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Council of Chalcedon

Defines Christ as one person in two natures without confusion, change, division, or separation.

Ecumenical Council (Chalcedon)AD 4515th century

Overview

Category
Councils
Genre
Council Decree
Tradition
Conciliar
Region
Mediterranean
Original language
Greek and Latin
Date certainty
Exact

Historical context

Manuscript context

Council of Chalcedon circulated in Mediterranean and is received through Greek and Latin manuscript and translation traditions associated with Ecumenical Council (Chalcedon).

Themes

Doctrinal DefinitionChurch CanonConciliar GovernanceChristology

Controversies

  • Christological debates
  • Conciliar reception and canon disputes

Source links

  • English translation

    www.newadvent.org · Source quality: Primary · Last checked: 2026-02-28

  • Archive mirror

    web.archive.org · Source quality: Archive · Last checked: 2026-02-28

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Timeline position

Council of Chalcedon

Related documents

  • Council of Ephesus

    Ecumenical Council (Ephesus)AD 431

    Affirms Christ's personal unity and safeguards Marian title Theotokos as part of orthodox Christology.

  • First Council of Nicaea

    Ecumenical Council (Nicaea I)AD 325

    Defines key Christological boundaries against Arianism and issues canons shaping universal church order.

  • Second Council of Constantinople

    Ecumenical Council (Constantinople II)AD 553

    Reinforces Chalcedonian Christology while addressing ongoing controversies in post-Ephesus theological reception.

  • Third Council of Constantinople

    Ecumenical Council (Constantinople III)AD 680-681

    Rejects monothelitism and confesses Christ's two wills in harmony with his two natures.

  • Second Council of Nicaea

    Ecumenical Council (Nicaea II)AD 787

    Affirms the veneration of icons in continuity with incarnation theology while distinguishing worship from honor.

  • First Council of Constantinople

    Ecumenical Council (Constantinople I)AD 381

    Reaffirms Nicene faith, extends trinitarian clarification, and stabilizes doctrinal boundaries for the imperial church.

  • Council in Trullo (Quinisext)

    Council of Constantinople (Trullo)AD 692

    Issues disciplinary canons to consolidate conciliar practice, clerical order, and liturgical norms in the East.

  • Letters

    Leo the Greatmid 5th century

    Includes major christological and pastoral correspondence, especially the Tome that shaped Chalcedonian definition.