Second Council of Constantinople

The second Council of Constantinople Opel (the fifth ecumenical council ) was 553, chaired by Eutychius, Patriarch of Constantinople Opel, instead, seek to resolve questions that arose from the decisions of the Council of Chalcedon (451 ), at the core of the question the relationship of the divine and human natures of Christ turned to each other and now for a full century, the Christians split (see Monophysitism ). The specific occasion of the meeting was the so-called Three Chapters controversy. The council, the last of the five major church gatherings in late antiquity, it rejected three older Christian writings than in error located, since they are essentially Nestorian nature; as part of a compromise, however, was expressly waives, so to designate their authors as heretics.

Convened it was the Eastern Roman Emperor Justinian, who also personally intervened in the discussion, however, was not even present. The most prominent participants were the patriarchs of Antioch and Alexandria. The number of participating bishops from the West was low. The Roman bishop ( Pope ) Vigilius - now virtually undisputed master of Latin Christendom - namely stayed in Constantinople Opel, but was not present at the meeting, but as the Patriarch of Jerusalem was represented by legates. Vigilius, who was no match for the imperial pressure and superior Byzantine diplomacy which laid bare him through the publication of confidential statements, finally ( Constitutum I until February 554 already in May 553, Constitutum II) all decisions of the Council accepted in two steps, even if this is in the west ( especially in Italy ) led to protracted disputes, as it was here, many believed that the condemnation of the " Three Chapters " was unlawful and constituted a victory for the Monophysites dar. in Italy, it would take 140 years until all bishops, the results of 553 accepted. Nevertheless, the Synod received through the approval of Vigilius ecumenical rank, their decisions are therefore now recognized by the Orthodox, Catholic and Protestant churches.

The council - but possibly also only a short it held connection assembly - also has the idea of ​​pre-existence of the soul condemned, which was once postulated by Origen and some of his students. Above all, his teaching was ( Panton Apokatastasis ) of the Allaussöhnung, the final reconciliation of the gracious God with all creatures, even unrepentant sinners and unbelievers, finally discarded.

An alleged condemnation of reincarnation and the associated deletion of corresponding passages in the Bible by the Council ( as it is claimed by some followers of a Christian doctrine of reincarnation again and again) are not mentioned in the Latin documents. In addition, the number of surviving manuscripts of the New Testament writings know from the period prior to the Council no evidence for reincarnation; the same is true for the Old Testament.

The Greek Acts of the Council were destroyed 681 because they were considered mistaken for a fake.