Local council under St Photios (widely received; held by some as the Eighth)Documented
First and Second Council of Constantinople
Πρωτοδευτέρα Σύνοδος
- Date
- 861
- Location
- Constantinople
Held under St Photios; its Canon 15 defines the one case in which ceasing to commemorate a bishop is not schism but is “worthy of honour.”
Historical background
- Meeting after the Iconoclast crisis, the council regulated monastic and disciplinary matters. A first session dispersed and a second continued it, hence “First and Second.”
Principal dispute
- The conditions under which a cleric may cease commemorating his bishop.
Dogmatic result
- Canons 13 to 14 forbid separation for personal or procedural cause before a synodical verdict; Canon 15 excepts the case of a bishop publicly preaching an already condemned heresy.
Key canons
- Canon 15Open →
The charter of apoteichisis, Greek text, translation and the disputed interpretations.
- Canons 13 to 14
Restrain separation from one's bishop for non doctrinal causes.
Later reception
- Its canons were received into the canonical corpus; a number of later authorities (Balsamon, Symeon of Thessalonica, and others) treated the council as of ecumenical weight.
Disputed questions
- Whether Canon 15's exception is permissive or obligatory.
- What counts as an “already condemned” heresy that triggers it.
Bibliography
- G. A. Rhalles & M. Potles, Σύνταγμα, vol. 2.
- Pēdalion (Rudder), on the First and Second Council.