An ecumenical council is an official gathering of representatives of the whole Church to settle religious issues. Today, all three of the major branches of Christianity; Orthodox, Catholics and Protestants, recognize first seven ecumenical councils which were gathered in Asia Minor and in Constantinople (modern Istanbul) between 325 - 787 AD in order to reach a consensus for the undivided church.
| Council | Place and Date | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| First Ecumenical Council | Nicaea I, 325 AD | Formulated the First Part of the Creed. Defining the divinity of the Son of God. |
| Second Ecumenical Council | Constantinople I, 381 AD | Formulated the Second Part of the Creed, defining the divinity of the Holy Spirit. |
| Third Ecumenical Council | Ephesus, 431 AD | Defined Christ as the Incarnate Word of God and Mary as Theotokos. |
| Fourth Ecumenical Council | Chalcedon, 451 AD | Defined Christ as Perfect God and Perfect God and Perfect Man in One Person. |
| Fifth Ecumenical Council | Constantinople II, 553 AD | Reconfirmed the Doctrines of the Trinity and Christ. |
| Sixth Ecumenical Council | Constantinople III, 680 AD | Affirmed the True Humanity of Jesus by insisting upon the reality of His Human will and action. |
| Qinisext Council (Trullo) | Constantinople IV, 692 AD | Completed the 5th and 6th Ecumenical Councils. |
| Seventh Ecumenical Council | Nicaea II, 787 AD | Affirmed the propriety of icons as genuine expressions of the Christian Faith. |