First seven ecumenical councils

Short description: Early Christian governance councils

Icon depicting the Emperor Constantine (centre), accompanied by the bishops of the First Council of Nicaea (325), holding the Niceno–Constantinopolitan Creed of 381

In the history of Christianity, the first seven ecumenical councils are as follows: the First Council of Nicaea in 325, the First Council of Constantinople in 381, the Council of Ephesus in 431, the Council of Chalcedon in 451, the Second Council of Constantinople in 553, the Third Council of Constantinople from 680 to 681 and finally, the Second Council of Nicaea in 787.

These seven events represented an attempt by Church leaders to reach an orthodox consensus, restore peace[1] and develop a unified Christendom.[2] Among Eastern Christians the Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, and Church of the East (Assyrian) churches and among Western Christians the Roman Catholic, Anglican, Utrecht and Polish National Old Catholic, and some Scandinavian Lutheran churches all trace the legitimacy of their clergy by apostolic succession back to this period and beyond, to the earlier period referred to as the Early Church.

This era begins with the First Council of Nicaea in AD 325, convened by the emperor Constantine I following his victory over Licinius and consolidation of his reign over the Roman Empire. Nicaea I enunciated the Nicene Creed that in its original form and as modified by the First Council of Constantinople of 381 was seen by all later councils as the touchstone of orthodoxy on the doctrine of the Trinity.

The Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches accept all seven of these councils as legitimate ecumenical councils. The Non-Chalcedonian Oriental Orthodox Churches accept only the first three, while the Non-Ephesian Church of the East accepts only the first two. There is also one additional council, the so-called Quinisext Council of Trullo held in AD 692 between the sixth and seventh ecumenical councils, which issued organizational, liturgical and canonical rules but did not discuss theology. Only within Eastern Orthodoxy is its authority commonly considered ecumenical; however, the Orthodox do not number it among the seven general councils, but rather count it as a continuation of the fifth and sixth. The Roman Catholic Church does not accept the Quinisext Council,[3][4] but both the Roman magisterium as well as a minority of Eastern Orthodox hierarchs and theological writers consider there to have been further ecumenical councils after the first seven (see the Fourth Council of Constantinople, Fifth Council of Constantinople, and fourteen additional post-schism ecumenical councils canonical for Catholics).

## Contents

* 1 The councils
* 1.1 First Council of Nicaea (325)
* 1.1.1 Constantine commissions Bibles
* 1.2 First Council of Constantinople (381)
* 1.3 First Council of Ephesus (431)
* 1.3.1 Aftermath
* 1.4 Council of Chalcedon (451)
* 1.4.1 Aftermath
* 1.5 Second Council of Constantinople (553)
* 1.5.1 Three Chapters
* 1.5.2 Council proceedings
* 1.5.3 After the council
* 1.6 Third Council of Constantinople (680–681)
* 1.6.1 Quinisext Council
* 1.7 Second Council of Nicaea (787)
* 2 Subsequent events
* 3 See also
* 4 References
* 5 External links

## The councils

These seven ecumenical councils are:

Council  | Date  | Convoked by  | Location  | President  | Attendance (approx.)  | Main topics

