The Creed and Ecumenical Councils (Jesus Christ, Creator, Earth, crucified)

[No*s]

The Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed

It is the most concise description of the Orthodox Faith, but does not contain everything .

I believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth and of all things visible and invisible.
And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all ages.
Light of Light, true God of true God, begotten not created, of one essence with the Father through whom all things were made.
For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and became man.
He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and he suffered and was buried.
On the third day he rose according to the Scriptures.
He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and dead. His kingdom will have no end.
And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Giver of life, who proceeds from the Father,
who together with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who spoke through the prophets.
In one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church.
I acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
I expect the resurrection of the dead.
And the life of the ages to come. Amen.

The Ecumenical Councils

1. Nicea, the First Ecumenical Council, 325 -- It established that the Son was of the same substance with the Father and professed the collegiality of bishops.
   
2. Constantinople, Second Ecumenical Council of Constantinople, 381 -- Defended the deity of the Holy Spirit
   
3. Ephesus, Third Ecumenical Council, 431 -- Defended Mary's role as Theotokos and the unified person of Christ, pointed out that denying the title Theotokos denied the Incarnation of Christ.
   
4. Chalcedon, Fourth Ecumenical Council, 451 -- Defended the belief that Christ was fully God and fully man without compromise
   
5. Constantinople, Fifth Ecumenical Council, 553 -- Confirmed the decisions of the preceding councils
   
6. Constantinople, Sixth Ecumenical Council, 680 -- Affirmed the full humanity of Christ by denying that His will was swallowed up in God's will. Christ was fully man and fully God, and thus, both wills worked in perfect unison.
   
7. Nicea, Seventh Ecumenical Council, 787 -- Affirmed that icons were still a genuine part of the Christian faith, laid down stipulations on their use, and explained how they were a defense of the Incarnation of Christ.

There are the Eigth and Ninth Councils regarded by some Orthodox as Ecumenical, but others as not Ecumenical, but all recognize the validity of:

• Constantinople 879 -- Condemned the insertion of the Filioque and was signed by all the Patriarchs; repudiated councils against St. Photius.
  
• Constantinople 1351 -- Affirmed the traditional use of Hesychasm and condemned scholasticism