{{stubOrthodoxchristianity}}'''Ecumenical Councils''' are extraordinary [[synod]]s of [[bishop]]s which primarily decide upon [[dogma]]tic formulations, especially in the face of [[heresy]]. Secondarily, they also issue [[canon law|canonical legislation]] which governs the administration of the Church.

== Seven or Nine Ecumenical Councils? Ecumenicity==An [[ecclesiology|ecclesiological]] theory which has been popular since the time of the [[Slavophiles|Slavophile]] philosopher [[Alexei Stepanovich Khomiakov|Alexis Khomiakov]] first defined it is that ecumenicity—the idea that a particular council is of universal, infallible significance for the Church—is determined by the reception of the whole body of the Church. That is, while a particular council may declare itself to be ecumenical, it may later be regarded by the Church as being a [[Robber Council]], that is, a council which did not declare the truth but rather [[heresy]]. Likewise, a council may properly teach the truth but not be of universal significance for the Church. Such councils are usually termed ''local''. That a council must be "received" by the Church before it can be considered ecumenical is sometimes termed ''receptionism''.

As far as some Orthodox are concerned, since the Receptionism was formed primarily in opposition to [[Seventh Ecumenical CouncilRoman Catholic]] there has been no synod or council of viewpoints on the same scope as any of the Ecumenical councilsquestion. Local meetings of hierarchs have been called "pan-OrthodoxFor the Roman Catholic Church," but these have invariably been simply meetings a council's ecumenicity is primarily determined by its ratification by the Pope of local hierarchs of whatever Eastern Orthodox jurisdictions are party to an specific local matterRome. From those point of viewOrthodoxy does not have the same ecclesiological structure as Rome, there had been no fully "pan-Orthodox" ('''Ecumenical''') council since 787. Unfortunately, the use of the term "pan-Orthodox" is confusing to those not within Eastern Orthodoxyhowever, and it leads to mistaken impressions that these are ''ersatz'' ecumenical councils rather than purely local councils so Khomiakov and others attempted to formulate another model by which nearby Orthodox hierarchs, regardless the infallibility of jurisdiction, are invitedEcumenical Councils may be determined.

Others, including 20th century theologians Fr. [[John S. Romanides]] and Fr. [[George Metallinos]] A form of receptionism (both of whom refer repeatedly to the "Eighth and Ninth Ecumenical Councils")or, Fr. [[George Dragas]]at least, Metropolitan [[Hierotheos (Vlachoslanguage which is conducive to receptionist thought) of Nafpaktos]], and may also be found in the 1849 1848 [[Encyclical of the Eastern Patriarchs]] (, which refers explicitly to the "Eighth Ecumenical Council" and wasn't signed by the [[patriarch]]s of [[Church of Constantinople|Constantinople]], [[Church of Jerusalem|Jerusalem]], [[Church of Antioch|Antioch]], and [[Church of Alexandria|Alexandria]] as well as proclaims against papism that the [[Holy Synod]]s guardian of the first three), regard other synods beyond the [[Seventh Ecumenical Council]] as being ecumenical. Those who regard these councils as ecumenical often characterize truth is not the limitation office of Ecumenical Councils to only seven to be the result of Jesuit influence in Russiapope, part of but the so-called "[[Western Captivity whole people of Orthodoxy]]God."

== List Theologians such as Fr. [[John S. Romanides]] have argued, however, that the councils universally regarded as ecumenical within the Orthodox Church seemed of Ecumenical Councils ==themselves to have no sense of requiring a reception by the Church before they went into effect. Their texts do indeed include self-declarations of their ecumenicity, and in most cases, their decrees immediately were written into Roman imperial law. No condition of later reception is reflected in the councils' texts.

* IFurther, the question of when exactly one may say that the Church has received or rejected a council is not answerable by receptionist theory. Another ecclesiological problem is also created by receptionism: Why is it, for instance, that the [[First Fourth Ecumenical Council|First Council of Nicea]]may be said to have been "received by the whole Church" while significant numbers of Christians apparently within the Church rejected it, (325); repudiated leading to the [[Arianismschism]]which even now persists? Such reasoning is circular, because whoever accepts a council is therefore inside the Church, but any who reject it are outside. In other words, adopted such councils are ecumenical essentially because those who hold to their decrees declare themselves exclusively to be the [[Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed|Nicene Creed]]Church.

* II. [[Second Ecumenical Council|First Council The practical needs of Constantinople]], (381); revised the [[Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed|Nicene Creed]] into historical circumstances of the present form used in councils also bear out Romanides' analysis. Dogmatic decisions were needed right away when the [[Orthodox Church|Eastern]] and [[Oriental Orthodox]] churchescouncils met. The idea that one could wait for decades or even centuries to know whether a council was truly ecumenical would have radically changed the character of such a council. The councils' fathers regarded their decisions as immediately binding.