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First Council of Nicaea | 20 May – 19 June 325  | Emperor Constantine I  | Imperial Palace of Nicaea
[ ⚑ ] 40°25′38.8″N 29°42′42.4″E﻿ / ﻿40.427444°N 29.711778°E﻿ / 40.427444; 29.711778 | Hosius of Corduba (and Emperor Constantine)  | 318  | Arianism, the nature of Christ, celebration of Passover (Easter), ordination of eunuchs, prohibition of kneeling on Sundays and from Easter to Pentecost, validity of baptism by heretics, lapsed Christians, sundry other matters.
First Council of Constantinople | May–July 381  | Emperor Theodosius I  | Hagia Irene
[ ⚑ ] 37°56′41.78″N 27°20′21.1″E﻿ / ﻿37.9449389°N 27.339194°E﻿ / 37.9449389; 27.339194 | Timothy of Alexandria, Meletius of Antioch, Gregory Nazianzus, and Nectarius of Constantinople  | 150  | Arianism, Apollinarism, Sabellianism, Holy Spirit, successor to Meletius
Council of Ephesus | 22 June – 31 July 431  | Emperor Theodosius II  | Church of Mary
[ ⚑ ] 41°0′35.3″N 28°58′52.9″E﻿ / ﻿41.009806°N 28.981361°E﻿ / 41.009806; 28.981361 | Cyril of Alexandria, Acacius of Melitene, Theodotus of Ancyra[5] | 200–250  | Nestorianism, Theotokos, Pelagianism
Council of Chalcedon | 8 October – 1 November 451  | Emperor Marcian  | Church of Saint Euphemia
[ ⚑ ] 40°59′26.4″N 29°01′29.8″E﻿ / ﻿40.990667°N 29.024944°E﻿ / 40.990667; 29.024944 | Papal Legates of Pope Leo I: Paschasinus of Lilybaeum, Lucentius of Asculanum, Julian of Cos, and the presbyter Boniface. (Formal presidency)[6] | 520  | The judgments issued at the Second Council of Ephesus in 449, the alleged offences of Bishop Dioscorus of Alexandria, the relationship between the divinity and humanity of Christ, many disputes involving particular bishops and sees.
Second Council of Constantinople  | 5 May – 2 June 553  | Emperor Justinian I  | Hagia Sophia
[ ⚑ ] 41°0′30.0″N 28°58′48.0″E﻿ / ﻿41.00833°N 28.98°E﻿ / 41.00833; 28.98 | Eutychius of Constantinople  | 152  | Nestorianism, Monophysitism, Origenism
Third Council of Constantinople  | 7 November 680 – 16 September 681  | Emperor Constantine IV  | Great Palace of Constantinople
[ ⚑ ] 41°0′20.8″N 28°58′37.5″E﻿ / ﻿41.005778°N 28.977083°E﻿ / 41.005778; 28.977083 | Patriarch George I of Constantinople  | 300  | Monothelitism, the human and divine wills of Jesus
Second Council of Nicaea  | 24 September – 23 October 787  | Constantine VI and Empress Irene (as regent)  | Hagia Sophia
[ ⚑ ] 40°25′45.0″N 29°43′11.8″E﻿ / ﻿40.42917°N 29.719944°E﻿ / 40.42917; 29.719944 | Patriarch Tarasios of Constantinople, legates of Pope Adrian I  | 350  | Iconoclasm

### First Council of Nicaea (325)

Main article: Religion:First Council of Nicaea

Emperor Constantine presents a representation of the city of Constantinople as tribute to an enthroned Mary and baby Jesus in this church mosaic. Hagia Sophia, c. 1000).

Emperor Constantine convened this council to settle a controversial issue, the relation between Jesus Christ and God the Father. The Emperor wanted to establish universal agreement on it. Representatives came from across the Empire, subsidized by the Emperor. Previous to this council, the bishops would hold local councils, such as the Council of Jerusalem, but there had been no universal, or ecumenical, council.

The council drew up a creed, the original Nicene Creed, which received nearly unanimous support. The council's description of "God's only-begotten Son", Jesus Christ, as of the same substance with God the Father became a touchstone of Christian Trinitarianism. The council also addressed the issue of dating Easter (see Quartodecimanism and Easter controversy), recognised the right of the See of Alexandria to jurisdiction outside of its own province (by analogy with the jurisdiction exercised by Rome) and the prerogatives of the churches in Antioch and the other provinces[7] and approved the custom by which Jerusalem was honoured, but without the metropolitan dignity.[8]

The Council was opposed by the Arians, and Constantine tried to reconcile Arius, after whom Arianism is named, with the Church. Even when Arius died in 336, one year before the death of Constantine, the controversy continued, with various separate groups espousing Arian sympathies in one way or another.[9] In 359, a double council of Eastern and Western bishops affirmed a formula stating that the Father and the Son were similar in accord with the scriptures, the crowning victory for Arianism.[9] The opponents of Arianism rallied, and the First Council of Constantinople in 381 marked the final victory of Nicene orthodoxy within the Empire, though Arianism had by then spread to the Germanic tribes, among whom it gradually disappeared after the conversion of the Franks to Christianity in 496.[9]

#### Constantine commissions Bibles

Main article: Religion:Fifty Bibles of Constantine

In 331, Constantine I commissioned Eusebius to deliver fifty Bibles for the Church of Constantinople. Athanasius (Apol. Const. 4) recorded Alexandrian scribes around 340 preparing Bibles for Constans. Little else is known, though there is plenty of speculation. For example, it is speculated that this may have provided motivation for canon lists, and that Codex Vaticanus and Codex Sinaiticus are examples of these Bibles. Together with the Peshitta and Codex Alexandrinus, these are the earliest extant Christian Bibles.[10]

### First Council of Constantinople (381)

Hagia Irene is a former church, now a museum, in Istanbul. Commissioned in the 4th century, it ranks as the first church built in Constantinople, and has its original atrium. In 381 the First Council of Constantinople took place in the church. Damaged by an earthquake in the 8th century, its present form largely dates from repairs made at that time.

Main article: Religion:First Council of Constantinople

The council approved the current form of the Nicene Creed used in most Oriental Orthodox churches. The Eastern Orthodox Church uses the council's text but with the verbs expressing belief in the singular: Πιστεύω (I believe) instead of Πιστεύομεν (We believe). The Catholic Church's Latin Church and its liturgies also use the singular and, except in Greek,[11] adds two phrases, Deum de Deo (God from God) and Filioque (and the Son). The form used by the Armenian Apostolic Church, which is part of Oriental Orthodoxy, has many more additions.[12] This fuller creed may have existed before the Council and probably originated from the baptismal creed of Constantinople.[13]

The council also condemned Apollinarism,[14] the teaching that there was no human mind or soul in Christ.[15] It also granted Constantinople honorary precedence over all churches save Rome.[14]

The council did not include Western bishops or Roman legates, but it was later accepted as ecumenical in the West.[14]

### First Council of Ephesus (431)

Theodosius II called the council to settle the Christological controversy surrounding Nestorianism. Nestorius, Patriarch of Constantinople, declared the use of the term Theotokos (Greek: Ἡ Θεοτόκος, "God-Bearer") to be insufficient, preferring to use Christokos.[16] This term had been in use by the early church prior to the outbreak of this controversy.[16] Nestorius affirmed that Christ is in two distinct, separate natures (hypostases) that persist after the union, in contrast to Cyril of Alexandria, who insisted on the unity of the two natures into one.[5]

The council deposed Nestorius, repudiated Nestorianism, and proclaimed the Virgin Mary as the Theotokos.

After quoting the Nicene Creed in its original form, as at the First Council of Nicaea, without the alterations and additions made at the First Council of Constantinople, it declared it "unlawful for any man to bring forward, or to write, or to compose a different (ἑτέραν) Faith as a rival to that established by the holy Fathers assembled with the Holy Ghost in Nicæa."[17]

#### Aftermath

Shortly after Cyril's death, in November 448, a synod at Constantinople condemned Eutyches,[18] an archimandrite (abbot) of a significant monastery near Constantinople,[19] who taught that Christ was not consubstantial with humanity as He had one divine nature that "consumed his humanity as the ocean consumes a drop of vinegar."[20]

In 449, Theodosius II summoned a council at Ephesus, where Eutyches was exonerated and returned to his monastery.[18] This council was later overturned by the Council of Chalcedon and labeled "Latrocinium" (i.e., "Robber Council").[18]

### Council of Chalcedon (451)

A simplified diagram illustrating the Christology of Eutyches, referred to as Monophysitism. It stands in contrast to Dyophysitism, which asserts that two natures subsist separately, and Miaphysitism, which maintains that while the natures unite, a distinction remains between the parts.

Main article: Organization:Council of Chalcedon

The council repudiated the Eutychian doctrine of monophysitism, described and delineated the "Hypostatic Union" and two natures of Christ, human and divine; adopted the Chalcedonian Definition. For those who accept it (Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholics, and most Protestants), it is the Fourth Ecumenical Council (calling the Second Council of Ephesus, which was rejected by this council, the "Robber Synod" or "Robber Council").

#### Aftermath

The Miaphysite faction held another council at Ephesus, the Third Council of Ephesus, in which it condemned the Council of Chalcedon including the Tome of Leo, in addition to Eutychianism, and reaffirmed the 12 Anathemas of Saint Cyril. This was signed by 500-700 bishops.[21][22]

### Second Council of Constantinople (553)

This council condemned certain writings and authors which defended the Christology of Nestorius. This move was instigated by Emperor Justinian in an effort to conciliate the Miaphysite Christians, which made up the majority of the east. It was opposed in the West, and the Popes' acceptance of the council caused a major schism.[23]

#### Three Chapters

Main article: Religion:Three-Chapter Controversy

Prior to the Second Council of Constantinople was a prolonged controversy over the treatment of three subjects, all considered sympathetic to Nestorianism, the heresy that there are two separate persons in the Incarnation of Christ.[24] Emperor Justinian condemned the Three Chapters, hoping to appeal to miaphysite Christians with his anti-Nestorian zeal.[25] Monophysites believe that in the Incarnate Christ there is only one nature (i.e. the divine) not two[20] while miaphysites believe that the two natures of Christ are united as one and are distinct in thought only.

