ecumenical council

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ecumenical council

The bishops gather at an ecumenical council to discuss matters of faith.

Definition
  1. Noun:
    • A formal assembly of bishops and other church leaders representing the worldwide Christian Church: An "ecumenical council" is a conference convened to discuss and settle matters of Christian doctrine, practice, and discipline for the entire Church.
    • A council considered universally authoritative: Historically, it refers to a series of councils in the early centuries of Christianity whose decisions were intended to be binding on all Christians.
Examples of Usage
  • Noun:
    • The First Council of Nicaea in 325 AD was an ecumenical council that addressed the Arian controversy.
    • The doctrine of the Trinity was formally defined by an ecumenical council.
    • The Catholic Church recognizes twenty-one ecumenical councils, while the Eastern Orthodox Church recognizes only the first seven.
Advanced Usage

  • "to be defined by an ecumenical council": Refers to a point of doctrine that was officially established and proclaimed by such a council.

    • The dual nature of Christ was defined by the ecumenical Council of Chalcedon.

  • "the decrees of an ecumenical council": The official rulings or canons issued by the council.

    • The decrees of the ecumenical councils shaped the foundational creeds of Christianity.
Variants and Related Words

  • Council (n): A formal meeting for discussion or a body of people governing an organization, especially in a religious context.

    • The local church council met to discuss the budget.

  • Ecumenical (adj): Representating a number of different Christian churches; promoting unity among Christian churches or religions.

    • The ecumenical movement seeks greater cooperation among Christian denominations.
Synonyms
  • General council: A term sometimes used interchangeably with "ecumenical council."
  • Universal council: Emphasizes the intended scope of the council's authority.
Related Phrases

(Note: "Ecumenical council" is a fixed noun phrase. It does not have phrasal verbs.)

Related Idioms

(Note: There are no common idioms specifically using the phrase "ecumenical council.")

ecumenical council

The bishops gather at an ecumenical council to discuss matters of faith.

Noun
  1. (early Christian church) one of seven gatherings of bishops from around the known world under the presidency of the Pope to regulate matters of faith and morals and discipline
    • the first seven councils through 787 are considered to be ecumenical councils by both the Roman Catholic church and the Eastern Orthodox church but the next fourteen councils are considered ecumenical only by the Roman Catholic church