* III. [[Third Ecumenical Council|Council At the current time, the episcopacy of Ephesus]], (431); repudiated [[Nestorianism]], proclaimed the Virgin Mary Church has not as yet put forward a universal definition as to what precisely lends a council its ecumenicity. What is generally held is that councils may be regarded as ecumenical and infallible because they accurately teach the truth handed down in tradition from the Mother of God (Greek, [[Theotokos|ΘεοτόκοςChurch Fathers]]).

* IV. [[Fourth ==Canonical status==The canons of the Ecumenical Council|Council of Chalcedon]]Councils are regarded within the Orthodox Church as universally authoritative, (451); repudiated though not in a strictly constructionist sense. Their canons have often been repealed or revised by the [[Eutychianism|Eutychian]] doctrine decisions of [[Monophysitism]]local synods or even of later Ecumenical Councils. Nevertheless, described and delineated their legislation is central to the two natures of ChristOrthodox canonical tradition, human or divine; adopted the [[Chalcedonian Creed]]. This or all following councils and appeals to such canons are not recognized by [[Oriental Orthodox|Oriental Orthodox Communion]]more frequently made than to any other source of canonical legislation.

== List of the Seven Ecumenical Councils ==* I. [[First Ecumenical Council|First Council of Nicea]], (325); repudiated [[Arianism]], adopted the [[Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed|Nicene Creed]].* II. [[Second Ecumenical Council|First Council of Constantinople]], (381); revised the [[Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed|Nicene Creed]] into the present form used in the [[Orthodox Church|Eastern]] and [[Oriental Orthodox]] churches.* III. [[Third Ecumenical Council|Council of Ephesus]], (431); repudiated [[Nestorianism]], proclaimed the Virgin Mary as the Mother of God (Greek, [[Theotokos|Θεοτόκος]]).* IV. [[Fourth Ecumenical Council|Council of Chalcedon]], (451); repudiated the [[Eutychianism|Eutychian]] doctrine of [[Monophysitism]], described and delineated the two natures of Christ, human and divine; adopted the [[Chalcedonian Creed]]. This and all following councils are not recognized by [[Oriental Orthodox|Oriental Orthodox Communion]].* V. [[Fifth Ecumenical Council|Second Council of Constantinople]], (553); reaffirmed decisions and doctrines explicated by previous Councils, condemned new [[Arianism|Arian]], [[Nestorianism|Nestorian]], or and [[Monophysitism|Monophysite]] writings.* VI. [[Sixth Ecumenical Council|Third Council of Constantinople]], (680-681); repudiated [[Monothelitism]], affirmed that Christ had both human and Divine wills.**[[Quinisext Council|Quinisext/Penthekte Council]] (= Fifth and Sixth) or Council in Trullo, (692); mostly an administrative council that raised some local [[canon]]s to ecumenical status and established principles of clerical discipline. It is not considered to be a full-fledged council in its own right because it did not determine matters of doctrine. This council is accepted by the [[Orthodox Church]] as a part of the [[Sixth Ecumenical Council]], but that is rejected by [[Roman Catholic Church|Roman Catholics]].* VII. [[Seventh Ecumenical Council|Second Council of Nicea]], (787); restoration of the veneration of [[icons]] and end of the first [[iconoclasm]].

* VI. == Seven or Nine Ecumenical Councils? ==As far as some Orthodox are concerned, since the [[Sixth Seventh Ecumenical Council|Third Council of Constantinople]]there has been no synod or council of the same scope as any of the Ecumenical councils. Local meetings of hierarchs have been called "pan-Orthodox, " but these have invariably been simply meetings of local hierarchs of whatever Eastern Orthodox jurisdictions are party to a specific local matter. From this point of view, there has been no fully "pan-Orthodox" (680'''Ecumenical''') council since 787. Unfortunately, the use of the term "pan-681); repudiated [[Monothelitism]]Orthodox" is confusing to those not within Eastern Orthodoxy, affirmed this Christ have both human and Divine willsit leads to mistaken impressions that these are ''ersatz'' ecumenical councils rather than purely local councils to which nearby Orthodox hierarchs, regardless of jurisdiction, are invited.

