Ecumenical Councils of the Early Church (IV-VIII Century) WT-DTE-WJEC
The course is designed to familiarize the student with both the history of the seven ancient councils (context, course, consequences) and the theological and ecclesial problems that these councils dealt with, especially:
1. The idea of ecclesiastical synodality (the so-called Council of Jerusalem).
2. The theology of the Logos. The origins of the theology of the Holy Trinity.
3. Trinitarian terminology: hypostasis and ousia.
4. The Council of Nicaea (325): the dilemmas of homoousios.
5. The Council of Constantinople (381): the theology of the Holy Spirit in the context of Macedonianism.
6. The unity of person and duality of natures in Christ (divergence of priorities in Alexandrian and Antiochian exegetical schools).
7. The Council of Ephesus (431): the dispute between Nestorius and Cyril. The role of Leo the Great and John of Antioch.
8. The Council of Chalcedon (451): clarification of dogmatic formula and beginning of ecclesial divisions.
9. The role of imperial Constantinople in the course of the councils. Divergence of Christian East and West.
10. The religious and political context of the Second Council of Constantinople (553).
11. The Third Council of Constantinople (680): the search for theological and terminological precision in the context of monoenergism and monotheletism.
12. The Second Council of Nicaea (787): the theological foundations of the cult of icons.
13. the evolution of canons concerning clergy and monks.
14. Evaluation of the impact of universal councils and local synods on the life of the Church.
(in Polish) E-Learning
Term 2019/20_L: (in Polish) E-Learning z podziałem na grupy | Term 2021/22_Z: (in Polish) E-Learning (pełny kurs) |
(in Polish) Grupa przedmiotów ogólnouczenianych
Subject level
Learning outcome code/codes
Type of subject
Preliminary Requirements
Course coordinators
Learning outcomes
The student know how to:
- make a general description of the councils
- describe the historical context of councils
- indicate dogmatic statements of the councils
- characterize the situation of the Church on the basis of liturgical and disciplinary canons
- explain the meaning of the councils
Assessment criteria
Historical method
Text analysis method
Comparative method
Assessment Criteria:
1. Participation in lectures (2 absences possible) - 25%
2. Preparation of a paper on one of the councils - 25%
3. Final test - 50%
Bibliography
Dokumenty soborów powszechnych, red. A. BAron, H. Pietras, ŹMT 24 i 26, t. 1-2, Kraków 2001-2002.
M. Starowieyski, Sobory niepodzielonego Kościoła, Kraków 2016.
G. Dumeigne, Histoire des conciles oecumeniques, Paris 1962n.
J.N. D. Kelly, Early Christian Creeds, London 1972 (3ed.).
L.D.Davis, The first seven Ecumenical Councils (325-787). Their History and Theology, Wilmington 1983.
J.F. Kelly, The Ecumenical Counicls of the Catholic Church. A History, Collegeville, Minnesota 2009.
Additional information
Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system: