---
title: "The Ecumenical Councils — Church history"
description: "The seven Ecumenical Councils (325–787) formulated the dogmas of the Trinity, of Christ and of the veneration of icons."
url: "https://spas.life/en/orthodoxy/history/history-councils"
language: "en"
---

Church history · 325–787

# The Ecumenical Councils

The seven Ecumenical Councils (325–787) formulated the dogmas of the Trinity, of Christ and of the veneration of icons.

## Contents

1. [The seven Councils](https://spas.life/en/orthodoxy/history/history-councils#s1)
2. [Significance](https://spas.life/en/orthodoxy/history/history-councils#s2)
3. [The Triumph of Orthodoxy](https://spas.life/en/orthodoxy/history/history-councils#s3)

## The seven Councils

Nicaea I (325): condemnation of Arianism, the Creed, the Son consubstantial with the Father. Constantinople I (381): the teaching on the Holy Spirit, completion of the Creed. Ephesus (431): the Virgin Mary is Theotokos; condemnation of Nestorius. Chalcedon (451): two natures in Christ “without confusion, change, division or separation”. Constantinople II (553) and III (680–681): refinement of Christology, two wills in Christ. Nicaea II (787): restoration of the veneration of icons.

## Significance

The Councils are the highest authority in the Orthodox Church after Scripture; their decisions are held to express the faith of the whole Church. The separation from the non-Chalcedonian (Oriental) Churches after 451 continues, although theological dialogue goes on.

## The Triumph of Orthodoxy

The final victory over iconoclasm in 843 is celebrated on the first Sunday of Great Lent.

[Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Emperor Constantine the Great](https://spas.life/en/orthodoxy/history/saints/constantine)

## Related

- [The Symbol of Faith (Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed)](https://spas.life/en/orthodoxy/prayers/creed)
- First Sunday of Great Lent. Triumph of Orthodoxy
- [Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Emperor Constantine the Great](https://spas.life/en/orthodoxy/history/saints/constantine)
- [The First Ecumenical Council (Nicaea, 325)](https://spas.life/en/orthodoxy/history/history-council1)
- [The Second Ecumenical Council (Constantinople, 381)](https://spas.life/en/orthodoxy/history/history-council2)
- [The Third Ecumenical Council (Ephesus, 431)](https://spas.life/en/orthodoxy/history/history-council3)
- [The Fourth Ecumenical Council (Chalcedon, 451)](https://spas.life/en/orthodoxy/history/history-council4)
- [The Fifth Ecumenical Council (Constantinople, 553)](https://spas.life/en/orthodoxy/history/history-council5)
- [The Sixth Ecumenical Council (Constantinople, 680–681)](https://spas.life/en/orthodoxy/history/history-council6)
- [The Seventh Ecumenical Council (Nicaea, 787)](https://spas.life/en/orthodoxy/history/history-council7)