noun
(early Christian church) one of seven gatherings of bishops from around the known world under the presidency of the Pope to regulate matters of faith and morals and discipline
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the first seven councils through 787 are considered to be ecumenical councils by both the Roman Catholic church and the Eastern Orthodox church but the next fourteen councils are considered ecumenical only by the Roman Catholic church
• Hypernyms: ↑council
• Hyponyms:
↑Nicaea, ↑First Council of Nicaea, ↑Constantinople, ↑First Council of Constantinople, ↑Ephesus, ↑Council of Ephesus, ↑Chalcedon, ↑Council of Chalcedon, ↑Second Council of Constantinople, ↑Third Council of Constantinople, ↑Second Council of Nicaea
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a solemn assembly in the Roman Catholic Church, convoked and presided over by the pope and composed of cardinals, bishops, and certain other prelates whose decrees, when confirmed by the pope, become binding.
Also, Ecumenical Council.
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ecumenical council
One of the seven general councils convened by the undivided Catholic Church between 325AD and 787
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Main Entry: ↑council
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ecumenical council,
a general church council supposed to represent the world-wide Christian Church. An ecumenical council of the Roman Catholic Church is one that is called by the Pope for a special purpose.
Useful english dictionary. 2012.