Reasons and Importance • Must be Ecumenical ALL Church Reps present• New Issues affecting the Whole Church• To combat Heresies• Used as Ref. for contemporary issues (e.g.

D.Code, filique & www.arian-catholic.org) • Used to declare Truth and not because they’re

ancient hence the proclamation of the Creed• Effects were noticed many years after• All relate to my salvation

The Council of Nicaea(May 325 A.D, 318/19 Bishops)

* Five Issues discussed, 20 Canons 1. The Arian Heresy (318 in Alex)

– Monotheism vs. Polytheism • Teaching: Christ is

– Created (the First Creature)– Not co-eternal with the Father– Not equal in nature to the Father (who is self-sufficient &

alone God) hence only “Spiritual Son” and not “homoousios” (Consubstantial or Co-essential)

• Arius accuses Alexander of Polytheism (being anti-Trinitarian)

2. Heretical Baptism. 3. Determine Easter Time.

4. Ex.Com of Melitians. 5. Marriage of Clergy.

Two Councils of Constantinople (381 AD, 150 Bishops)

* Four Issues discussed, 7 Canons 1. 1st Council: Imperial support switches to the Nicene party under

Theodosius I & End of Arianism in Empire (St Greg.Theo)

2. 2nd Council: Macedonian Heresy (is H. Spirit God?)• Influenced by Arianism in defence of Monotheism• St Basil and Gregory the Theologian combat “pneumatomachsim”

2.1 Other Heresies – Apollinarism the human will: solution to the “union” of Jesus Christ who alone is sinless– Sabellirism Modelalist in defence of Monotheism– Many others

3. Confirmed the 15th Canon of Nicaea (Canon 2) – Re: Non-interference of other bishopric jurisdictionsUnless agreed by Local Synod

4. See of Const. will be second after Rome– Seed of great contention between Alex and Const which lasted till Chalcedon and beyond

The Council of Ephesus (June 431 AD, 200 Bishops)

*Two heresies Discussed, 8 Canons with 12 Anathemas

• Major political and theological controversy

1. Pelagianism Man does not inherited a fallen nature. Denying divine grace

2. Nestorian refusal to call St Mary the “Theotokos” (Mother of God) but rather “Christotokos” (Mother of Christ)

• Separation of the Person of Jesus Christ into two separate natures (suffering to the human Son of Man & miracles and wonders to the Divine Word Son of God)

• St Cyril of Alexandria (Pillar of Faith) devised one formula to confirm the “union” of the ONE GODMAN: “One Incarnate nature of the Word of God”

• Our faith expresses our worship & our worship expresses our faith (eg, Intro to Creed, Trisagion & Finial Confession)