Some eastern patriarchs supported the Emperor, but in the West his interference was resented, and Pope Vigilius resisted his edict on the grounds that it opposed the Chalcedonian decrees. [25] Justinian's policy was in fact an attack on Antiochene theology and the decisions of Chalcedon.[25] The pope assented and condemned the Three Chapters, but protests in the West caused him to retract his condemnation.[25] The emperor called the Second Council of Constantinople to resolve the controversy.[25]

#### Council proceedings

The council, attended mostly by Eastern bishops, condemned the Three Chapters and, indirectly, the Pope Vigilius.[25] It also affirmed Constantinople's intention to remain in communion with Rome.[25]

#### After the council

Vigilius declared his submission to the council, as did his successor, Pope Pelagius I.[25] The council was not immediately recognized as ecumenical in the West, and Milan and Aquileia even broke off communion with Rome over this issue.[23] The schism was not repaired until the late 6th century for Milan and the late 7th century for Aquileia.[23]

Ultimately, the council failed to reconcile the Oriental Orthodox Churches, as it required acceptance of a two-nature formula that contradicted the decisions of the Council of Ephesus. This included the deposition of Dioscorus and Severus, the Patriarchs of Alexandria and Antioch, respectively, as well as the veneration of figures still associated with Nestorianism, such as Ibas of Edessa and Theodore of Mopsuestia.[25][5]

### Third Council of Constantinople (680–681)

The Third Council of Constantinople (680–681) mainly repudiated monothelitism, a doctrine that had gained widespread support since its formulation in 638. The Council condemned both monoenergism and monothelitism as heretical, affirming that Christ possesses two energies and two wills — divine and human.[26]

#### Quinisext Council

Quinisext Council (= Fifth-Sixth Council) or Council in Trullo (692) has not been accepted by the Roman Catholic Church. Since it was mostly an administrative council for raising some local canons to ecumenical status, establishing principles of clerical discipline, addressing the Biblical canon, without determining matters of doctrine, the Eastern Orthodox Church does not consider it to be a full-fledged council in its own right, viewing it instead as an extension of the fifth and sixth councils. It gave ecclesiastical sanction to the Pentarchy as the government of the state church of the Roman Empire.[27]

### Second Council of Nicaea (787)

## Subsequent events

Main article: Religion:Photian schism

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In the 9th century, Emperor Michael III deposed Patriarch Ignatius of Constantinople and Photius was appointed in his place. Pope Nicholas I declared the deposition of Ignatius invalid. After Michael was murdered, Ignatius was reinstated as patriarch without challenge and in 869–870 a council in Constantinople, considered ecumenical in the West, anathematized Photius. With Ignatius' death in 877, Photius became patriarch, and in 879–880 another council in Constantinople, which many Easterners consider ecumenical, annulled the decision of the previous council.[28]

## See also

* Ancient church councils (pre-ecumenical) – church councils before the First Council of Nicaea
* Byzantine Empire
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* Outline of the Catholic ecumenical councils
* Synod of Ancyra
* Synodicon Orientale
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## References

