical Council, which also took place in Constantinople in 680. The canonical issues resolved at the council concerned both intra-church life (hierarchy of departments of the Eastern Church, the duty of metropolitans to convene annual local councils) and the life of the laity (excommunication from the church in case of non-attendance of services on three holidays, determination of the rules for marriage , imposing penance on penitents, etc.).
Seventh Ecumenical Council
VII Ecumenical Council took place in Nicaea in 787 and was dedicated to the fight against iconoclasts. The Asia Minor white clergy was extremely concerned about the growing influence of the monasteries, as well as the rampant superstitions, which were spreading, among other things, due to the fact that the monasteries promoted the cult of saints. Emperor a lion decided to use this discontent to increase his own treasury. In 726, by a special edict, he declared the veneration of icons and relics of saints to be idolatry. A struggle with icon worshipers began, which lasted more than a century. During this struggle, monasteries were closed, monks were enlisted in the army, and forced to marry. Monastic treasures went into the imperial treasury. By the end of the 8th century. iconoclasm began to weaken. Its main tasks were completed. The VII Ecumenical Council proclaimed dogma on icon veneration. According to him, the honor given to the image goes back to the prototype and the one who worships the icon worships the hypostasis of the person depicted on it. Among the canonical decisions was a rule prohibiting simony(providing and receiving church positions for money; the name comes from the name of the Gospel character who wanted to buy the gifts of the Holy Spirit), alienation of church property of monasteries, appointment of lay people to church positions, etc.
Since the era of apostolic preaching, the Church has decided all important matters and problems at meetings of community leaders - councils.
To solve problems related to the Christian dispensation, the rulers of Byzantium established Ecumenical Councils, where they convened all bishops from churches.
At the Ecumenical Councils, the indisputable true provisions of Christian life, the rules of church life, governance, and everyone’s favorite canons were formulated.
Ecumenical councils in the history of Christianity
The dogmas and canons established at the convocations are mandatory for all churches. The Orthodox Church recognizes 7 Ecumenical Councils.
The tradition of holding meetings to resolve important issues dates back to the first century AD.
The very first convocation was held in 49, according to some sources in 51, in the holy city of Jerusalem. They called him Apostolic. At the convocation, the question of pagan Orthodox compliance with the tenets of the Law of Moses was raised.
Faithful disciples of Christ accepted joint orders. Then the apostle Matthias was chosen to replace the fallen Judas Iscariot.
The convocations were Local with the presence of ministers of the Church, priests, and lay people. There were also Ecumenical ones. They were convened on matters of first importance, of paramount importance for the entire Orthodox world. All the fathers, mentors, and preachers of the whole earth appeared at them.
Ecumenical sessions are the highest leadership of the Church, carried out under the leadership of the Holy Spirit.
First Ecumenical Council
It was held in the early summer of 325 in the city of Nicaea, from where the name came - Nicaea. At that time, Constantine the Great ruled.
The main issue at the convocation was the heretical propaganda of Arius. The Alexandrian presbyter denied the Lord and the accomplished birth of the second essence of the Son Jesus Christ from God the Father. He propagated that only the Redeemer is the highest Creation.
The convocation denied false propaganda and established a position on the Divinity: the Redeemer is the Real God, born of the Lord the Father, He is as eternal as the Father. He is born, not created. And one with the Lord.
At the convocation, the initial 7 sentences of the Creed were approved. The congregation established the celebration of Easter on the first Sunday service with the arrival of the full moon, which occurred on the spring equinox.
Based on the 20 postulates of the Ecumenical Acts, prostrations on Sunday services were prohibited, since this day is an image of man’s presence in the Kingdom of God.
Ⅱ Ecumenical Council
The next convocation was held in 381 in Constantinople.
They discussed the heretical propaganda of Macedonius, who served in Arian. He did not recognize the Divine nature of the Holy Spirit, believed that He was not God, but was created by Him and serves the Lord Father and the Lord Son.
The disastrous situation was reversed and a deed was established that the Spirit, Father and Son are equal in the Divine Person.
The last 5 sentences were written into the Creed. Then it was finished.
III Ecumenical Council
Ephesus became the territory of the next assembly in 431.
