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This week in Christian history: Aimee Semple McPherson born, Criswell College, Chalcedon Council

By Michael Gryboski, Editor

Council of Chalcedon begins — October 8, 451

A nineteenth century painting of the Fourth Ecumenical Council of Chalcedon, which took place in AD 451 in what is now Turkey.
A nineteenth century painting of the Fourth Ecumenical Council of Chalcedon, which took place in AD 451 in what is now Turkey. | Public Domain

This week marks the anniversary of when the Council of Chalcedon, the fourth ecumenical council in church history, held its opening session in modern day Turkey.

At issue was an early church heresy which claimed that the human nature of Jesus Christ had been completely eliminated by his divine nature, rather than the orthodox teaching which said that Jesus was both fully human and fully divine.

The council was convoked by Byzantine Emperor Marcian and was attended by more than 500 church leaders, including bishops and people representative bishops.

“Besides reinforcing canons of earlier church councils as well as declarations of some local synods, the council issued disciplinary decrees affecting monks and clergy and declared Jerusalem and Constantinople patriarchates. The overall effect was to give the church a more stable institutional character,” explained Britannica.   

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