Ecumenical council
A universal meeting of bishops to rule on Christian doctrine and church administration.
Quick Facts: Who was Ecumenical council?
- Subject:
- Ecumenical council
- Known for:
- A universal meeting of bishops to rule on Christian doctrine and church administration.
- Verified Source:
- 2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives
Origins & Early Life
An ecumenical council, also called general council, is a meeting of bishops and other church authorities to consider and rule on questions of Christian doctrine, administration, discipline, and other matters in which those entitled to vote are convoked from the whole world (oikoumene) and which secures the approbation of the whole Church. The word "ecumenical" derives from the Late Latin oecumenicus "general, universal", from Greek oikoumenikos "from the whole world", from he oikoumene ge "the inhabited world" (as known to the ancient Greeks); the Greeks and their neighbors, considered as developed human society (as opposed to barbarian lands); in later use "the Roman world" and in the Christian sense in ecclesiastical Greek, from oikoumenos, present passive participle of oikein ("inhabit"), from oikos ("house, habitation"). The first seven ecumenical councils, recognised by both the eastern and western denominations comprising Chalcedonian Christianity, were convoked by Roman Emperors, who also enforced the decisions of those councils within the state church of the Roman Empire. Starting with the second ecumenical council, noteworthy schisms led to non-participation by some members of what had previously been considered a single Christian Church. Thus, some parts of Christendom did not attend later councils, or attended but did not accept the results.
Pivotal Works & Achievements
Bishops belonging to what became known as the Church of the East participated in the first two councils. Bishops belonging to what became known as Oriental Orthodoxy participated in the first five councils, but rejected the decisions of the fifth and did not attend any subsequent ecumenical councils. Bishops belonging to what then became known as the Catholic Church and Eastern Orthodox Church participated in seven ecumenical councils, as described below, but not the fourth one of those that the Oriental Orthodox bishops participated in. Acceptance of councils as ecumenical and authoritative varies between different Christian denominations. Disputes over Christological and other questions have led certain branches to reject some councils that others accept.
Enduring Legacy & Impact
The Church of the East accepts as ecumenical the first two councils. Oriental Orthodox Churches accept the first three, while some also accept the fourth one, the Second Council of Ephesus. Both the Catholic Church and Eastern Orthodox Church recognize in whole or in part seven councils held between the 4th to the 9th centuries as ecumenical. Some Eastern Orthodox also accept one later council as ecumenical. The Catholic Church has continued to hold general councils of the bishops in full communion with the Pope, and recognizes a total of twenty-one councils as ecumenical.
Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Ecumenical council
True or False: “The concept of 'oikoumene' in the context of ecumenical councils originally referred to the entire known world, including non-Christian lands.”
Answer (FALSE ❌): Originally, oikoumenene referred specifically to the inhabited world as known to the ancient Greeks and their neighbors, excluding barbarian lands.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Ecumenical council
Who was Ecumenical council and what are their primary contributions?
A universal meeting of bishops to rule on Christian doctrine and church administration. Origins & Early Life: An ecumenical council, also called general council, is a meeting of bishops and other church authorities to consider and rule on questions of Christian doctrine, administration, discipline, and other matters in which those entitled to vote are convoked from the whole world (oikoumene) and which secures the approbation of the whole Church. The word "ecumenical" derives from the Late Latin oecumenicus "general, universal", from Greek oikoumenikos "from the whole world", from he oikoumene ge "the inhabited world" (as known to the ancient Greeks); the Greeks and their neighbors, considered as developed human society (as opposed to barbarian lands); in later use "the Roman world" and in the Christian sense in ecclesiastical Greek, from oikoumenos, present passive participle of oikein ("inhabit"), from oikos ("house, habitation"). The first seven ecumenical councils, recognised by both the eastern and western denominations comprising Chalcedonian Christianity, were convoked by Roman Emperors, who also enforced the decisions of those councils within the state church of the Roman Empire. Starting with the second ecumenical council, noteworthy schisms led to non-participation by some members of what had previously been considered a single Christian Church. Thus, some parts of Christendom did not attend later councils, or attended but did not accept the results.
Where can I read more verified chronological archives on Ecumenical council?
Explore verified primary sources, interactive timelines, and contemporary figures in the 2Day Chrono-Wiki encyclopedia or review the original entry on Wikipedia.
Source: Wikipedia