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Ecumenical Councils Timeline

(325–Present)

The Ecumenical Councils were major gatherings of Christian bishops convened to resolve theological disputes, define doctrine, and address matters of church discipline and unity. Less

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Early councils

Seven councils become recognized across East and West

300 - 899

The Catholic Church and Eastern Orthodox Church came to recognize, in whole or in part, seven councils held between the fourth and ninth centuries as ecumenical.

The pope begins using the title “pope”

375

By the end of the fourth century, the Bishop of Rome was self-styled as “pope,” although the pope did not attend the ecumenical councils in person and instead sent legates to some of them.

Image source: Pope

The pope begins using the title “pope”

Roman legates represent the pope at councils

400 - 899

Although the Bishop of Rome did not attend the councils personally, papal legates were sent to some of them to represent the Roman see.

Image source: Papal legate

Roman legates represent the pope at councils

Fifth-century bishops assert synodical authority

400 - 499

Fifth-century bishops regarded the definition of the Church’s faith and canons as their responsibility, with or without permission from the emperor.

Image source: Ecumenical council

Fifth-century bishops assert synodical authority

Synodical process is distinguished from imperial approval

400 - 499

The fifth-century conciliar attitude emphasized that synodical process predated the Christianization of the imperial court and did not depend on royal authorization.

Theotokos formulation contributes to a schism

431

The formulation of Mary as the Theotokos, or God-bearer, caused a schism with the Church of the East.

Image source: Council of Ephesus

Theotokos formulation contributes to a schism

Catholic recognition

The Catholic Church rejects state authorization as a condition

400

Catholic teaching holds that the validity of an ecumenical council’s teaching does not depend on its location or on prior authorization or legal status granted by a state.

Seven councils remain recognized in the Catholic Church

1000 - 1099

As late as the eleventh century, seven councils were recognized as ecumenical in the Catholic Church.

Gregory VII’s pontificate shapes conciliar recognition

1073 - 1085

The pontificate of Gregory VII is identified with the period when canonists’ use of the Constantinople 869–870 canon contributed to that council’s elevation to ecumenical rank.

Image source: Pope Gregory VII

Gregory VII’s pontificate shapes conciliar recognition

Constantinople of 869–870 gains expanded status

1073 - 1085

During the time of Pope Gregory VII, canonists in the Investiture Controversy cited canon 22 of the Council of Constantinople of 869–870 against lay influence over the appointment of prelates, helping elevate that council to ecumenical status.

Council of Constance is convoked

1414

At the urging of German King Sigismund, who later became Holy Roman Emperor in 1433, the Council of Constance was convoked in 1414 by Antipope John XXIII, one of three claimants to the papal throne.

Image source: Council of Constance

Council of Constance is convoked

Council of Constance is reconvened by Gregory XII

1415

The Council of Constance was reconvened in 1415 by the Roman pope Gregory XII, following its initial convocation by Antipope John XXIII.

Reformation churches reject a mandatory patristic consensus

1500 - 1599

The listed account states that, apart from Anglicanism, the competing confessions were not willing to require or permit their positions to be judged by or subordinated to a hypothetical patristic consensus of the first four or five centuries.

Image source: Church Fathers

Reformation churches reject a mandatory patristic consensus

Reformation confessions appeal to the early church

1500 - 1599

Catholic, Lutheran, and Reformed advocates in the sixteenth-century religious conflict claimed that their doctrines and practices accorded with the early Church Fathers, including figures such as Augustine.

Image source: Reformation

Reformation confessions appeal to the early church

Anglican formularies address Reformation concerns

1500 - 1699

The Anglican formularies addressed particular theological and disciplinary concerns of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, rather than establishing a broad requirement of submission to a patristic consensus.

Image source: Anglicanism

Anglican formularies address Reformation concerns

The Lateran councils receive Catholic recognition

1500 - 1599

In the sixteenth century, Catholic scholars granted ecumenical recognition to the Councils of the Lateran.

The Councils of Lyon receive Catholic recognition

1500 - 1599

Sixteenth-century Catholic scholarship recognized the Councils of Lyon as ecumenical.

Later Catholic councils receive recognition

1500 - 1599

Catholic scholars in the sixteenth century also recognized as ecumenical the councils held after the Lateran and Lyon councils.

Catholic and Orthodox counts diverge

1500

Both Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches recognize seven councils from the early centuries, while Catholics additionally recognize fourteen later councils called or confirmed by the pope.