1. ↑ Slobodskoy, Serafim Alexivich (1992). "Short Summaries of the Ecumenical Councils". The Law of God. Jordanville, New York: Holy Trinity Monastery. ISBN 978-0-88465-044-7. http://www.orthodoxphotos.com/readings/LGFLS/summaries.shtml. Retrieved 10 March 2019. "They renounced their false opinions and died in peace with the Church." (Russian: "отказались от своих ложных мнений и скончались в мире с Церковью.)"
* Original: Слободской, Серафим Алексеевич (1957). "Краткие сведения о вселенских соборах" (in ru) (published 1966). https://azbyka.ru/otechnik/Serafim_Slobodskoj/zakon-bozhij/221. Retrieved 10 March 2019.
2. ↑ Diehl, Charles (1923). "1: Leo III and the Isaurian Dynasty (717–802)". in Tanner, J. R.; Previté-Orton, C. W.; Brooke, Z. N.. The Cambridge Medieval History. IV: The Eastern Roman Empire (717–1453). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. p. 21. ISBN 9785872870395. https://books.google.com/books?id=EmUMAwAAQBAJ. Retrieved 2016-02-01. "... Tarasius ... skilfully put forward the project of an Ecumenical Council which should restore peace and unity to the Christian world. The Empress [...] summoned the prelates of Christendom to Constantinople for the spring of 786. ... Finally the Council was convoked at Nicaea in Bithynia; it was opened in the presence of the papal legates on 24 September 787. This was the seventh Ecumenical Council."
3. ↑ Schaff's Seven Ecumenical Councils: Introductory Note to Council of Trullo : "From the fact that the canons of the Council in Trullo are included in this volume of the Decrees and Canons of the Seven Ecumenical Councils it must not for an instant be supposed that it is intended thereby to affirm that these canons have any ecumenical authority, or that the council by which they were adopted can lay any claim to being ecumenical either in view of its constitution or of the subsequent treatment by the Church of its enactments."
4. ↑ "Quinisext Council" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved February 14, 2010. "The Western Church and the Pope were not represented at the council. Justinian, however, wanted the Pope as well as the Eastern bishops to sign the canons. Pope Sergius I (687–701) refused to sign, and the canons were never fully accepted by the Western Church".
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Maher Ishak, Shenouda (2013) (in en). Christology and the Council of Chalcedon. Outskirts Press. ISBN 9781478712916. https://books.google.com/books?id=KddGnwEACAAJ.
6. ↑ Price, Richard; Gaddis, Michael (2007) (in en). The Acts of the Council of Chalcedon. 45. Liverpool University Press. pp. 42. ISBN 978-1-84631-100-0. https://books.google.com/books?id=4WG1MQEACAAJ.
7. ↑ "canon 6". Archived from the original on September 15, 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080915191439/http://www.piar.hu/councils/ecum01.htm.
8. ↑ "canon 7". Archived from the original on September 15, 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080915191439/http://www.piar.hu/councils/ecum01.htm.
9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 "Arianism." Cross, F. L., ed. The Oxford dictionary of the Christian church. New York: Oxford University Press. 2005
10. ↑ The Canon Debate, McDonald and Sanders editors, 2002, pages 414–415, for the entire paragraph
11. ↑ See official Greek translation of the Roman Missal and the document The Greek and Latin Traditions about the Procession of the Holy Spirit by the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, which states: "The Catholic Church has refused the addition καὶ τοῦ Υἱοῦ to the formula τὸ ἐκ τοῦ Πατρὸς ἐκπορευόμενον in the Greek text of the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Symbol, even in its liturgical use by Latins"
12. ↑ "Armenian Church Library: Nicene Creed". http://www.armenianchurchlibrary.com/files/creed.pdf.
13. ↑ "Nicene Creed." Cross, F. L., ed. The Oxford dictionary of the Christian church. New York: Oxford University Press. 2005
14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 "Constantinople, First Council of." Cross, F. L., ed. The Oxford dictionary of the Christian church. New York: Oxford University Press. 2005
15. ↑ "Apollinarius." Cross, F. L., ed. The Oxford dictionary of the Christian church. New York: Oxford University Press. 2005
16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 "Nestorius." Cross, F. L., ed. The Oxford dictionary of the Christian church. New York: Oxford University Press. 2005
17. ↑ "CHURCH FATHERS: Council of Ephesus (A.D. 431)". https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/3810.htm.
18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 "Latrocinium." Cross, F. L., ed. The Oxford dictionary of the Christian church. New York: Oxford University Press. 2005
19. ↑ "Eutyches" and "Archimandrite." Cross, F. L., ed. The Oxford dictionary of the Christian church. New York: Oxford University Press. 2005
20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 "Monophysitism." Cross, F. L., ed. The Oxford dictionary of the Christian church. New York: Oxford University Press. 2005
21. ↑ Meyendorff, John (1989) (in en). Imperial Unity and Christian Divisions: The Church, 450-680 AD. St. Vladimir's Seminary Press. ISBN 978-0-88141-056-3. https://books.google.com/books?id=6J_YAAAAMAAJ. Retrieved 2025-06-04.
22. ↑ Zachariah of Mitylene; Roger Pearse (2002). "Zachariah, Syriac Chronicle (1899) — Book 5.". https://www.tertullian.org/fathers/zachariah05.htm.
23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 23.2 "Constantinople, Second Council of." Cross, F. L., ed. The Oxford dictionary of the Christian church. New York: Oxford University Press. 2005
24. ↑ "Nestorianism" and "Three Chapters." Cross, F. L., ed. The Oxford dictionary of the Christian church. New York: Oxford University Press. 2005
25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 25.2 25.3 25.4 25.5 25.6 25.7 25.8 "Three Chapters." Cross, F. L., ed. The Oxford dictionary of the Christian church. New York: Oxford University Press. 2005
26. ↑ Ostrogorsky, George (1995) (in en). History of the Byzantine State. Rutgers University Press. pp. 127.
27. ↑ "Pentarchy". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved February 14, 2010. "Pentarchy. The proposed government of universal Christendom by five patriarchal sees under the auspices of a single universal empire. Formulated in the legislation of the emperor Justinian I (527–65), especially in his Novella 131, the theory received formal ecclesiastical sanction at the Council in Trullo (692), which ranked the five sees as Rome, Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch, and Jerusalem".
28. ↑ "Photius", in Cross, F. L., ed., The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church (New York: Oxford University Press. 2005)

