Early Church Documents:
COUNCILS OF THE CHURCH

From: The Ecole Initiative – Karen Rae Keck and Norman Hugh Redington, 1996. (project now defunct)
Heavily revised (with updated links) by Nikita Simmons, 2009.

Sources:

CCEL – Christian Classics Ethereal Library: NPNF2-14. The Seven Ecumenical Councils. (This book may also be downoaded as a PDF if you choose to register.)

NA – New Advent Catholic Encyclopedia (1913 edition, in the public domain). While this is a Roman Catholic resource, there is a wealth of information on the Early Church, including the subjects of Patristics and Church Councils. For an index to the Councils, see: The Fathers of the Church

SMD – St. Michael's Depot – an Australian site which is now defunct, but is maintained (mirrored) by a Roman Catholic site in Hungary: All Ecumenical Councils - All the Decrees. See also: Papal Encyclicals Online, which has likewise salvaged material from St. Michael's Depot.

SPL – St. Pachomius Library. A First Draft for a Living Encyclopædia of Orthodox Christianity. See: Councils of the Church

Councils of the Church before 1054:

Local Council of Carthage, 257:
- Canons: Schaff-Wace translation. --- CCEL
Council of Antioch which condemned Paul of Samosata:
- Epistle to Dionysius of Rome and Maximus of Alexandria: Fragments from Eusebius, HE, vii, 30. McGifford translation, 1890. --- SPL

FIRST ECUMENICAL COUNCIL, Nicaea, 325: Repudiated Arianism, proclaimed the Son of one essence with the Father, fixed the date of Pascha.
- Creed:
  - Schaff-Wace translation. --- CCEL
  - Tanner translation --- SMD
- Canons:
  - Greek version, Schaff-Wace translation. --- CCEL
  - Latin version, Tanner translation --- SMD
  - Arabic version, Schaff-Wace translation. --- CCEL
- Letter to the Egyptians, against Arius:
  - Schaff-Wace translation. --- CCEL
  - Tanner translation --- SMD
- Decree concerning Easter:
  - Schaff-Wace translation. --- CCEL
  - Tanner translation --- SMD
- Proposed Action on Clerical Celibacy:
  - Schaff-Wace translation. --- CCEL

Local Council at Ankara, 315:
- Canons: Schaff-Wace translation. --- CCEL
Local Council of Neocaesarea, 315:
- Canons: Schaff-Wace translation. --- CCEL
Local Council of Gangra, 325-381:
- Canons: Schaff-Wace translation. --- CCEL
- Synodical Letter: Schaff-Wace translation. --- CCEL
Local Council of Antioch in Encaeniis, 341
- Canons: Schaff-Wace translation. --- CCEL
- Synodical Letter: Schaff-Wace translation. --- CCEL
Local Council of Sardica, 343:
- Canons: Schaff-Wace translation. --- CCEL
Local Council of Laodicea in Phrygia Pacatiana, 343-381:
- Canons: Schaff-Wace translation. --- CCEL

SECOND ECUMENICAL COUNCIL, Constantinople, 381: Completed the Nicene Creed; defended the divinity of the Holy Spirit, opposing Macedonius.
- Creed:
  - Schaff-Wace translation. --- CCEL
  - Tanner translation --- SMD
- Canons:
  - Schaff-Wace translation. --- CCEL
  - Tanner translation --- SMD
- Synodical Letter:
  - Schaff-Wace translation. --- CCEL
  - Tanner translation --- SMD
- Letter to the Emperor: Schaff-Wace translation. --- CCEL
- Various:
  - Creeds Recorded by Epiphanius: Schaff-Wace translation. --- CCEL
  - Gregory the Theologian: Oration 42 (Valedictory Oration): The canonicity of Gregory's episcopate was questioned at the Council, and he resigned to avoid further controversy. Browne-Swallow translation. --- NA

Local Council of Constantinople, 394:
- Canons: Schaff-Wace translation. --- CCEL
Local Council of Carthage, 419:
- Canons: Schaff-Wace translation. --- CCEL