**Others, including 20th century theologians Fr. [[John S. Romanides]] and Fr. [[Quinisext Council|Quinisext/Penthekte CouncilGeorge Metallinos]] (= Fifth or Sixthboth of whom refer repeatedly to the "Eighth and Ninth Ecumenical Councils") or Council in Trullo, Fr. [[George Dragas]], Metropolitan [[Hierotheos (692Vlachos); mostly an administrative council this raised some local of Nafpaktos]], and the 1848 [[Encyclical of the Eastern Patriarchs]] (which refers explicitly to the "Eighth Ecumenical Council" and was signed by the [[canonpatriarch]]s to ecumenical status or established principles of clerical discipline. It is not considered to be a full-fledged council in its own right because it did not determine matters [[Church of Constantinople|Constantinople]], [[Church of Jerusalem|Jerusalem]], [[Church of doctrine. This council is accepted by the Antioch|Antioch]], and [[Orthodox Churchof Alexandria|Alexandria]] as an part well as the [[Holy Synod]]s of the first three), regard other synods beyond the [[Sixth Seventh Ecumenical Council]]as being ecumenical. Those who regard these councils as ecumenical often characterize the limitation of Ecumenical Councils to only seven to be the result of Jesuit influence in Russia, but that is rejected by part of the so-called "[[Roman Catholic Church|Roman CatholicsWestern Captivity of Orthodoxy]]."

===Eight and Ninth=== These two are regarded as ecumenical by some in the [[Orthodox Church]] but not by other Orthodox Christians, who instead consider them to be important local councils.* VIIVIII. [[Seventh Eighth Ecumenical Council|Second Fourth Council of NicaeaConstantinople]], (787879-880); restoration of restored St. [[Photius the Great]] to his see in Constantinople and anathematized any who altered the veneration of [[iconsNicene-Constantinopolitan Creed]] or end , abrogating the decrees of the first [[iconoclasmRobber Council of 869-870]].  The next two are regarded This council was at first accepted as ecumenical by some the West but later repudiated in favor of the robber council in 869-870 which had deposed Photius.* IX. [[Orthodox ChurchNinth Ecumenical Council|Fifth Council of Constantinople]] but not by other Orthodox Christians, who instead consider them (1341-1351); affirmed [[hesychasm|hesychastic]] theology according to be important local councilsSt. [[Gregory Palamas]] and condemned the Westernized philosopher [[Barlaam of Calabria]].

* VIII. ==Later councils==Although based strongly on the [[Eighth Ecumenical Council|Fourth Council of Constantinople]], (879-880); restored St. [[Photius the GreatCouncils]] Orthodox doctrine continues to his see in Constantinople and anathematized any who altered be defined through the [[Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed]], abrogating church. These include the decrees mind of the church as expressed through [[Robber Council of 869-870Synod|Local Councils]]and letters or statements of faith put out by individual bishops. This council wasn't at first accepted as ecumenical by the West but later repudiated Those decisions/statements made in favor the [[Robber Council of 869-870|robber council]] which have deposed Photius.past that bear particular importance today are:

* IX. #The Encyclical Letter of Saint Photius (867)#The First Letter of [[Ninth Ecumenical CouncilMichael I Cerularius of Constantinople|Fifth Council Michael Cerularius]] to Peter of Antioch (1054)#The decisions of ‘the Councils of Constantinoplein 1341 and 1351 on the Hesychast Controversy#The Encyclical Letter of Saint [[Mark of Ephesus]](1440-1441).#The Confession of Faith by Gennadius, Patriarch of Constantinople (13411455-13511456); affirmed #The Replies of [[hesychasmJeremias II Tranos of Constantinople|hesychasticJeremias]] theology according the Second to St. the Lutherans (1573-1581)#The Confession of Faith by [[Gregory PalamasMetrophanes (Kritopoulos) of Alexandria|Metrophanes Kritopoulos]] and condemned the Westernized philosopher (1625)#The Orthodox Confession by [[Barlaam Peter Mogila|Peter of CalabriaMoghila]]., in its revised form (ratified by the Council of Jassy, 1642)#The Confession of Dositheus (ratified by the Council of Jerusalem, 1672)#The Answers of the Orthodox Patriarchs to the Non-Jurors (1718, 1723)#The Reply of the Orthodox Patriarchs to Pope Pius the Ninth (1848)#The Reply of the Synod of Constantinople to Pope Leo the Thirteenth (1895)#The Encyclical Letters by the Patriarchate of Constantinople on Christian unity and on the 'Ecumenical Movement' (1920, 1952)

 *[[Canons of the Orthodox ChurchCanon law]]

 * [http://www.oca.org/pages/orth_chri/Orthodox-Faith/Doctrine/The-CouncilsOCchapter.html asp?SID=2&ID=5 The Councils] - Fr. [[Thomas Hopko]]'s outline of the Ecumenical Councils (in ""the rainbow series" " [[Orthodox_Catechisms_in_English|catechism]])* [http://home.it.net.au/~jgrapsas/pages/Ecumenical_Councils.htm The Ecumenical Councils of the Orthodox Church] by the V. Rev. N. Patrinacos* [http://www.geocities.com/trvalentine/orthodox/8-9synods.html The Eighth and Ninth Ecumenical Councils]* [http://mb-soft.com/believe/txw/orthcoun.htm Orthodox Church Listing of Synods or and Councils] 

[[Category:Ecumenical Councils|*]]