Councils of the Church

• 1912 Catholic Encyclopedia: (Read with exceptional caution)

• Fr. N. Patrinacos: The Seven Ecumenical Councils. A collection of notes. --- St. Mary of Egypt Library
• T. R. Valentine: Orthodox Church Listing of Synods and Councils. --- Believe

• Philip Hughes: The Church in Crisis -- A History of the General Councils, (1961). Garden City: Hanover House, 1961. "Church" of course meaning "Roman Catholic Church"; written in the era of Vatican II.

• Apostolic Council of Jerusalem, ca. 50:
• Local Councils of Carthage, 251-8:
• [Rejected] Local Council of Elvira, ca. 303:
• Local Council of Antioch which condemned Paul of Samosata:
• Local Council of Ancyra, 314:
• Local Council of Neocæsarea, ca. 315:
• FIRST ECUMENICAL COUNCIL, Nicæa, 325: Repudiated Arianism, proclaimed the Son of one essence with the Father, fixed the date of Pascha.
• Local Council of Gangra, 325-381:
• Local Council of Antioch in Encæniis, 341:
• Local Council of Sardica, 343:
• Local Council of Laodicea in Phrygia Pacatiana, 343-381:
• SECOND ECUMENICAL COUNCIL, Constantinople, 381: Completed the Nicene Creed; defended the divinity of the Holy Spirit, opposing Macedonius.
• Local Council at Constantinople, 382:
• Local Council of Constantinople, 394:
• Local Council of Carthage, 419:
• THIRD ECUMENICAL COUNCIL, Ephesus, 431: Declared the Virgin Mary to be Theotokos, opposing Nestorius. Also opposed Pelagianism and other heresies.
• Local Council at Constantinople, 448:
• [Rejected] "Ecumenical" Council of Ephesus, [the "Latrocinium" or "Robber Synod"], 448:
• FOURTH ECUMENICAL COUNCIL, Chalcedon, 451: Declared Christ to have two natures, contrary to Eutyches. This Council is rejected by the Non-Chalcedonian Orthodox, who however also oppose Eutychian Monophysitism.
• Local Council of Orange, 529: The purpose of this Western Council was to condemn the Semi-Pelagian heresy, but most Orthodox feel it went too far and reject it.
• FIFTH ECUMENICAL COUNCIL, Constantinople, 553: Condemned Origen and the Three Chapters.
• Local Council of Whitby, 663-664: Attempted to resolve disputes between the Celtic and Roman churches over a variety of issues but principally over the date of Easter.
• Local Council of Toledo, 675: This Council used filioquist language and is rejected by most Orthodox.
• SIXTH ECUMENICAL COUNCIL, Constantinople, 680-681: Proclaimed that Christ had two wills.
• The Quinsext Council "in Trullo", Constantinople, 692: Attempted to consolidate the work of the Councils, in particular by ratifying the canons of certain local synods as ecumenical.
• [Rejected] "Ecumenical" Council of Constantinople, 754: Condemned the veneration of ikons.
• SEVENTH ECUMENICAL COUNCIL, Nicæa, 787: Endorsed the veneration of ikons.
• [Rejected] Local Council of Frankfurt, 794: Semi-iconoclast Carolingian council.
• [Rejected] Local Council of Aachen, 794: Filioquist Carolingian council.
• Local Council of Constantinople, 861:
• Local Council of Constantinople, 867:
• [Rejected] "Ecumenical" Council of Constantinople, 869-870: Condemned St. Photius.
• Imperial Council of Constantinople, 879-880: Rehabilitated Photius, condemned the Filioque. Considered by some to be the "Eighth Ecumenical Council", but this designation has never been officially or widely adopted.