It was sent to discuss the heretical propaganda of Nestorius. The Archbishop assured that the Mother of God gave birth to an ordinary person. God united with him and dwelt in Him, as if within the walls of a temple.
The Archbishop called the Savior God-Bearer, and the Mother of God - Christ Mother. The position was overthrown and the recognition of two natures in Christ was established - human and divine. They were ordered to confess the Savior as a true Lord and Man, and the Mother of God as the Theotokos.
They placed a ban on making any amendments to the written provisions of the Creed.
IV Ecumenical Council
The destination was Chalcedon in 451.
The meeting raised the question of the heretical propaganda of Eutyches. He denied the human essence in the Redeemer. The archimandrite argued that in Jesus Christ there is one Divine hypostasis.
The heresy began to be called Monophysitism. The convocation overthrew her and established the deed - the Savior is a true Lord and a true man, similar to us, with the exception of a sinful nature.
At the incarnation of the Redeemer, God and man dwelt in Him in One essence and became indestructible, unceasing and inseparable.
V Ecumenical Council
Held in Constantinople in 553.
The agenda included a discussion of the creations of three clergy who departed to the Lord in the fifth century. Theodore of Mopsuetsky was the mentor of Nestorius. Theodoret of Cyrus was a zealous opponent of the teachings of St. Cyril.
The third, Iva of Edessa, wrote a work to Marius the Persian, where he disrespectfully spoke about the decision of the third meeting against Nestorius. The written messages were overthrown. Theodoret and Iva repented, abandoned their false teaching, and rested in peace with God. Theodore did not repent and was condemned.
VI Ecumenical Council
The meeting was held in 680 in the unchanged Constantinople.
Aimed at condemning the propaganda of monothelites. The heretics knew that in the Redeemer there were 2 principles - human and Divine. But their position was based on the fact that the Lord has only the Divine will. The famous monk Maxim the Confessor fought against heretics.
The convocation overthrew heretical teachings and instructed to honor both essences in the Lord - Divine and human. The will of man in our Lord does not resist, but submits to the Divine.
After 11 years, meetings at the Council began to resume. They were called the Fifth and Sixth. They made additions to the acts of the Fifth and Sixth Convocations. They resolved the problems of church discipline, thanks to them it is supposed to govern the Church - 85 provisions of the holy apostles, the acts of 13 fathers, the rules of six Ecumenical and 7 Local Councils.
These provisions were supplemented at the Seventh Council and the Nomocanon was introduced.
VII Ecumenical Council
Held in Nicaea in 787 to reject the heretical position of iconoclasm.
60 years ago the imperial false teaching arose. Leo the Isaurian wanted to help the Mohammedans convert to the Christian faith faster, so he ordered the abolition of icon veneration. The false teaching lived on for another 2 generations.
The convocation denied heresy and recognized the veneration of icons depicting the Crucifixion of the Lord. But the persecution continued for another 25 years. In 842, a Local Council was held, where icon veneration was irrevocably established.
At the meeting, the day of celebration of the Triumph of Orthodoxy was approved. It is now celebrated on the first Sunday of Lent.
In the true Orthodox Church of Christ there was seven: 1. Nicene, 2. Constantinople, 3. Ephesian, 4. Chalcedonian, 5. Constantinople 2nd. 6. Constantinople 3rd and 7. Nicene 2nd.
FIRST ECUMENICAL COUNCIL
The First Ecumenical Council was convened in 325 city, in the mountains Nicaea, under Emperor Constantine the Great.
This Council was convened against the false teaching of the Alexandrian priest Aria, which rejected Divinity and pre-eternal birth of the second Person of the Holy Trinity, Son of God, from God the Father; and taught that the Son of God is only the highest creation.
318 bishops took part in the Council, among whom were: St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, James Bishop of Nisibis, Spyridon of Trimythous, St. Athanasius the Great, who was at that time still in the rank of deacon, etc.
The Council condemned and rejected the heresy of Arius and approved the immutable truth - dogma; The Son of God is the true God, born of God the Father before all ages and is as eternal as God the Father; He is begotten, not created, and is of one essence with God the Father.
So that all Orthodox Christians can accurately know the true teaching of the faith, it has been clearly and concisely stated in the first seven clauses Creed.
