View source for Fourth Council of Constantinople

The '''Fourth Council of Constantinople''' of 869 - 870, the eighth ecumenical council for the [[w:Catholic Church|Catholic Church]], is recognised only by the Catholic Church but rejected by the [[w:Orthodox Church|Orthodox Church]]. 

== Topic ==

The core topic of this council was the dispute between the Byzantine patriarch [[w:Photios I of Constantinople|Photius I]] and [[w:Pope Nicholas I|Pope Nicholas I]]. The council, in which only very few bishops took part, excommunicated and banished Photius.

The [[two-soul doctrine]] advocated by Photius, according to which [[man]] has a higher, immortal spirit-soul and an earthly, transient soul, was banned. The doctrine of [[trichotomy]], according to which man consists of [[spirit]], [[soul]] and [[body]], has since been regarded as heresy in the Roman Catholic Church: 

{{Quote|While the Old and New Testaments teach that man has only one rational and intellectual soul (unam animam rationabilem et intellectualem), and all the divinely learned Fathers and Teachers of the Church affirm this very opinion, some, taking up the inventions of the wicked, have stooped to such sacrilege as to brazenly proclaim the doctrine that he has two souls (duas eum habere animas); further, in certain unreasonable endeavours, they attempt to affirm their own heresy with learning which has proved foolish.<br>
Therefore, this holy and universal Synod hastens to uproot this worthless opinion, which wants to sprout like the worst weeds, and, carrying in its hand the shovel of truth, and wanting to consign all the chaff to an unquenchable fire and to purify the threshing-floor of Christ, it curses with a loud voice the authors and representatives of this impiety and all those who allow similar things to be valid in these matters. She decrees and announces that henceforth no one may in any way possess and keep the principles of the authors of this ungodliness.<br>
But if any man shall presume to act contrary to this holy and great synod, let him be accursed and excluded from the faith and worship of Christians.|Concilium Constantinopolitanum IV|- Documenta|ref=<ref>"Veteri et novo testamento unam animam rationabilem et intellectualem habere hominem docente, et omnibus deiloquis patribus et magistris ecclesiae eamdem opinionem asseverantibus, in tantum impietatis quidem, malorum inventionibus dantes operam, devenerunt, ut duas eum habere animas impudenter dogmatizare, et quibusdam irrationalibus conatibus per sapientiam, quae stulta facta est, propriam haeresim confirmare pertentent.<br> Itaque sancta haec et universalis synodus, veluti quoddam pessimum zizanium, nunc germinantem nequam opinionem, evellere festinans; imo vero ventilabrum in manu veritatis portans, et igni inextinguibili transmittere omnem paleam, et aream Christi mundam exhibere volens, talis impietatis inventores et patratores, et his similia sentientes, magna voce anathematizat, et definit, atque promulgat, neminem prorsus habere, vel servare quoquo modo statuta huius impietatis auctorum.<br> 
Si autem quis contraria gerere praesumpserit huic sanctae et magnae synodo, anathema sit, et a fide atque cultura christianorum alienus." [http://www.documentacatholicaomnia.eu/04z/z_0869-0870__Concilium_Constantinopolitanum_IV__Documenta__LT.doc.html Concilium Constantinopolitanum IV - Documenta]</ref>}}

== Literature ==

* [[a:Renate Riemeck|Renate Riemeck]]: ''Glaube - Dogma - Macht - Geschichte der Konzilien'', Urachhaus Vlg., Stuttgart 1985, p. 86ff
* [[Rudolf Steiner]]: ''Anthroposophie – Psychosophie – Pneumatosophie'', [[GA 115]] (2001), ISBN 3-7274-1150-3 {{Lectures|115}}
* [[Rudolf Steiner]]: ''Bausteine zu einer Erkenntnis des Mysteriums von Golgatha'', [[GA 175]] (1996), ISBN 3-7274-1750-1 {{Lectures|175}}
* [[Rudolf Steiner]]: ''Erdensterben und Weltenleben. Anthroposophische Lebensgaben. Bewußtseins-Notwendigkeiten für Gegenwart und Zukunft'', [[GA 181]] (1991), ISBN 3-7274-1810-9 {{Lectures|181}} 

{{GA}}

== Weblinks ==
* [http://www.documentacatholicaomnia.eu/01_10_0869-0869-_Concilium_Constantinopolitanum_IV.html Concilium Constantinopolitanum IV Documenta Omnia 869-870] ({{Latin}})
* [http://www.documentacatholicaomnia.eu/04z/z_0869-0869__Concilium_Constantinopolitanum_IV__Documenta_Omnia__EN.pdf.html Fourth Council of Constantinople : 869-870] (English translation)
* [[a:Markus Osterrieder|Markus Osterrieder]]: [https://www.academia.edu/31344697/Verschweigen_des_Geistes_Einige_Anmerkungen_zur_geistesgeschichtlichen_Bedeutung_des_Konzils_von_869_70 Verschweigen des Geistes. Einige Anmerkungen zur geistesgeschichtlichen Bedeutung des Konzils von 869/70] auf [https://www.academia.edu academia.edu]

== References ==
<references />

[[Category:Theology]]
[[de:Viertes Konzil von Konstantinopel]]