#175 - Reflections on the 21 Ecumenical Councils

#175 - Reflections on the 21 Ecumenical Councils

From Why Catholic? by Justin Hibbard

April 14, 2026 · 20 min

About this episode

Justin Hibbard reflects on the 21 Ecumenical Councils and the lessons learned from them.

Justin Hibbard reflects on the 21 Ecumenical Councils with 6 lessons learned. What is the point of an ecumenical council? How did geopolitics play a role in these councils? What do these councils teach us about the problem of schism? How do these councils speak to the Catholic Church being the historic, true church? What’s the relationship between some of the councils and the crusades? And what is our responsibility today with respect to these councils? SOCIAL LINKS * Follow Why Catholic on Instagram. * Subscribe to Why Catholic on YouTube. * Follow Justin on Facebook. PREVIOUS EPISODES IN THIS SERIES * Episode 146: Introduction to the 21 Ecumenical Councils * Episode 147: The World that Led to the Council of Nicaea * Episode 148: The First Council of Nicaea (325) * Episode 149: From Nicaea to Constantinople * Episode 150: The First Council of Constantinople (381) * Episode 151: The Council of Ephesus (431) * Episode 152: The Council of Chalcedon (451) * Episode 153: The Second Council of Constantinople (553) * Episode 154: War Among the Monotheists * Episode 155: The Third Council of Constantinople (680-681) * Episode 156: The Second Council of Nicaea (787) * Episode 157…

People in this episode

Host: Justin Hibbard

Topics covered

  • Ecumenical Councils
  • Catholic Church
  • schism
  • geopolitics
  • historical lessons

Keywords

  • Ecumenical Councils
  • Catholic Church
  • schism
  • geopolitics
  • crusades
  • historical lessons

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: 21 Ecumenical Councils

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