Council of Shirakavan

Council of Shirakavan
Date862
Accepted byArmenian Apostolic Church
Eastern Orthodox Church
Previous council
Council of Manzikert
Next council
Council of Hromkla
LocationShirakavan
Chronological list of ecumenical councils

The Council of Shirakavan (or Shirakawan) (Armenian: Շիրակավանի ժողով, romanized: Širakavani žoġov) was a union council held between the Eastern Orthodox Church, the Armenian Apostolic Church, and the Syriac Jacobite Church from April to October 862 in the Armenian city of Shirakavan.[1] The purpose of the council was to seek unity among these three Churches and to clarify the Christological positions upheld by the Armenian Apostolic Church and, to a lesser extent, by the Syriac Jacobite Church.

The council was made possible by the support of the leaders of the different Churches, Photios I of Constantinople and Zacharias I of Armenia.[1][2] The backing of the Bagratid King of Armenia, Ashot the Great, further strengthened the possibility of the council, which finally took place in 862. Photios later considered this council a success, but it was forgotten due to changes in political alliances and the Abbasid support for Ashot.[3][4]

However, even if it was forgotten after taking place, the council is still recognized by the Armenian Apostolic Church.[5]

  1. ^ a b Igor Dorfmann-Lazaref, Arméniens et Byzantins à l'époque de Photius : deux débats théologiques après le Triomphe de l'orthodoxie, éd. Peeters, 2006
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