166 COUNCILS, The Seven Ecumenical Councils of the Roman Catholic Church, Sylvester Hassell The seven so-called Ecumenical or Universal Councils were held as follows: 1st Nicaea, 325; 2nd. Constantinople, 381; 3rd. Ephesus, 431; 4th. Chalcedon, 451; 5th. Constantinople, 553; 6th. Constantinople, 680; and 7th. Nicaea, 787. Their doctrinal decisions are regarded as infallible by both the Greek and Latin Catholics; and Protestants generally receive the creeds of the first four councils as scriptural, these four creeds affirming the divinity and personality of Christ and the Holy Ghost; and the twofold nature of Christ, that he is perfect man and perfect God. The 7th council sanctioned the worship of images. All these seven councils were summoned by the Roman Emperor, and generally presided over by him, and their decisions were ratified by him. Instead of the Elders and brethren taking part (as in Acts xv.), only “Bishops,” the pretended successors of the Apostles, were allowed to vote in them.” (Hassell’s History pg 383)