## External links

* Schaff's The Seven Ecumenical Councils
* Fourth-Century Christianity

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* Eastern Protestant

Nontrinitarian|

* Jehovah's Witnesses
* Latter Day Saint movement

Theology|

* God
* Trinity
* Father
* Son
* Holy Spirit
* Christology
* Nicene Creed
* Tradition
* Original sin
* Salvation
* Worship
* Mariology
* Theotokos
* Saints
* Ecclesiology
* Four marks
* Body of Christ
* One true church
* People of God
* Canon law
* Sacraments
* Baptism
* Lord's Supper
* Marriage
* Confirmation
* Penance
* Anointing of the Sick
* Holy orders
* Mission

Philosophy|

* Natural law
* Ethics
* Science
* Evolution
* Politics

Other
Features|

| Culture|

* Liturgy
* Art
* Jesus
* Marian
* Literature
* Music
* Church buildings
* Cathedrals
* Role in civilization
* See also:
* Other religions
* Criticism
* Persecution

|

Movements|

* Asceticism
* Charismatic
* Christian democracy
* Environmentalism
* Existentialism
* Fundamentalism
* Liberation
* Left/Right
* Pacifism
* Prosperity

Cooperation|

* Christendom
* Ecumenism
* Charta Oecumenica
* World Council of Churches
* World Evangelical Alliance
* Nondenominationalism

*   * Book
* Category

Template:Christian History

* v
* t
* e

Catholic Church

* Index
* Outline
* Glossary
* Lists of Catholics

History
Timeline
Ecclesiastical
Legal|

| Early Church|

* Jesus
* Ministry
* Crucifixion
* Resurrection
* Great Commission
* Apostles
* Succession
* Petrine primacy
* Church fathers
* Apostolic fathers
* History of the papacy
* Primacy

|

Great Church|

* Ante-Nicene Period
* Constantine
* First seven ecumenical councils
* Nicaea I
* Chalcedon
* Late antiquity
* Biblical canon
* Monasticism

Middle Ages|

* Islamic conquests
* Pope Gregory I
* Papal States
* Schism (1054)
* Investiture Controversy
* Crusades
* Schism (1378)
* Inquisition
* Universities
* Scholasticism
* Age of Discovery

Modern era|

* Protestant Reformation
* Catholic Reformation
* Trent
* Thirty Years' War
* Enlightenment
* French Revolution
* Nazism
* Vatican II
* Communism
* Sexual abuse scandal
* Islam

Theology
Bible
Tradition;
Catechism|

| General|

* God
* Trinity
* Kingdom
* Body and soul
* Divine grace
* Dogma
* Nicene Creed
* Original sin
* Saints
* Salvation
* Sermon on the Mount
* Ten Commandments
* Vulgate
* Official Bible
* Vulgata Sixtina
* Sixto-Clementine Vulgate
* Nova Vulgata
* Worship

|

Ecclesiology|

* Communitas perfecta
* Councils
* Ecumenism
* Four marks
* Catholic
* Infallibility
* Corporis Christi
* One true church
* People of God
* Three states
* Subsistit in
* In canon law

Sacraments|

* Baptism
* Confirmation
* Eucharist
* Penance
* Anointing of the Sick
* Last rites
* Holy orders
* Matrimony

