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Edited from a variety of translations (mentioned in the preface) by H. R. Percival
THE ECUMENICAL COUNCILS Resources Online and in Print
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82 Pages
Page 3
1. This Council was certainly Ecumenical.
It seems strange that any person familiar with the facts of the case could for a moment entertain a doubt as to the ecumenical character of the council which met at Nice in 787.
(a) It was called by the Roman Emperors to be an Ecumenical Council. Vide letter of Tarasius.
(b) It was called with the approval of the Pope (not like I. Constantinople, without his knowledge; or like Chalcedon, contrary to his expressed wish), and two papal legates were present at its deliberations and signed its decrees.
(c) The Patriarch of Constantinople was present in person.
(d) The other Patriarchates were represented, although on account of the Moslem tyranny the Patriarchs could not attend in person, nor could they even send proctors.
(e) The decrees were adopted by an unanimous vote of the three hundred and fifty bishops.
(f) They were immediately received in all the four Eastern Patriarchates. [510]
(g) They were immediately accepted by the Pope.
(h) For a full thousand years they have been received by the Latin and Greek Churches with but a few exceptions altogether insignificant, save the Frankish kingdom.
In the face of such undisputed facts, it would be strange were anyone to doubt the historical fact that the Second Council of Nice is one of the Ecumenical Councils of the Catholic Church, and indeed so far as I am aware none have done so except such as have been forced into this position for doctrinal consistency.
[510] "It is certain," confesses Dr. Neale (History of the Holy Eastern Church, Vol. II., p. 113; in his attempt to overthrow the authority of this council) "that Politian approved (S. Theod. Stud. Ep. xviij.) although he was not present at the council of Nicaea; and the controversy, which had never much disturbed Africa, may henceforth be considered as terminated in the Diocese of Alexandria."
Reference address : https://www.elpenor.org/ecumenical-councils/seventh.asp?pg=3
