List of Universally Accepted Authoritative Synods After the Seven Ecumenical Councils

Discuss the Canons of the Orthodox Church and the Anathemas, especially those against various heresies that have arisen since the beginning of Christ's Holy Orthodox Church. All Forum Rules Apply. No Polemics. No heated discussions. No name-calling.


Agios_Irineos
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Re: List of Universally Accepted Authoritative Synods After the Seven Ecumenical Councils

Post by Agios_Irineos »

Also, it is worthy of note, that many GOC/TOC groups would consider the Photian and Palamite councils to be Ecumenical, thus holding that there are nine, not seven, Ecumenical Councils.

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BenjaminMcCraw
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Re: List of Universally Accepted Authoritative Synods After the Seven Ecumenical Councils

Post by BenjaminMcCraw »

Master bless! I listed all of the councils that I know of after the Seventh Ecumenical Council that teach doctrine that all the Orthodox accept. I know that the Photian and Palamite synods are sometimes referred to as the Eighth and Ninth Ecumenical Councils as you brought up. On that topic there is something I do not know that I would be grateful if you could teach me. I generally understood a synod is an Ecumenical Council only if it has all three of these traits.

  1. Called by the Roman emperor, thus "Imperial" or "Ecumenical" or "Oikoumenē" the whole inhabited Christian world under the Emperor
  2. Taught something specific in the true orthodoxy faith, that is what was believed by everyone, always, and everywhere. But defining it in new more precise terms against a new heresy that perverted the faith as taught by the apostles and their disciples and so on
  3. The definitions and anathemas of this council is accepted by the entire Orthodox world, that is every autocephalous and autonomous synod of bishops and their flocks

By that definition why is it only the Photian and Palamite synods are also considered Ecumenical? Why are these synods not considered Ecumenical?

861 Synod of Constantinople (First Second Council)
1082 Synod of Constantinople
1157 Synod of Constantinople (Blachernæ)
1166 Synod of Constantinople
1285 Synod of Constantinople (Blachernæ)

Their definitions and anathemas are in the Synodikon of Orthodoxy, what am I missing Master?

Agios_Irineos
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Re: List of Universally Accepted Authoritative Synods After the Seven Ecumenical Councils

Post by Agios_Irineos »

An Ecumenical council generally is marked by resolution of a Christological/Trinitarian controversy dividing the Church. This is true of the Photian councils with rejected the Filioque, and the Palamite councils which resolved the Balaamite attacks on energies/essence of God.

You could contrast this with the 1082 Council you mentioned which condemned a philosopher for heretical philosophies that touched on matters of Christian belief.

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