Mariology|

* Assumption
* History
* Immaculate Conception
* Mariology of the popes
* Mariology of the saints
* Mother of God
* Perpetual virginity
* Veneration
* See also:
* Josephology

Philosophy|

* Natural law
* Moral theology
* Personalism
* Social teaching
* Philosophers
* Philosophy of canon law
* See also:
* Science
* Evolution
* Separation of church and state
* Relations
* Politics

Saints|

* Holy Family
* Mary
* Joseph
* Patriarchs
* Prophets
* Archangels
* Martyrs
* Doctors of the Church
* Evangelists
* Confessors
* Disciples
* Virgins

Organisation
Hierarchy
Canon law
Laity
Precedence
By country|

| Holy See
(List of popes)|

* Pope Francis
* Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI
* Ecumenical councils
* College of Cardinals
* List
* Advisers
* Roman Curia
* Dicasteries
* Synod of Bishops
* Properties

| Vatican City|

* Index
* Outline
* Apostolic Palace
* Lateran Treaty
* Roman Rota
* St. Peter's Basilica
* Swiss Guard
* Vatican Museums

|

Polity (Holy orders)|

* Diocese (Episcopal conference):
* Bishop
* Patriarch
* Major
* Primate
* Metropolitan
* Archbishop
* Diocesan
* Coadjutor
* Auxiliary
* Titular
* Emeritus
* Parish:
* Priest
* Deacon

Consecrated life|

* Religious:
* Superior
* Abbot/Abbess
* General
* Provincial
* Prior/Prioress
* Grand Master
* Brother
* Friar
* Monk
* Sister
* Nun
* Hermit
* Novice
* Master
* Oblate
* Postulant

Particular churches
sui iuris|

* Latin Church
* Eastern Catholic Churches:
* Albanian
* Armenian
* Belarusian
* Bulgarian
* Chaldean
* Coptic
* Croatian and Serbian
* Eritrean
* Ethiopian
* Georgian
* Greek
* Hungarian
* Italo-Albanian
* Macedonian
* Maronite
* Melkite
* Romanian
* Russian
* Ruthenian
* Slovak
* Syriac
* Syro-Malabar
* Syro-Malankara
* Ukrainian

Liturgical rites|

* Alexandrian
* Antiochian
* Armenian
* Byzantine
* East Syriac
* Latin
* Ambrosian
* Braga
* Mozarabic
* Roman
* Paul VI
* Tridentine
* Anglican
* Zaire
* West Syriac
* Malankara

Culture|

* Art
* Marian
* Artists
* Authors
* Church buildings
* Altarpieces
* Library
* Museums
* Music
* Distinctions
* Role in civilisation
* See also:
* Criticism of the Catholic Church
* Anti-Catholicism

Media|

* Holy See Press Office
* Vatican Media
* Vatican News
* Vatican Television Center
* Vatican Radio
* Vatican Polyglot Press
* L'Osservatore Romano
* Acta Apostolicae Sedis
* Annuario Pontificio

Religious orders,
institutes, societies|

* Assumptionists
* Annonciades
* Augustinians
* Basilians
* Benedictines
* Bethlehemites
* Blue nuns
* Camaldoleses
* Camillians
* Carmelites
* Carthusians
* Cistercians
* Clarisses
* Conceptionists
* Crosiers
* Dominicans
* Franciscans
* Good Shepherd Sisters
* Hieronymites
* Jesuits
* Mercedarians
* Minims
* Olivetans
* Oratorians
* Piarists
* Premonstratensians
* Redemptorists
* Servites
* Theatines
* Trappists
* Trinitarians
* Visitandines

Associations
of the faithful|

* Confraternities
* Movements
* Lay
* Marian
* Youth
* Workers
* Third orders
* Saint Dominic
* Lay Carmelites
* Discalced
* Saint Francis
* Secular
* Military orders
* Fimcap
* Catholic Action
* Charismatic Renewal
* Communion and Liberation
* Sant'Egidio
* Focolare
* International Alliance of Catholic Knights
* Scouting
* Legion of Mary
* Neocatechumenal Way
* Opus Dei
* Schoenstatt

Charities|

* Aid to the Church in Need
* Caritas
* Home Missions
* Relief Services
* CIDSE
* Pax Christi
* Society of Saint Vincent de Paul

* See also:
* Health care
* Schools
* Universities

*   * Book
* Category

* v
* t
* e

History of the Catholic Church

General|

* History of the Catholic Church
* By country or region
* Ecclesiastical history
* Timeline
* Papacy
* Papal primacy
* Catholic ecumenical councils
* First seven
* Catholic Bible
* Biblical canon
* Vulgate
* History of the Roman Curia
* Religious institutes
* Christian monasticism
* Catholic culture
* Art
* Role in civilization
* Papal States
* Latin Church
* Eastern Catholic Churches

Early Church
(30–325/476)|

| Origins and
Apostolic Age (30–100)|

* Jesus
* Ministry
* Crucifixion
* Resurrection
* Great Commission
* Holy Spirit
* Mary
* John the Baptist
* Apostles
* Commissioning
* Peter
* John
* Paul
* Stephen
* Council of Jerusalem
* Split with Judaism
* New Testament
* Background
* Gospels
* Acts
* Pauline epistles
* General epistles
* Revelation

|

Ante-Nicene period (100–325)|

* Persecution
* Church Fathers
* Apostolic Fathers
* Pope Clement I
* Polycarp
* Ignatius
* Irenaeus
* Justin Martyr
* Canon
* Tertullian
* Origen

Late antiquity
(313–476)|

| Great Church
(180–451)
Roman
state church
(380-451)|

* Constantine the Great
* Christianity
* Arian controversy
* Archbasilica of Saint John Lateran
* Old St. Peter's Basilica
* First Council of Nicaea
* Pope Sylvester I
* First Council of Constantinople
* Biblical canon
* Jerome
* Vulgate
* Council of Ephesus
* Council of Chalcedon

|

Early Middle Ages|

* Benedict of Nursia
* Monasticism
* Second Council of Constantinople
* Pope Gregory I
* Gregorian chant
* Islamic conquests
* Third Council of Constantinople
* Saint Boniface
* Byzantine Iconoclasm
* Second Council of Nicaea
* Charlemagne
* Pope Leo III
* Fourth Council of Constantinople
* East–West Schism

High Middle Ages|

* Pope Urban II
* Investiture Controversy
* Crusades
* Northern
* States
* Military orders
* Universities
* Scholasticism
* First Council of the Lateran
* Second Council of the Lateran
* Third Council of the Lateran
* Pope Innocent III
* Latin Empire
* Francis of Assisi
* Fourth Council of the Lateran
* Inquisition
* First Council of Lyon
* Second Council of Lyon
* Bernard of Clairvaux

Late Middle Ages|

* Thomas Aquinas
* Pope Boniface VIII
* Western Schism
* Avignon Papacy
* Pope Clement V
* Council of Vienne
* Knights Templar
* Catherine of Siena
* Pope Alexander VI
* Age of Discovery

Reformation
Catholic Reformation

* Reformation
* Catholic Reformation
* Thomas More
* Pope Leo X
* Society of Jesus
* Ignatius of Loyola
* Francis Xavier
* Dissolution of the Monasteries
* Council of Trent
* Pope Pius V
* Tridentine Mass
* Teresa of Ávila
* John of the Cross
* Philip Neri
* Robert Bellarmine
* Thirty Years' War

Baroque Period to the
French Revolution

* Pope Innocent XI
* Pope Benedict XIV
* Suppression of the Society of Jesus
* Age of Enlightenment
* Anti-clericalism
* Pope Pius VI
* Shimabara Rebellion
* Edict of Nantes
* Dechristianization of France during the French Revolution

19th century|

* Pope Pius VII
* Pope Pius IX
* Dogma of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary
* Our Lady of La Salette
* Our Lady of Lourdes
* First Vatican Council
* Papal infallibility
* Pope Leo XIII
* Mary of the Divine Heart
* Prayer of Consecration to the Sacred Heart
* Rerum novarum

20th century|

* Pope Pius X
* Our Lady of Fátima
* Persecutions of the Catholic Church and Pius XII
* Pope Pius XII
* Pope Pius XII Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary
* Dogma of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary
* Lateran Treaty
* Nazism
* Pope John XXIII
* Second Vatican Council
* Pope Paul VI
* Pope John Paul I
* Mother Teresa
* Communism
* Pope John Paul II
* World Youth Day
* 1995

21st century|

* Sexual abuse scandal
* Islam
* World Youth Day
* 2000
* 2002
* 2005
* 2008
* 2011
* 2013
* 2016
* 2019
* Pope Benedict XVI
* Pope Francis

*   *

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