1. Church Councils and Marks of the Church
By: Natalie Nickolaus, Isabel Acosta, and Jillian Puvogel

2. I. First Council of Nicaea
Year: 325
Council of bishops convened in Nicaea, by Roman Emperor Constantine.
Known as the first ecumenical council

3. Conclusions
Discussed the Arian controversy, regarding the relationship between the Trinity. From the beginning of the Church, many questioned to concept of One God in Three different persons, and yet there be The Father and
Established a date for Easter
Created the Nicene Creed
known as a symbol of Catholic faith

4. Making the Church One
The Council was able to achieve a final consensus throughout the Church that ended any disputes of the relationship of the Trinity

5. Making the Church Catholic
The conclusions of the Council of Nicaea and the Nicene Creed had established the single belief and defining the nature of God

6. II. The First Council of Constantinople
Year: 381
Called by Byzantine Emperor Theodosius in modern day Istanbul, Turkey.
Attended by 186 bishops around the world

7. Conclusions of the Council
The council of Constantinople was convened to confirm the Nicene Creed
The council also settled any conflicts involving the Arian Controversy

8. Making the Church more One
It was the 2nd of 7 ecumenical councils
- These were meetings of the bishops of the whole Church convened to discuss and settle matters of the Church doctrine.

9. III. The Council of Ephesus
Year: 431
Was convened under Roman Emperor Theodesus II
Was convened because St. Cyril accused Nestorius, the bishop of Constantinople, of overemphasizing the humanity of Jesus in his teachings

10. Conclusions
After a total of 7 sessions, 6 canons or laws, were passed against Nestorius and his supporters
Any changes to the Nicene Creed, including editing, inserting, or deleting a piece of information, were forbidden

11. Making the Church More One
It denounced Nestorius’ teachings as extraneous
Therefore it sorted out what was heresy and what was not

12. Making the Church More Holy
Nestorius taught that Mary gave birth to a man, not God
The actual Catholic teaching is that God only dwells in Jesus, therefore he is Theophoros- “The Bearer of God”

13. Works Cited http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/05491a.htm
to-church.html

14. Credit Natalie Nickolaus : First Council of Nicaea and Powerpoint
Isabel Acosta : First Council of Constantinople
Jillian Puvogel: First Council of Ephesus