ian heresy a denial of the
Divinity of God the Holy Ghost. At this Council 150 Bishops were
present, and it is especially remarkable for having completed the Creed
of Nicaea[3], which is hence also called the Creed of Constantinople.

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[Sidenote: III. Council.]

III. The Third General Council was summoned by the Emperor Theodosius
the Younger, A.D. 431, and met at Ephesus. It was held to consider the
heresy of Nestorius, Patriarch of Constantinople, who taught that the
Blessed Virgin was the Mother of our Lord's Human Nature only, and
that, therefore, the title of Theotokos, or "Mother of God," ought not
to be given her. This assertion was, in fact, only a refinement of
Arianism, implying as it did that our Saviour had not always been God
as well as Man, and it was accordingly condemned by the Council,
Nestorius being at the same time deposed from his see.

[Sidenote: IV. Council.]

IV. The Fourth General Council met at Chalcedon during the reign of
the Emperor Marcian, A.D. 451. Six hundred and thirty Bishops
assembled at it and condemned the false teaching of Eutyches, who
asserted that our Blessed Lord was God only, and not Man also.

[Sidenote: V. Council.]

V. The Fifth General Council was summoned at Constantinople by the
Emperor Justinian, A.D. 533, and was attended by 165 Bishops. In it
the decisions of the Four First Councils were confirmed, especially
against the Nestorians.

[Sidenote: VI. Council.]

VI. The Sixth General Council was also held at Constantinople, A.D.
680, by command of the Emperor Constantine Pogonatus, and condemned a
development of Eutychianism.

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Table of Councils.

Where held. Date. Emperor. Object.

I. Nicaea 325 Constantine Against the Arians.
the Great

II. Constantinople 38l Theodosius Against the
the Great Macedonians.

III. Ephesus 431 Theodosius Against the
the Younger Nestorians.

IV. Chalcedon 451 Marcian Against the
Eutychians.

V. Constantinople 553 Justinian Against a
development of
Nestorianism.

VI. Constantinople 680 Constantine Against a