Third Council of Constantinople

Third Council of Constantinople
Original: Constantine Manasses · Public domain · source
Date	680-681
Accepted by	Roman Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox Church, Oriental Orthodox Church, Assyrian Church of the East, Ancient Church of the East
Previous	Second Council of Constantinople
Next	Second Council of Nicaea

Third Council of Constantinople. The Third Council of Constantinople was a significant event in the history of the Christian Church, convened by Byzantine Emperor Constantine IV in Constantinople from 680 to 681. This council was attended by Patriarch George I of Constantinople, Pope Agatho, and other prominent bishops from the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church, including Bishop of Rome, Bishop of Alexandria, and Bishop of Antioch. The council played a crucial role in resolving the Monothelitism controversy, which had been a major point of contention between the Eastern Roman Empire and the Western Roman Empire, involving key figures such as Heraclius, Constans II, and Pope Martin I.

● Introduction

The Third Council of Constantinople was the sixth ecumenical council recognized by both the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church. It was convened in response to the Monothelitism controversy, which had been ongoing since the Seventh Ecumenical Council was not yet held, but the Fifth Ecumenical Council and the Sixth Ecumenical Council were, with the latter being this council. The council was attended by over 170 bishops, including Patriarch Theodore of Constantinople, Patriarch of Jerusalem, and Bishop of Thessalonica, as well as representatives from the Pope and the Eastern Roman Emperor. The council's proceedings were influenced by the works of Maximus the Confessor, Sophronius of Jerusalem, and Pope Martin I, who had all played important roles in the Monothelitism controversy, and were also related to the Council of Chalcedon and the Council of Ephesus.

● Background

The Monothelitism controversy had its roots in the Christological debates of the Fifth Ecumenical Council and the Council of Chalcedon, which had attempted to define the nature of Jesus Christ. The controversy centered on the question of whether Jesus Christ had one will (Monothelitism) or two wills (Dyothelitism), with the Eastern Roman Empire and the Western Roman Empire holding different views on the matter, and involving key figures such as Justinian I, Justin II, and Tiberius II Constantine. The Patriarch of Constantinople, Patriarch Sergius I, had attempted to resolve the controversy through the Ecthesis, a document that affirmed Monothelitism, but this had been rejected by the Pope and the Western Roman Empire, leading to a major schism between the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church, with the Assyrian Church of the East and the Ancient Church of the East also being affected. The Third Council of Constantinople was convened to resolve this controversy and restore unity to the Christian Church, with the involvement of Bishop of Rome, Bishop of Alexandria, and Bishop of Antioch.

● Proceedings

The council's proceedings were marked by intense debate and negotiation between the bishops and the Eastern Roman Emperor. The council examined the writings of Maximus the Confessor and other Fathers of the Church, including Augustine of Hippo, Cyril of Alexandria, and Leo the Great, and heard testimony from witnesses who had been involved in the Monothelitism controversy, such as Pope Martin I and Bishop of Thessalonica. The council also considered the Ecthesis and other documents related to the controversy, including the Typos, and ultimately rejected Monothelitism as a heresy, affirming the Dyothelitism view that Jesus Christ had two wills, with the support of the Patriarch of Jerusalem and the Bishop of Rome. The council's decision was influenced by the works of John Chrysostom, Basil of Caesarea, and Gregory of Nazianzus, and was also related to the Council of Nicaea and the Council of Constantinople.

● Canons and Decrees

The Third Council of Constantinople issued several important canons and decrees, including the condemnation of Monothelitism and the affirmation of Dyothelitism. The council also issued canons related to the ordination of bishops and the discipline of the clergy, with the involvement of the Patriarch of Constantinople and the Bishop of Rome. The council's decrees were influenced by the works of Cyprian of Carthage, Ambrose of Milan, and Jerome of Stridon, and were also related to the Council of Trent and the First Vatican Council. The council's canons and decrees had a significant impact on the development of Christian theology and the Christian Church, with the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church both recognizing the council's authority, and the Assyrian Church of the East and the Ancient Church of the East also being affected.

● Aftermath and Legacy

The Third Council of Constantinople had a significant impact on the development of the Christian Church and Christian theology. The council's rejection of Monothelitism and affirmation of Dyothelitism helped to resolve the controversy and restore unity to the Christian Church, with the involvement of the Patriarch of Constantinople, the Bishop of Rome, and the Eastern Roman Emperor. The council's canons and decrees also had a lasting impact on the development of Christian doctrine and Christian practice, with the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church both recognizing the council's authority, and the Assyrian Church of the East and the Ancient Church of the East also being affected. The council's legacy can be seen in the works of later theologians such as Thomas Aquinas, John Calvin, and Martin Luther, who all drew on the council's teachings in their own writings, and were also related to the Council of Florence and the Council of Basel.

● Theological Significance

The Third Council of Constantinople played a crucial role in the development of Christian theology, particularly in the areas of Christology and Trinitarian theology. The council's affirmation of Dyothelitism helped to clarify the nature of Jesus Christ and the relationship between the divine and human natures, with the involvement of the Patriarch of Constantinople, the Bishop of Rome, and the Eastern Roman Emperor. The council's teachings also had implications for the development of soteriology and ecclesiology, with the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church both recognizing the council's authority, and the Assyrian Church of the East and the Ancient Church of the East also being affected. The council's theological significance can be seen in the works of later theologians such as Gregory Palamas, John of Damascus, and Anselm of Canterbury, who all drew on the council's teachings in their own writings, and were also related to the Council of Lyon and the Council of Constance.