The Act of Supremacy distinguishes early councils

1559

The 1559 Act of Supremacy distinguished the decisions of the first four ecumenical councils, which could serve as sufficient proof of heresy, from later councils, which required an additional declaration in express and plain words.

The 1571 canon asserts conciliar authority

1571

The 19th Canon of 1571 asserted the authority of the councils and instructed preachers concerning what they should teach.

The Nazarene church receives early creeds

1908

The Manual of the Church of the Nazarene states that the denomination receives the creeds of the first five Christian centuries as expressions of its own faith, including Christological doctrines formulated during the first four ecumenical councils.

Image source: Church of the Nazarene

The Nazarene church receives early creeds

Orthodox recognition

Constantinople of 879 is called the eighth council

879

The Council at Constantinople in 879 was recognized as the eighth ecumenical council by a number of Orthodox authorities and canonists.

Theodore Balsamon recognizes Constantinople of 879

1100 - 1199

The canon-law expert Theodore Balsamon, identified as an eleventh-century authority, recognized the council at Constantinople in 879 as the eighth ecumenical council.

Neilos of Rhodes recognizes the eighth council

1300 - 1399

Saint Neilos of Rhodes is listed among the authorities who recognized the Council of Constantinople of 879 as the eighth ecumenical council.

Symeon of Thessalonica recognizes the eighth council

1400 - 1499

Saint Symeon of Thessalonica is identified as another fifteenth-century authority who regarded Constantinople of 879 as the eighth ecumenical council.

Mark of Ephesus recognizes the eighth council

1430 - 1449

Saint Mark of Ephesus, a fifteenth-century Orthodox theologian, recognized the Council of Constantinople of 879 as the eighth ecumenical council.

Dositheos II cites the eighth council

1672

Patriarch Dositheos II of Jerusalem recognized Constantinople of 879 as the eighth ecumenical council in his seventeenth-century Tome of Joy.

The Eastern Patriarchs refer to an eighth council

1848

The 1848 Encyclical of the Eastern Patriarchs explicitly referred to the eighth ecumenical council and was signed by the patriarchs of Constantinople, Jerusalem, Antioch, and Alexandria, along with several Holy Synods.

The Pan-Orthodox Council is held

2016

The 2016 Pan-Orthodox Council was sometimes described as a potential eighth ecumenical council in debates about issues facing Eastern Orthodoxy, although not all autocephalous churches were represented.

The Pan-Orthodox Council’s ecumenical status is debated

2016

The possible designation of the 2016 Pan-Orthodox Council as an eighth ecumenical council remained contested because not all autocephalous churches took part.

Modern ecumenical dialogue

The Chaldean Church enters communion with Rome

1500 - 1599

The Chaldean Catholic Church entered into full communion with Rome in the sixteenth century.

Image source: Chaldean Catholic Church

The Chaldean Church enters communion with Rome

The Church of the East divides into two churches

1900 - 1999

The Church of the East is described as later divided between the Assyrian Church of the East and the Ancient Church of the East.

Image source: Church of the East

The Church of the East divides into two churches

Modern churches pursue Christological reconciliation

1950 - 1999

Reconciliatory efforts among the Oriental Orthodox, Eastern Orthodox, and Catholic churches in the mid- and late twentieth century led to common Christological declarations.

Image source: Oriental Orthodox Churches

Modern churches pursue Christological reconciliation

John Paul II and Mar Dinkha IV meet

1994

Meetings between Pope John Paul II and Assyrian Patriarch Mar Dinkha IV led to a common Christological declaration.

Catholic-Assyrian Christological declaration is signed

Nov 11, 1994

On 11 November 1994, a common declaration stated that “the humanity to which the Blessed Virgin Mary gave birth always was that of the Son of God himself.”

Key Facts

  1. The First Council of Nicaea met in 325 under Emperor Constantine I and rejected Arianism, affirming that the Son is of the same substance as the Father.
  2. The Council of Constantinople in 381 expanded the Nicene Creed and affirmed the divinity of the Holy Spirit.
  3. The Council of Ephesus in 431 condemned Nestorianism and affirmed Mary as Theotokos, meaning “God-bearer” or “Mother of God.”
  4. The Council of Chalcedon in 451 defined Christ as one person in two natures, fully divine and fully human.
  5. Different Christian traditions recognize different councils as ecumenical; Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and Oriental Orthodox churches therefore have distinct conciliar histories.

Source

This Ecumenical Councils timeline was generated with the help of AI, using information found on the internet.

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