Sarah Mitchell
The Catholic Church recognises 21 ecumenical councils that have occurred over a period of nearly 1900 years. An ecumenical council is a gathering of the College of Bishops, including the Bishop of Rome, to exercise its power over the whole Church. The Pope has the authority to convene an ecumenical council and decide its agenda, and a council is only recognised as ecumenical once its works are approved by the Pope. The first ecumenical council was the First Council of Nicaea in 325 AD, and the most recent was the Second Vatican Council, which took place from 1962 to 1965.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of Ecumenical Councils | 21 |
| First Council | Council of Jerusalem, c. AD 50 |
| First Ecumenical Council | First Council of Nicaea, 325 |
| First Council of Constantinople | 381 |
| Council of Ephesus | Recognised by the Catholic Church |
| First Seven Ecumenical Councils | Recognised by the Eastern Orthodox Churches |
| Papal Presence | Not required for a council to be ecumenical |
| Pope's Authority | To convoke, preside over, transfer, suspend or dissolve a council |
| Pope Gregory VII | Elevated Council of Constantinople (869-870) to ecumenical rank |
| Council of Basle | 1431-1439 |
| Fifth Lateran Council | 1512-1517 |
| First Vatican Council | 1869-1870 |
| Second Vatican Council | 1962-1965 |
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What You'll Learn
The Pope's role in ecumenical councils
The Pope plays a crucial role in Catholic ecumenical councils. According to Catholic doctrine, a Church Council is considered ecumenical when it is "a solemn congregation of the Catholic bishops of the world at the invitation of the Pope to decide on matters of the Church with him". The Pope has the sole authority to convene an ecumenical council, preside over it personally or through others, transfer, suspend, or dissolve it, and approve its decrees. The Pope also determines the matters to be addressed and establishes the order to be observed in the council. The decrees of an ecumenical council do not become obligatory unless they are approved by the Pope and issued at his order.
Historically, the Pope has played a central role in many ecumenical councils. For example, Pope Clement V solemnly opened the council with a liturgy, wearing liturgical vestments and taking his place on the papal throne. He gave a blessing to the choir and issued a prayer to the Holy Spirit before formally addressing the council and outlining its agenda. Pope Clement V also ruled on matters of procedure, such as asking bishops to list their problems with the Order of Knights Templar.
In the First Council of Constantinople in 381, Pope Damasus and Emperor Theodosius I presided over the council, which was directed against the followers of Macedonius, who impugned the divinity of the Holy Ghost. The council added clauses referring to the Holy Ghost to the Nicene Creed.
The Fourth Lateran Council in 1215, held under Pope Innocent III, issued an enlarged creed against the Albigenses and condemned the Trinitarian errors of Abbot Joachim. It also published 70 important reformatory decrees and marked the height of ecclesiastical life and papal power.
The Council of Constance, held from 1414 to 1418, was convened by Pope Gregory XII to end the divisions in the Church during the Great Schism of the West. The council succeeded in electing Pope Martin V, thus ending the schism.
The First Vatican Council, convened by Pope Pius IX in 1869, issued definitions of the Catholic faith, the papacy, and papal infallibility.
In summary, the Pope plays an essential role in Catholic ecumenical councils, from convening and presiding over the council to approving its decrees. The Pope's authority and participation are crucial to the functioning and legitimacy of these councils.
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The First Council of Nicaea
There have been 21 ecumenical councils recognised by the Catholic Church over a period of some 1900 years. The First Council of Nicaea, held in 325, was the first of these ecumenical councils. It was convened by Emperor Constantine I, who presided over the opening session and took part in the discussions. The council lasted two months and twelve days, and 318 bishops were present. Hosius, Bishop of Cordova, assisted as legate of Pope Sylvester I, who did not attend the council.
The term "ecumenical" means "worldwide" but is generally assumed to be limited to the known inhabited Earth, and at the time of the First Council of Nicaea, it was nearly synonymous with the Roman Empire. The council was convened in ancient Nicaea, now known as İznik in Turkey.
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The Council of Jerusalem
There have been 21 Catholic Ecumenical Councils in history, and one of the most significant was the Council of Jerusalem, which took place around AD 50. This early council addressed a critical issue facing the young Christian church: the place of Jewish law and customs in the Christian community, particularly regarding Gentile converts. The council is notable for its decision to exempt Gentile Christians from the requirement of following Mosaic Law, including circumcision, which had been a contentious issue.
