Ecumenical (General) Councils

i. All Ecumenical Council texts and description with both Latin and Greek versions in the initial few

  1. Nicaea I (A.D. 325) - Condemns the apostasy of Arius, upholds Christ’s Divinity
  2. Constantinople I (A.D. 381)
  3. Ephesus (A.D. 431) –Condemns those who reject the term theotokos for the BVM, condemning the Nestorians
  4. Chalcedon (A.D. 451) –Condemns the monophysites, cutting off the Oriental churches like the Copts
  5. Constantinople II (A.D. 553)
  6. Constantinople III (A.D. 680-681)
  7. Nicaea II (A.D. 787) -Defends Code of Icons. Last council accepted by Eastern Orthodox Christians as Ecumenical
  8. Constantinople IV (A.D. 869) -Condemns Photius as illegally assuming the See of Constantinople, who later led the pseudoecumenical council of Constantiople in A.D. 879, which some Orthodox hold as Ecumenical, it condemns the filioque and is completely rejected by Rome.
  9. Lateran I (A.D. 1123)
  10. Lateran II (A.D. 1139)
  11. Lateran III (A.D. 1179)
  12. Lateran IV (A.D. 1215)- Transubstantiation formally defined
  13. Lyons I (A.D. 1245) -Filioque made official, Deposes Emperor Frederick II, and sets up trial rules.
  14. Lyon II (A.D. 1274)- Filioque defended, bigamy condemned again
  15. Vienne (A.D. 1311-1313)- Condemns the Beghard Heresy and defends baptism.
  16. Constance (A.D. 1414-1418)- Condemns Jan Hus and John Wyclif heresies
  17. Basle/Florence (A.D. 1431-1445)-Defines Papal Supremacy and reaffirms the necessity of baptism. Reaffirms the Bible Canon
  18. Lateran V (A.D. 1512-1517)- Condemns the quasi-council of Pisa and those involved
  19. Trent (A.D. 1545-1563) -Condemns the Protestant Heresies. Source of the Tridentine Mass name. Reaffirms the Bible Canon
  20. Vatican I (A.D. 1869-1870*) -Formally defined Papal Infallibility, reaffirms Primacy and Supremacy of the Pope. (*Council was never officially dissolved or resumed)
  21. Vatican II (A.D. 1962 -1965) -Pastoral Council, delivered no new infallible definitions,
  22. Vatican III? (A.D. 20??-20??)- Condemns modernist movements in the Church and demands a return to Orthodoxy in the Church

The first council as the Council of Jerusalem (A.D. 49)- Condemns Judaizing and Cephas for avoiding Gentiles

Local Councils With Papal Approval, ergo infallible:

Carthage (AD 419)- Anti Peligian, approved by Pope St Zosimus & Pope St Boniface I

Orange II (AD 529)- Anti semi-Peligian, teaches justification, original sin, approved by Pope Boniface II

ii What is it? Infallibility of Ecumenical Councils and Who can participate in them