1. Ecumenical Councils
The Coptic Church offered the world many of the top Christian thinkers and writers across the ages. These were leaders when the churches worldwide had to hold several local and universal councils to defend the purity of the faith against heresies (wrong teachings)
Universal Council Alexandrian Pope # Attendees
Nicea Alexandros June 325 Athanasius, Apostolic
Constantinople Timotheos March 381
Ephesus Cyril, Pillar of Faith June 431
Schism in Chalcedon Dioscorus October 451

2. Holding to Sound Doctrine
1Co 11:23 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: ... (Eucharist)
1Co 15:3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: ... (Resurrection)
Jude 3 I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.
Tit 1:9 holding fast the faithful word as he (the bishop) has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict.
Tit 2:1 But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine

3. What is the meaning of “Ecumenical Council”?
Which Ecumenical Councils does the Coptic Church recognize?
What was Arius’ heresy and how did the Church counter it?
What was Apollinarius’ heresy and how did the Church counter it?
What was Macedonius’ heresy and how did the Church counter it?
What was Nestorius’ heresy and how did the Church counter it?
What was Eutyches’ heresy and how did it lead to the Church schism?
How were the heretics able to spread their wrong teachings?
How can the Church protect the faith against diversions, errors, misuses or misinterpretations?

4. The Doctrine of the Trinity
The Great Commission
18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

5. The Doctrine of the Divinity of Christ
8 Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us.”
9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works. 11 Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves. (John 14:8-11)

6. The Logos is the Creator
“In the beginning was the Word (LOGOS), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John 1:1)
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” (Genesis 1:1)
“Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men.” (John 1:3)
“The Word became flesh and his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14)
The Logos is the Creator
Incarnation of the Logos

7. Holding to Sound Doctrine
The Holy Trinity
One “ousia”, three “hypostases”
The Father, the Son (the LOGOS) and the Holy Spirit are the total reality of the one God
One “substantia” (substance / essence) – being
The Incarnation of the Logos – mia-physis
Christ is fully Divine and fully human but in ONE united nature without separation, confusion or alteration
One nature of the incarnate Logos
Hypostatic union
One composite nature
Of two natures (not in two natures)

8. Fourth to Mid Fifth Century
Abba Petros (Peter), Seal of the Martyrs 293 A.D. 10 yrs 11 mons
18. Abba Achillas 303 A.D. 6 mons
19. Abba Alexandros 303 A.D. 22 yrs 10 mons
Abba Athanasius, The Apostolic 326 A.D. 46 yrs
21. Abba Petros II 372 A.D. 5 yrs 9 mons
22. Abba Timotheos 378 A.D. 6 yrs 5 mons
23. Abba Theophilos 384 A.D. 27 yrs 2 mons
Abba Kyrillos (Cyril), Pillar of Faith 412 A.D. 31 yrs 8 mons
25. Abba Dioscorus 443 A.D. 14 yrs 2 mons

10. Historical Setting Roman Empire West – Rome Roman – Latin
East – Constantinople Byzantine – Greek
Major Churches and Culture Centers
Rome
Antioch Alexandria (major school) (major school)
Constantinople Jerusalem

11. Arius’ heresy
Denied the divinity of Christ – the Logos had a beginning / was created
St Athanasius: “On the Incarnation”
The Council of Nicea – the Nicene Creed – one essence with the Father
Apollinarius’ heresy
The Logos (the divinity) replaced the human spirit in Christ
St Athanasius: three-volume book against the heresy – the Council of Constantinople
Macedonius’ heresy
Denied the divinity of the Holy Spirit
The Council of Constantinople – last section of the Creed – “we worship Him”
Nestorius’ heresy
The divine and human natures of Christ were separate – no union
St Cyril: two letters against Nestorius
The Council of Ephesus – Theotokos as the title for St Mary
Eutyches’ heresy
The divine and human natures of Christ were fused in one, the divine
Created the monophysite / diophysite controversy – the Council of Chalcedon

12. Ecumenical Councils (4th to mid 5th Century)
Nicea Arius: Denied the Abba Alexandros 318
June 325 Divinity of the Son Abba Athanasius The Creed
Apollinarius: The Logos Abba Athanasius 3 volume book
replaced the human spirit
Constantinople Macedonius: Denied Abba Timotheos 150
March 381 the Divinity of the Spirit Creed extended
Ephesus Nestorius: Separation Abba Cyril 200
June 431 in the Nature of Christ (Pillar of Faith) Union; Theotokos
Ephesus II Eutyches: Denied the Abba Dioscorus 130
August 449 humanity of Christ Affirming the faith
Chalcedon To reconsider the Abba Dioscorus ?
October 451 outcome of Ephesus II Schism

13. Problems from Chalcedon 451 A.D.
New formula of the faith concerning the nature of Christ (Christology): “In Two Natures” (Tome of Leo) instead of “Of Two Natures”
Two groups: Monophysites = one nature, and Diophysites = two natures
Political wish to bring down Alexandria and set-up Constantinople in its place as the leader of the Eastern Churches
The desire of Leo, Archbishop of Rome, to realize his Papal Supreme Authority over the Universal Church
St. Dioscorus, Archbishop of Alexandria, was exiled to the island of Gangara and a Patriarch, Proterius, supported by the rulers, was appointed in his place
Several attempts to reconcile the differences; e.g. “Henoticon” = the instrument of unity, by Emperor Zeno; and “Monothelitism” = the one-will formula, by Emperor Heraclius.
Egypt fell to the hands of the Persians from 617 to 627 A.D. - another form of suffering; then it was restored to the Byzantine Rule.
The Coptic Church which carried the Cross and suffered oppression, even at the hands of Sister Churches, experienced the invisible hand of God supporting Her.

14. What is the meaning of “Ecumenical Council”?
Which Ecumenical Councils does the Coptic Church recognize?
What was Arius’ heresy and how did the Church counter it?
What was Apollinarius’ heresy and how did the Church counter it?
What was Macedonius’ heresy and how did the Church counter it?
What was Nestorius’ heresy and how did the Church counter it?
What was Eutyches’ heresy and how did it lead to the Church schism?
How were the heretics able to spread their wrong teachings?
How can the Church protect the faith against diversions, errors, misuses or misinterpretations?
Universal council that involves the churches worldwide
Nicea in 325 Constantinople in 381 Ephesus in 431
Denied the divinity of Christ – the Logos had a beginning / was created
The Council of Nicea – the Nicean Creed – one essence with the Father
The Logos (the divinity) replaced the human spirit in Christ
St Athanasius wrote three-volume book against it – the Council of Constantinople
Denied the divinity of the Holy Spirit
The Council of Constantinople – last section of the Creed – “we worship Him”
The divine and human natures of Christ were separate – no union
The Council of Ephesus – Theotokos as the title for St Mary
The divine and human natures of Christ were fused in one, the divine
Created the monophysite / diophysite controversy – the Council of Chalcedon
Popularity, politics and pressure
The Bible – all teaching must be consistent with the Bible
Preserving the sound doctrine (teaching) of the fathers