Council of Chalcedon
October 8 - November 1, 451 CE · Classical Antiquity
Emperor Marcian convoked the Council of Chalcedon, the fourth ecumenical council attended by approximately 520 bishops. Held in Chalcedon (modern Kadıköy, Turkey), the council addressed theological controversies regarding Christ's nature, refuting Eutyches' teachings that emphasized Christ's divinity over his humanity. The council formulated the Chalcedonian Definition, declaring Christ to be 'truly God and truly human' with two distinct natures 'without confusion, change, division, or separation.' The council elevated Constantinople's ecclesiastical status to equal Rome's, contributing to tensions between Eastern and Western churches that led to the Great Schism of 1054.
Key Figures
Emperor MarcianPope Leo IEutyches
Locations
Chalcedon
Topics
christianityroman empiretheologyecumenical council
Connected Events — 2 Connections
Chalcedon's theological divisions created competing Byzantine and Monophysite missions to Nubian kingdoms Christianization of the Nubian Kingdoms
Established the precedent of imperial-convened ecumenical councils that Chalcedon directly followed, with Chalcedon specifically building upon Nicaea's christological foundation by defining Christ's dual nature while maintaining the 'one substance' doctrine First Council of Nicaea
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