THIRD ECUMENICAL COUNCIL, Ephesus, 431: Declared the Virgin Mary to be Theotokos, opposing Nestorius. Also opposed Pelagianism and other heresies.
- Acts of the Council (excerpts): Schaff-Wace translation. --- CCEL
- Canons: Schaff-Wace translation. --- CCEL
- Letters of Cyril of Alexandria:
  - First Letter to Nestorius:
    - Pusey translation, 1872. --- SPL
    - Tanner translation. --- SMD
  - Second Letter of Nestorius to Cyril:
    - Tanner translation. --- SMD
  - Third Letter to Nestorius:
    - Pusey translation, 1872. --- SPL
    - Tanner translation. --- SMD
  - Condemnation of Nestorius: Tanner translation --- SMD
  - Twelve Anathemas:
    - Pusey translation, 1872. --- SPL
    - Tanner translation. --- SMD
  - Synodical Letter about the Expulsion of the Eastern (Nestorian) Bishops:
    - Schaff-Wace translation. --- CCEL
    - Tanner translation --- SMD
  - Definition of the Nicene Faith:
    - Schaff-Wace translation. --- CCEL
    - Tanner translation --- SMD
  - Definition against the Messalians and Euchites:
    - Schaff-Wace translation. --- CCEL
    - Tanner translation --- SMD
  - Resolved: That the Bishops of Cyprus May Conduct Ordinations:
    - Schaff-Wace translation. --- CCEL
    - Tanner translation --- SMD
  - Formula of Union between Cyril of Alexandria and John of Antioch:
    - Schaff-Wace translation. --- CCEL
    - Tanner translation --- SMD
  - Letter of Cyril to John:
    - Pusey translation, 1872 --- SPL
    - Schaff-Wace translation. --- CCEL
    - Tanner translation --- SMD

FOURTH ECUMENICAL COUNCIL, Chalcedon, 451: Declared Christ to have two natures, contrary to Eutyches. This Council is rejected by the Non-Chalcedonian Orthodox, who however also oppose Eutychian Monophysitism. The Latin text of Council documents differs from the Greek.
- Tomos of Leo: Letter defending the doctrine of Christ's two natures:
  - Post-Nicene Fathers Translation --- NA
  - Latin: Tanner Translation --- SMD
- Acts (extracts): Schaff-Wace translation. --- CCEL
- Definition:
  - Schaff-Wace translation. --- CCEL
  - Latin: Tanner translation --- SMD
- Canons:
  - Schaff-Wace translation. --- CCEL
  - Latin: Tanner translation --- SMD

FIFTH ECUMENICAL COUNCIL, Constantinople, 553: Condemned Origen and the Three Chapters.
- Acts (extracts): Schaff-Wace translation. --- CCEL
- Anathemas against the Three Chapters:
  - Schaff-Wace translation. --- CCEL
  - Tanner translation. --- SMD
- Sentence against the Three Chapters:
  - Schaff-Wace translation. --- CCEL
  - Tanner translation. --- SMD
- Council's Anathemas against Origen: Schaff-Wace translation. --- CCEL
- Justinian's Anathemas against Origen: Schaff-Wace translation. --- CCEL
- Decretal of Pope Vigilius: In support of the Council. Schaff-Wace translation. --- CCEL

SIXTH ECUMENICAL COUNCIL, Constantinople, 680-681: Proclaimed that Christ had two wills.
- Acts (extracts): Schaff-Wace translation. --- CCEL
- Definition/Exposition of Faith:
  - Schaff-Wace translation. --- CCEL
  - Tanner translation. --- SMD
- Letters of Pope Agatho: Schaff-Wace translation. --- CCEL

The Quinsext Council "in Trullo", Constantinople, 692:
- Canons: Schaff-Wace translation. --- CCEL
- Old Canons of Various Councils approved by the Quinsext Council: Schaff-Wace translation. --- CCEL
- Old Canons Not from Councils approved by the Quinsext Council: Schaff-Wace translation. --- CCEL

SEVENTH ECUMENICAL COUNCIL, Nicaea, 787:
- Acts (extracts): Schaff-Wace translation. --- CCEL
- Dogmatic Decree and Anathemas:
  - Schaff-Wace translation. --- CCEL
  - Tanner translation. --- SMD
- Canons:
  - Schaff-Wace translation. --- CCEL
  - Tanner translation. --- SMD
- Sacra: Schaff-Wace translation. --- CCEL

Local Council which Condemned Photius, Constantinople, 869: (Rejected by Eastern Orthodox)
- Definitions: --- SMD
- Canons: --- SMD

Early Church Documents: COUNCILS OF THE CHURCH

Early Church Documents:
COUNCILS OF THE CHURCH