Universal Unity

The universal unity of the Orthodox Church requires unity in all things, and the Church again and again turns for reasoning and guidance to the eternal legacy of the Holy Ecumenical Councils, to the inexhaustable treasury of dogmatic and canonical truths.

Today we celebrate the Commemoration of the Holy Fathers of the First Six Ecumenical Councils. (The Seventh Ecumenical Council convened after this celebration was established in the 6th century.)

The Church venerates the Holy Fathers of the Ecumenical Councils because Christ has established them as “lights upon the earth,” guiding us to the true Faith. An Ecumenical Council is comprised of archpastors and pastors of the Church, and representatives of all the local Churches, from every land of the “oikumene” (i.e. from all the whole inhabited world).

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