The council was likely attended by a small group of early Christian leaders, including Paul, Barnabas, and apostles like Peter and James. After much discussion, the council decided that Gentile Christians were not required to follow Mosaic Law. This decision was based on the understanding that faith in Jesus Christ was sufficient for salvation and that the burden of following Jewish customs was not necessary for Gentile believers.
The council's decision was communicated in a letter, which was delivered by Paul and Barnabas to the Gentile Christians. The letter emphasized that Gentile believers were not to be troubled by those insisting on circumcision, and that they should instead follow a few basic guidelines, known as the Apostolic Decree, which included abstaining from food offered to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals, and from sexual immorality.
Lastly, the council's decision also had implications for the relationship between the Christian and Jewish communities. By relieving Gentile Christians from the obligation to follow Jewish customs, the council set a precedent for the emerging Christian community to develop its own distinct identity and practices, separate from Judaism. This would eventually contribute to the growing divide between the two religions in the following centuries.
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The Council of Constance
The Catholic Church recognizes 21 ecumenical councils over a period of some 1900 years. The Council of Constance, held from 1414 to 1418, was the 16th such council. It was the first ecumenical council to be convened in the Holy Roman Empire and was held in the Bishopric of Constance, present-day Germany.
The council was convened to end the Western Schism, which had resulted from the election of two rival popes (Gregory XII in Rome and Benedict XIII in Avignon) in 1378. The death of Pope Gregory XI in 1378 and the controversial election of his successor, Pope Urban VI, had resulted in the defection of several cardinals who elected an antipope, thus creating three papal claimants. The Council of Pisa in 1409 had attempted to resolve the issue by electing a new pope, but this only exacerbated the situation, as Christians now owed obedience to three different popes.
The council ended the Western Schism by deposing or accepting the resignation of the remaining papal claimants and electing Pope Martin V. It also condemned Jan Hus as a heretic, facilitating his execution, and reaffirmed the doctrine of papal supremacy over ecumenical councils. The council addressed other issues, such as national sovereignty, the rights of pagans, and just war, in response to a conflict between the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, the Kingdom of Poland, and the Order of the Teutonic Knights.
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The First Council of Constantinople
The Catholic Church recognizes 21 ecumenical councils over a period of some 1900 years. The First Council of Constantinople, also known as the First General Council of Constantinople, was the second of these councils. It was convened in Constantinople (now Istanbul, Turkey) in AD 381 by the Roman Emperor Theodosius I. The council was attended by 150 bishops, all Eastern bishops, and it is considered to be an ecumenical council by both the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Oriental Orthodox Churches.
The council produced seven canons, four of which were doctrinal and three disciplinary. The first canon condemned Arianism, Macedonianism, and Apollinarianism, all of which denied the divinity of Christ and the Holy Spirit. The second canon renewed Nicene legislation, imposing upon the bishops the observance of diocesan and patriarchal limits. The third canon demoted the patriarchs of Antioch and Alexandria, while the fourth decreed the consecration of Maximus as Bishop of Constantinople to be invalid. The fifth canon regards a Tome of the Western bishops, possibly Pope Damasus I, and the sixth canon limits the ability to accuse bishops of wrongdoing. The seventh canon outlines procedures for receiving certain heretics into the church.
The council's dogmatic authority in the western church was acknowledged by Pope Gregory I, who placed it alongside the councils of Nicaea, Ephesus, and Chalcedon in terms of importance. However, the Bishop of Rome's approval did not extend to the canons, as they were never brought to "the knowledge of the apostolic see". This led to controversy, particularly in relation to Canon 3, which gave the Bishop of Constantinople precedence of honour over all other bishops except the Bishop of Rome.
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Frequently asked questions
There have been 21 Catholic Ecumenical Councils.
The first Catholic Ecumenical Council was the Council of Nicaea, which took place in 325 AD.
The Council of Trent lasted 18 years, from 1545 to 1563, making it the longest Catholic Ecumenical Council.
The Pope has the authority to convene an Ecumenical Council and decide its agenda. A council is only recognised as ecumenical once its works are approved by the Pope.
