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The '''Fourth Ecumenical Council''' took place in [[Chalcedon]] in 451 AD, and is also known as the '''Council of Chalcedon'''. It ruled that Jesus Christ is "in two natures" in opposition to the doctrine of [[Monophysitism]]. The council also issued [[Canon|canons ]] dealing mainly with the organization of the Church. The respective acceptance and rejection of this council led to the break between the Chalcedonian Orthodox (the "Eastern Orthodox Church") and the Non-Chalcedonians (the "[[Oriental Orthodox Church]]").

In AD 449, between the [[Third Ecumenical Council|third]] and fourth Councils, another council was held in which St. [[Cyril of Alexandria|Cyril]]'s successor, [[Dioscorus of Alexandria]], "insisted that there is in Christ only one nature (physis)". It is a position commonly called [[Monophysitism|Monophysite]], and it states that the Savior "is from two natures, but after His Incarnation there is only 'one incarnate nature of God the Word'." St. [[Cyril of Alexandria|Cyril ]] himself had used those words, but Dioscorus omitted many of the balancing statements that St. [[Cyril of Alexandria|Cyril ]] had made. And so, only two years later, Emperor [[Marcian]] called a new gathering of Bishops [[bishop]]s to decide the matter. This gathering, in AD 451 is what is considered the fourth great Council.

Concerning the visible organization of the Church, Canon 28 confirmed Canon 3 of the [[Second Ecumenical Council|Second Council]] and left the assignment of Constantinople, or New Rome, second in honor after 'old' Rome. This was a blow to the Alexandrians and their desire to "rule supreme" in the east. Leo of Rome rejected this canon, but the east has always recognized its validity. The Council also freed Jerusalem from the [[jurisdiction ]] of [[Caesarea]] and gave it the fifth place in honor, thus creating what is known by the Orthodox as the '[[Pentarchy]]'. This Pentarchy settled the order of precedence. In order of rank:

All five sees [[see]]s claimed [[Apostles|Apostolic]] foundation. The first four were the most important cities in the empire, and Jerusalem was added because it is where Christ suffered and rose from the dead. Also, it was during this council that the bishops in each city received the title "Patriarch." The Patriarchates then divided the whole of the known world into spheres of jurisdiction, except for Cyprus, which had been granted independence by the third Council and remains self-governing to this day.