Nicene Atlas

Council Explorer

The Seven Ecumenical Councils

Received by the whole Church before the Great Schism. Each council clarified faith in response to a crisis.

  1. 1. First Council of Nicaea
    325
    Nicaea, Bithynia

    Convened to address the teaching of Arius, who held that the Son was a creature made by the Father.

  2. 2. First Council of Constantinople
    381
    Constantinople

    Convened to settle continuing Arian and Macedonian controversies over the Holy Spirit.

  3. 3. Council of Ephesus
    431
    Ephesus

    Convened against Nestorius, who divided Christ into two persons.

  4. 4. Council of Chalcedon
    451
    Chalcedon

    Convened against Eutychian monophysitism, which collapsed Christ's two natures into one.

  5. 5. Second Council of Constantinople
    553
    Constantinople

    Convened to clarify Chalcedonian Christology and condemn the 'Three Chapters'.

  6. 6. Third Council of Constantinople
    680–681
    Constantinople

    Convened against Monothelitism, the teaching of one will in Christ.

  7. 7. Second Council of Nicaea
    787
    Nicaea

    Convened to end the first wave of Iconoclasm.