The seven ecumenical councils addressed many issues troubling the church at the times they were held. The list below highlights only the major issues dealt with at each council.

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First Ecumenical Council: Nicaea I (325)

At the First Council of Nicaea, the Nicene Creed was approved, defining true Divinity of the Son of God, and set the date for keeping Easter no longer tied to the Jewish Passover.

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Second Ecumenical Council: Constantinople I (381)

At the First Council of Constantinople, the heresy of Macedonius was refuted, affirming the Divinity of the Holy Ghost. It added to the Nicene Creed additional wording referring to the Holy Ghost, as well as the rest of the third section.

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Third Ecumenical Council: Ephesus (431)

The Council of Ephesus defined the true personal unity of Christ, that he was one person, and declared Mary to be the 'Mother of God', refuting the Nestorians. They renewed the condemnation of Pelagius, who taught that man is perfectible by his own efforts, essentially denying original sin.

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Fourth Ecumenical Council: Chalcedon (451)

The Council of Chalcedon declared that Christ had two natures (Divine and human) in one person. This countered the 'Monophysite' heresy, which taught that Christ had only one nature.

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Fifth Ecumenical Council: Constantinople II (553)

The Second General Council of Constantinople condemned errors of Origen and certain others. It also confirmed the authority of the first four general councils. This last was necessary because the authority of Chalcedon was being questioned.

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Sixth Ecumenical Council: Constantinople III (680-681)

The Third General Council of Constantinople defined two wills in Christ, the Divine and the human, as two distinct principles of operation, refuting the heresy of 'Monothelitism'.

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Seventh Ecumenical Council: Nicaea II (787)

The Second Council of Nicaea regulated the veneration of holy images. The problem being addressed was that 'iconoclasm', or destruction of images. The violence of the iconoclasts was disrupting the peace and order of the churches.