Overview of the Seven Ecumenical Councils

These flashcards cover the key concepts and terms related to the seven ecumenical councils discussed in the lecture.

An ecumenical council is a big meeting of all bishops in the world to rule on a __ dispute.

theological

Heresy is defined as __ that contradicts the truth.

false teaching

The term 'Orthodox' means __ belief.

right

The term 'heterodox' means __ belief.

other

Heresy is considered dangerous because it can __ the church.

split

The first ecumenical council was the first council of __.

Nicaea

The heresy condemned at the Council of Nicaea was __.

Arianism

Arius denied the __ of Christ.

divinity

Macedonianism denies the divinity of the __.

Holy Spirit

The nature of Christ includes both a divine nature and a __ nature.

human

The correct Orthodox position that states the divine and human natures are united is called the __ union.

hypostatic

The Nestorian heresy was condemned at the __ council, also known as the Council of Ephesus.

third

The Monophysite heresy was condemned at the __ council, also known as the Council of Chalcedon.

fourth

Monoenergism denies that there are two different __ of Christ.

energies

Monothelicism denies that there are two different __ of Christ.

wills

The seventh ecumenical council condemned __.

iconoclasm

Iconoclasts are opposed to __ veneration.

icon

First Council

“First Council of Nicaea,“ 325, took place in Nicaea, refuted Arianism

Why was Arius a heretic

denied divinity of Christ

who was NOT a saint that Arius fought with over his beliefs

St. Peter

Second Council

“First Council of Constantinople,“ 381, took place in Constantinople, refuted Macedonianism

Macedonianism

heresy in which denies divinity of Holy Spirit

What did Chalcedonians believe about Christ’s nature?

Christ’s divine and human natures are bound by a hypostatic union — in one person

What did Nestorians believe about Christ’s nature?

Christ’s natures are separate and full, with two distinct persons.

What did Monophysites believe about Christ’s nature?

Christ’s two natures make up a new blended nature; pac-man analogy, divinity ‘swallows‘ humanity.

What does scripture (Colossians 2:9, “whole fullness of deity dwells bodily“) say about the beliefs? In other words, which belief is correct?

This scripture supports Chalcedonian belief, affirming that in Christ, divine and human natures coexist fully within one person in hypostatic union.

Third Council

“Council of Ephesus,“ 431, took place in Ephesus, condemned Nestorianism

Fourth Council

“Council of Chalcedon,“ 451, took place in Chalcedon, condemned Monophysitism

Fifth Council

“Second Council of Constantinople,“ 553, took place in Constantinople, condemned Nestorianism again

How can the hypostatic union be best understood through Christ’s ability and will?

Christ acts with human and divine ability, with his human will in perfect submission to his divine will.

Monoenergism

asserts that Christ can only act through one energy or ability, divine or human

Monothelitism

asserts that Christ has two natures but only one will, divine or human

Sixth Council

“Third Council of Constantinople,” 680, took place in Constantinople, condemned Monoenergism and Monothelitism

Seventh Council

“Second Council of Nicaea,“ 787, took place in Nicaea, condemned iconoclasm

What is the Orthodox perspective on icons?

They love them!

Iconoclasts

The people that are like boo stinky icons