Formation of Doctrine

Formation of Doctrine

The Ecumenical Councils are the primary mechanism for authoritative doctrinal definition in the Orthodox Church. When a heresy threatened the unity or integrity of the faith, bishops from across the Christian world would gather, ideally representing the whole Church, to deliberate, pray, debate, and discern what Scripture and Tradition truly teach.

These councils did not operate democratically or by simple majority vote. Their aim was unanimity, the consensus fidelium, the mind of the Church, expressed through the bishops who carry apostolic authority. Agreement was sought not through power or numbers, but through fidelity to the received faith and the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

The first seven Ecumenical Councils, from Nicaea in 325 to Nicaea II in 787, defined the core doctrines of Christianity: the Trinity, Christology, and the veneration of icons. Their decisions are considered infallible and permanently binding because they represent the Church speaking with one voice under the direction of the Holy Spirit.

These councils are foundational to Orthodox identity. One cannot claim to be Orthodox while rejecting their teachings, as they articulate the boundaries of authentic Christian faith handed down from the Apostles.

Doctrine, however, does not develop through councils alone. The consensus of the Church Fathers, the great theologians and bishops of the early centuries such as Athanasius, Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, John Chrysostom, and Maximus the Confessor, also carries authoritative weight within the Church.

When the Fathers speak in harmony on a matter, their teaching is received as authoritative because of their proximity to the apostolic era and the Church’s recognition of their holiness and wisdom. A theological idea that contradicts the consistent witness of the Fathers is almost certainly in error.

For this reason, Orthodox theology is deeply patristic. Theological reflection is continually tested against the teachings of the Fathers, who are regarded as trustworthy interpreters of Scripture and Tradition, rather than relying solely on individual reasoning or private interpretation of the Bible.