Ecumenical Councils of the Catholic Church

The first ecumenical council was held in the city of _______________________.

• Rome

• Ephesus

• Nicaea

• Constantinople

This council repudiated the iconoclastic heresy and restored the veneration of icons.

• First Council of Constantinople

• Second Council of Nicaea

• Council of Chalcedon

• Second Council of the Lateran

This council revised the creed; and we still profess this statement of belief at Mass today.

• Second Vatican Council

• First Council of Nicaea

• First Council of Constantinople

• First Vatican Council

Total # of ecumenical councils held in the nearly 2000 year history of the Catholic Church.

• 120

• 21

• 57

• 3

This council attempted to reunite the Roman Catholic Church with the Eastern Orthodox Church.

• Council of Vienne

• Council of Constance

• First Council of Lyon

• Second Council of Lyons

This council responded to challenges of the Protestant revolution and brought about needed reform in disciplinary practices.

What was the most recent ecumenical council of the Catholic Church?

This Council occurred shortly before the Protestant Reformation and attempted to bring about much-needed reform in the Church. Unfortunately, it was relatively weak and ineffective in bringing about sufficient reform, and led to the eventual separation of Martin Luther from the Church.

• Council of Trent

• Fifth Lateran Council

• Fourth Lateran Council

• 1st Vatican Council

This council described the hypostatic union of the divine and human natures of Christ.

• Third Council of Constantinople

• Council of Ephesus

• Second Council of Constantinople

• Council of Chalcedon

This council repudiated the heresy of Arianism and declared that Christ is one in substance with the Father.

• Council of Ephesus

• 2nd Vatican Council

• First Council of Nicaea

• Second Council of Nicaea