This week in Christian history: Conservative UMC group formed, Fourth Council of Constantinople begins, John of Capistrano enters order
Fourth Council of Constantinople begins — Oct. 5, 869
This week marks the anniversary of when the Fourth Council of Constantinople began to hold sessions, the initial meeting taking place at the cathedral of Hagia Sophia in modern-day Istanbul, Turkey.
The clergy met until February of the following year, and the council upheld an earlier decision to excommunicate Patriarch of Constantinople Photius, who had drawn controversy for his issues with the Roman papacy.
The council also weighed in on other issues, including the investiture controversy, a longstanding Medieval-era debate over whether secular authorities or Church leaders had the ultimate right to appoint bishops.
“This holy and universal synod declares and decrees, in agreement with earlier councils, that the promotion and consecration of bishops should be done by means of an election and decision of the college of bishops,” stated one of the council’s approved canons.
“So it promulgates as law that no lay authority or ruler may intervene in the election or promotion of a patriarch, a metropolitan or any bishop, lest there be any irregularity leading to improper confusion or quarrelling, especially since it is wrong for any ruler or other lay person to have any influence in such matters.”