At the same Council it was decided to celebrate Easter at first Sunday the day after the first spring full moon, it was also determined that priests should be married, and many other rules were established.
SECOND ECUMENICAL COUNCIL
The Second Ecumenical Council was convened in 381 city, in the mountains Constantinople, under Emperor Theodosius the Great.
This Council was convened against the false teaching of the former Arian bishop of Constantinople Macedonia, who rejected the Divinity of the third Person of the Holy Trinity, Holy Spirit; he taught that the Holy Spirit is not God, and called Him a creature or created power and, moreover, serving God the Father and God the Son like Angels.
150 bishops were present at the Council, among whom were: Gregory the Theologian (he was the chairman of the Council), Gregory of Nyssa, Meletius of Antioch, Amphilochius of Iconium, Cyril of Jerusalem and others.
At the Council, the heresy of Macedonia was condemned and rejected. The Council approved dogma of the equality and consubstantiality of God the Holy Spirit with God the Father and God the Son.
The Council also complemented the Nicene Symbol of faith five members, in which the teaching is set out: about the Holy Spirit, about the Church, about the sacraments, about the resurrection of the dead and the life of the next century. Thus, the Nikeotsaregradsky was compiled Symbol of faith, which serves as a guide for the Church for all times.
THIRD ECUMENICAL COUNCIL
The Third Ecumenical Council was convened in 431 city, in the mountains Ephesus, under Emperor Theodosius 2nd the Younger.
The Council was convened against the false teaching of the Archbishop of Constantinople Nestoria, who wickedly taught that the Most Holy Virgin Mary gave birth to the simple man Christ, with whom God then united morally and dwelt in Him as in a temple, just as He previously dwelt in Moses and other prophets. That is why Nestorius called the Lord Jesus Christ Himself a God-bearer, and not a God-man, and called the Most Holy Virgin Christ-bearer, and not the Mother of God.
200 bishops were present at the Council.
The Council condemned and rejected the heresy of Nestorius and decided to recognize the union in Jesus Christ, from the time of the Incarnation, of two natures: Divine and human; and determined: to confess Jesus Christ as perfect God and perfect Man, and the Most Holy Virgin Mary as the Mother of God.
The cathedral also approved Nikeotsaregradsky Symbol of faith and strictly forbade making any changes or additions to it.
FOURTH ECUMENICAL COUNCIL
The Fourth Ecumenical Council was convened in 451 year, in the mountains Chalcedon, under the emperor Marcians.
The Council was convened against the false teaching of the archimandrite of a Constantinople monastery Eutyches who denied human nature in the Lord Jesus Christ. Refuting heresy and defending the Divine dignity of Jesus Christ, he himself went to extremes and taught that in the Lord Jesus Christ human nature was completely absorbed by the Divine, why only one Divine nature should be recognized in Him. This false teaching is called monophysitism, and his followers are called Monophysites(same-naturalists).
650 bishops were present at the Council.
The Council condemned and rejected the false teaching of Eutyches and determined the true teaching of the Church, namely, that our Lord Jesus Christ is true God and true man: according to Divinity He is eternally born of the Father, according to humanity He was born from the Blessed Virgin and is like us in everything except sin . At the Incarnation (birth from the Virgin Mary) Divinity and humanity were united in Him as one Person, unmerged and unchangeable(against Eutyches) inseparably and inseparably(against Nestorius).
FIFTH ECUMENICAL COUNCIL
The Fifth Ecumenical Council was convened in 553 year, in the city Constantinople, under the famous emperor Justinians I.
The council was convened over disputes between the followers of Nestorius and Eutyches. The main subject of controversy was the writings of three teachers of the Syrian Church, who enjoyed fame in their time, namely Theodore of Mopsuetsky, Theodoret of Cyrus And Willow of Edessa, in which Nestorian errors were clearly expressed, and at the Fourth Ecumenical Council nothing was mentioned about these three works.
The Nestorians, in a dispute with the Eutychians (Monophysites), referred to these writings, and the Eutychians found in this a pretext to reject the 4th Ecumenical Council itself and slander the Orthodox Ecumenical Church, saying that it had allegedly deviated into Nestorianism.
165 bishops were present at the Council.
