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Fourth Ecumenical Council

325 bytes removed, 21:54, August 9, 2013
History
This definition, where the distinction between Christ's two natures and the unity of His personhood are both emphasized, was aimed not only at the Monophysites, but also the followers of [[Nestorianism|Nestorius]].
Concerning the visible organization of the Church, Canon 28 confirmed Canon 3 of the [[Second Ecumenical Council|Second Council]] and left affirmed the assignment of Constantinople, or New Rome, second as equal in honor after with the 'old' Rome. This was a blow to the Alexandrians and their desire to "rule supreme" in the east. Leo of Rome rejected this canon, but the east has always recognized its validity. The Council also freed Jerusalem from the [[jurisdiction]] of [[Caesarea]] and gave it the fifth place in honor, thus creating what is known by the Orthodox as the '[[Pentarchy]]'. This Pentarchy settled the order of precedence. In order of rank:#Rome#& Constantinople
#Alexandria
#Antioch
Regarding the first misunderstanding, the Orthodox do not view the Church from the standpoint of ecclesiastical order, but from the perspective of divine right. They see all bishops as essentially equal, regardless of the prominence of the city which they oversee. They are all divinely appointed teachers of the faith, they all share in Apostolic succession and they all have sacramental powers. If a dispute arises, it is not enough for any one bishop to express his opinion; all diocesan bishops have the right to attend a general council, express their opinion and cast a vote. The system of the Pentarchy does not impair the essential quality of each bishop nor does it strip the local community of the significance Ignatius assigned it.
Regarding the second misunderstanding, the Orthodox do not accept the doctrine of Papal authority as established in 1870 by the Vatican Council and taught in the Roman Catholic Church today. But neither do they deny Rome its place of primacy, as she is first in honor as set up by the second Council. It was Rome, after all, who stayed most true to the faith during many of the [[heresy|heresies]] over the centuries. Where the Orthodox see Rome going wrong is when they turned this place of the 'primacy' in love ' (as St. Ignatius called it) into a place of supremacy of external jurisdiction and power. And so the primacy assigned to Rome 'Primacy in love' does not overthrow the essential equality of all bishops. The Pope may be the 'first Bishop in the Church,' but he is first among equals.
==Commemoration ==

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