Ancient pre-ecumenical1 councils
50 Apostolic Council of Jerusalem
(see Acts 15) – defined that Gentile converts do not need to keep the Law of Moses
155-311 Councils of Rome, Ephesus, Carthage, Iconium, Antioch, and Arabia
306-314 Synods of Elvira, Neo-Caesarea, Ancyra, and Aries
Ecumenical Councils
325 First Council of Nicaea – formulated the original Nicene Creed
381 First Council of Constantinople – defined the Nicene Creed, defined the divinity of the Holy Spirit
431 Council of Ephesus – proclaimed Mary as Theotokos (Mother of God)
451 Council of Chalcedon – defined the two natures of Jesus Christ (divine and human)
553 Second Council of Constantinople – dealt again with the issue of the two natures of Christ
681 Third Council of Constantinople – repudiated Monothelitism and reaffirmed that Christ had both human and divine wills
730 Second Council of Nicaea – restored the veneration of icons; this was the last council accepted by both the Eastern and Western churches.
869–70 Fourth Council of Constantinople – affirmed the schism and kept the filioque in the Creed, which referred to the Holy Spirit emanating from God the Father and the Son
1123 First Council of the Lateran – agreed that the pope appoint bishops, while emperors give secular offices and honors
1139 Second Council of the Lateran – deposed the antipope and his followers, considered marriages of priests and monks as invalid
1179 Third Council of the Lateran – established two-thirds majority necessary for the election of a pope
1215 Fourth Council of the Lateran – made it mandatory to go to confession and to receive the Holy Eucharist at least once a year
1245 First Council of Lyon – continued on political ruling and power
1274 Second Council of Lyon – tried to reconcile with the Greek-Orthodox Church, confirmed privileges of the Franciscans and Dominicans
1311–12 Council of Vienne – defined liturgy and modern missionary policies
1414–18 Council of Constance – declared that popes are below a council, not above; the council installed one pope during a time when three popes claimed legitimacy.
1431–42 Councils of Basel, Ferrara and Florence – decreed a short-lived union with Greek, Armenian and Jacobite churches; started without any bishop present
1512–17 Fifth Council of the Lateran – the first to be attended by a representative from the New World, Alessandro Geraldini, the Archbishop of Santo Domingo.
1545–63 Council of Trent – defined Church teachings on Scripture and tradition, justification, the sacraments, the Eucharist and the veneration of saints
1869–70 First Vatican Council – declared papal infallibility and the assumption of Mary
1962-65 Second Vatican Council – reform of the liturgy; new approach to relations with other churches and religions
Synods
1967 I Preserving and Strengthening the Catholic Faith called for the creation of an international theological commission and a revision of the 1917 Code of Canon Law
1971 II The Ministerial Priesthood and Justice in the World
1974 III Evangelization in the Modern World, Evangelii nuntiandi
1977 IV Catechesis in Our Time, Catechesi Tradendae
1980 V The Christian Family, Familiaris consortio
1983 VI Penance and Reconciliation in the Mission of the Church, Reconciliatio et paenitentia
1987 VII The Vocation and Mission of the Lay Faithful in the Church and in the World, Christifideles laici
1990 VIII The Formation of Priests in Circumstances of the Present Day, Pastores dabo vobis
1994 IX The Consecrated Life and its Role in the Church and in the World, Vita consecrata
2001 X The Bishop: Servant of the Gospel of Jesus Christ for the Hope of the World, Pastores gregis
2005 XI The Eucharist: Source and Summit of the Life and Mission of the Church, Sacramentum caritatis
2008 XII The Word of God in the Life and Mission of the Church, Verbum Domini
2012 XIII The New Evangelization for the Transmission of the Christian Faith, Evangelii gaudium
2015 XIV The Vocation and Mission of the Family in the Church and in the Contemporary World, Relatio Synodi, Amoris laetitia
2018 XV Young people, Faith, and Vocational Discernment, Christus Vivit
2023 XVI For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation and Mission
1 Universal; representing the whole Christian Church
