Page "Eastern Orthodox Church" Paragraph 18

There have been a number of times when alternative theological ideas arose to challenge the Orthodox faith.

At such times the Church deemed it necessary to convene a general or " Great " council of all available bishops throughout the world.

The Church considers the first seven Ecumenical Councils ( held between the 4th and the 8th century ) to be the most important ; however, there have been more, specifically the Synods of Constantinople, 879 – 880, 1341, 1347, 1351, 1583, 1819, and 1872, the Synod of Iaşi ( Jassy ), 1642, and the Pan-Orthodox Synod of Jerusalem, 1672, all of which helped to define the Orthodox position.