First Council of Constantinople (381)

Convened by emperors Theodosius I and Gratian in 381 to counter Arianism, Macedonianism, and to judge the case of Maximus the Cynic, the intrusive bishop of Constantinople. Maximus was condemned and was replaced with Gregory of Nazianzus by Meletius, bishop of Antioch. Meletius was the presider until his death, with Gregory as the succeeding presider. Acholius, bishop of Thessalonica, acted at the command of pope Damasus I; the demands were to expel Maximus and to avoid the translation of bishops. Timothy, bishop of Alexandria, arrived and declared Gregory’s episcopacy as invalid because of his translation from Sasima to Constantinople, causing Gregory to resign and Nectarius to succeed him as bishop of Constantinople and presider of the council. 150 orthodox bishops from the east and 36 heretical bishops attended. There are no surviving copies of the council’s doctrinal decisions, but the Synod of Constantinople has survived and expounded on the doctrines of the Ecumenical Council. The Nicene Creed was expounded on by the council.