| SUNDAY OF THE FATHERS OF THE FIRST SIX ECUMENICAL COUNCILS
This feast is celebrated on July 13th, if it is a Sunday, or on the first
Sunday following that date.
We commemorate on this date the Fathers (Bishops, priests, etc.) who took part in the
first six councils of the Church. These men from all the then known parts of the world,
met together at various time an places (Nicea, Ephesus, etc.) and under the inspiration of
the Holy Spirit decided and set down the dogmas/doctrines of the Catholic Faith which we
hold to this day. These main ones are chanted/read/recited in all the Liturgies of the
Eastern/Byzantine Churches, even in Funeral and Marriage Liturgies.
These councils were usually summoned by the Emperor and approved by the then Pope who
usually sent representatives.
They were summoned to counteract various heresies and are false teachings that had
arisen. And through the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit presented to the faithful the
true teaching of the church which even to this day, must be held by all
Christians/Catholics.
Troparion
(Eighth Tone)
Christ our God, you are above all glory, for you have established our Holy
Fathers as radiant stars on earth, and through them you have guided us all to the true
faith. Most Merciful One, glory to You!
Kontakion
(Eighth Tone)
The Apostles’ preaching and the Fathers’ teaching have established a single
faith in the Church. Since this Church is now robed with the mantle of truth woven by
inspired theology, it properly explains and glorifies the great mystery of the faith.
O Word of God and Lover of Mankind, Infinite and beyond description in your becoming
Man for our sake: the noble assembly of Fathers proclaimed that You are both perfect Man
and perfect God, one Person in two perfect natures, with two perfect wills. Wherefore we
profess that You are one God with the Father and the Holy Spirit, and singing a hymn of
praise to the Fathers, we adore You!
O glorious Fathers of the Councils, you demonstrated that
Pyrrhus, Sergius, Onuphrius
and Dioscorus were in error as well as Nestorius concerning their doctrines on Christ. You
save the flock by teaching the true principle that Christ is one divine Person in two
natures. This Christ we adore as perfect Man and perfect God, one with the Father and the
Holy Spirit. 0 holy Fathers, we honor you and sing to you a hymn of praise!
The Fathers of the Councils, inspired by God, declare and explain that in Christ there
is a divine Act and a divine Will, uncreated and infinite : the Act and Will of the Son of
God; and a human Act and human Will: those of the Son of Man. Thus did they proclaim that
Christ is one divine Person having two natures, those of God and of Man. Wherefore we the
faithful honor these Fathers every year, and glorify Christ who glorified them.
The Fathers of the Council proclaim to us today that the eternal Trinity is one God and
one Lord, explaining to us that it is of one nature, consubstantial, of one will and one
act, not divided nor shared but existing in the simplicity of God’s being; and
defining that this will and act of God have no beginning and will never have an end.
‘Wherefore we the faithful glorify these Fathers as the Equals of the Apostles, for
they taught all mankind the true doctrine of God.
Glory he to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and always and for
ever and ever. Amen.
O HOLY FATHERS OF THE COUNCILS, you are the faithful keepers of the Apostles’
tradition. By proclaiming that the three Persons of the Holy Trinity are one and
consubstantial, you refuted the blasphemy of Arius; by teaching that the Holy Spirit is a
distinct Person, one with the Father and the Son, you put Macedonius, Severus and other
heretics to shame. Wherefore we beseech you to intercede for us, preserving us from heresy
and error and keeping our lives blameless in God’s sight.
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