The council condemned all three works and Theodore of Mopset himself as unrepentant, and regarding the other two, the condemnation was limited only to their Nestorian works, but they themselves were pardoned, because they renounced their false opinions and died in peace with the Church.
The Council again repeated its condemnation of the heresy of Nestorius and Eutyches.
SIXTH ECUMENICAL COUNCIL
The Sixth Ecumenical Council was convened in 680 year, in the city Constantinople, under the emperor Constantine Pogonata, and consisted of 170 bishops.
The council was convened against the false teaching of heretics - monothelites who, although they recognized in Jesus Christ two natures, Divine and human, but one Divine will.
After the 5th Ecumenical Council, the unrest caused by the Monothelites continued and threatened the Greek Empire with great danger. Emperor Heraclius, wanting reconciliation, decided to persuade the Orthodox to make concessions to the Monothelites and, by the force of his power, commanded to recognize in Jesus Christ one will with two natures.
The defenders and exponents of the true teaching of the Church were Sophrony, Patriarch of Jerusalem and Constantinople monk Maxim the Confessor, whose tongue was cut out and his hand cut off for his firmness of faith.
The Sixth Ecumenical Council condemned and rejected the heresy of the Monothelites, and determined to recognize in Jesus Christ two natures - Divine and human - and according to these two natures - two wills, but so that The human will in Christ is not contrary, but submissive to His Divine will.
It is worthy of note that at this Council the excommunication was pronounced, among other heretics, by the Roman Pope Honorius, who recognized the doctrine of unity of will as Orthodox. The Council's resolution was also signed by the Roman legates: Presbyters Theodore and George, and Deacon John. This clearly indicates that the highest authority in the Church belongs to the Ecumenical Council, and not to the Pope.
After 11 years, the Council again opened meetings in the royal chambers called Trullo, to resolve issues primarily related to church deanery. In this respect, it seemed to complement the Fifth and Sixth Ecumenical Councils, which is why it is called Fifth-sixth.
The Council approved the rules by which the Church should be governed, namely: 85 rules of the Holy Apostles, rules of 6 Ecumenical and 7 local Councils, and rules of 13 Fathers of the Church. These rules were subsequently supplemented by the rules of the Seventh Ecumenical Council and two more Local Councils, and constituted the so-called " Nomocanon", and in Russian " Helmsman's Book", which is the basis of the church government of the Orthodox Church.
At this Council, some innovations of the Roman Church were condemned that did not agree with the spirit of the decrees of the Universal Church, namely: forced celibacy of priests and deacons, strict fasts on the Saturdays of Great Lent, and the image of Christ in the form of a lamb (lamb).
SEVENTH ECUMENICAL COUNCIL
The Seventh Ecumenical Council was convened in 787 year, in the mountains Nicaea, under the empress Irina(widow of Emperor Leo Khozar), and consisted of 367 fathers.
The Council was convened against iconoclastic heresy, which arose 60 years before the Council, under the Greek emperor Leo the Isaurian, who, wanting to convert the Mohammedans to Christianity, considered it necessary to destroy the veneration of icons. This heresy continued under his son Constantine Kopronima and grandson Lev Khozar.
The Council condemned and rejected the iconoclastic heresy and determined - to deliver and place in St. churches, together with the image of the Honest and Life-giving Cross of the Lord, and holy icons, venerate and give them worship, raising the mind and heart to the Lord God, the Mother of God and the Saints depicted on them.
After the 7th Ecumenical Council, the persecution of holy icons was again raised by the subsequent three emperors: Leo the Armenian, Michael Balba and Theophilus and worried the Church for about 25 years.
Veneration of St. icons was finally restored and approved Local Council of Constantinople in 842, under Empress Theodora.
At this Council, in gratitude to the Lord God, who gave the Church victory over the iconoclasts and all heretics, it was established Feast of the Triumph of Orthodoxy which is supposed to be celebrated in first Sunday of Great Lent and which is still celebrated throughout the entire Ecumenical Orthodox Church.
NOTE: The Roman Catholic Church, instead of seven, recognizes more than 20 Universes. councils, incorrectly including in this number the councils that were in the Western Church after the division of the Churches, and the Lutherans, despite the example of the Apostles and the recognition of the entire Christian Church, do not recognize a single Ecumenical Council.
