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A.D. 680 - Third Council of Constantinople

The sixth ecumenical council, held at Constantinople A. D. 680, was summoned by the Eastern emperor Constantine Pogonatus. who presided in it himself. In this council all the great patriarchs were present personally or by representatives, pope Agatho being represented by legates ; and the number of bishops, small at first, increased to near 200. This council condemned the Monothelites, who held that Christ had but one will, and condemned by name the deceased pope Honorius and others as heretics. The emperor confirmed the decrees of the council and enforced them with penalties. The condemnation of pope Honorius was also approved by pope Agatho, and likewise in express terms by his successor pope Leo II., and still later by pope Hadrian II., and was mentioned in all the copies of the Roman breviary up to the 16th century.

The Sixth Ecumenical Council met on November 7, 680, for its first session, and ended its meetings, which are said to have been eighteen in number, on September 16th of the next year. The number of bishops present was under three hundred and the minutes of the last session have only 174 signatures attached to them. When the Emperor first summoned the council he had no intention that it should be ecumenical. From the Sacras it appears that he had summoned all the Metropolitans and bishops of the jurisdiction of Constantinople, and had also informed the Archbishop of Antioch that he might send Metropolitans and bishops. A long time before he had written to Pope Agatho on the subject.

When the synod assembled however, it assumed at its first session the title "Ecumenical," and all the five patriarchs were represented, Alexandria and Jerusalem having sent deputies although they were at the time in the hands of the infidel. In this Council the Emperor presided in person surrounded by high court officials. On his right sat the Patriarchs of Constantinople and Antioch and next to them the representative of the Patriarch of Alexandria. On the Emperor's left were seated the representatives of the Pope. In the midst were placed, as usual, the Holy Gospels. After the eleventh session however the Emperor was no longer able to be present, but returned and presided at the closing meeting.