Revisiting the First Ecumenical Councils: Historical Perspectives and Contemporary Relevance
A special issue of Religions (ISSN 2077-1444).
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 1 April 2025 | Viewed by 55
Special Issue Editor
Interests: historical theology (especially the first ecumenical councils); theology of Martin Luther; Dietrich Bonhoeffer; Soren Kierkegaard; dialogue between religions; philosophy and science; Christianity and secularism; Christianity and human ideologies
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
This Special Issue, titled “Revisiting the First Ecumenical Councils: Historical Perspectives and Contemporary Relevance”, seeks to examine the great influence of the first seven ecumenical councils on the evolution of Christian doctrine and their continuing relevance in modern theological debate. Held between the fourth and the eighth centuries, these councils settled important theological disputes, like the nature of Christ, the Holy Trinity, and the adoration of icons. They were essential in forming conventional Christian doctrine and behavior, promoting harmony within the early Church, and creating basic creeds such as the Nicene Creed. This Special Issue invites academics to review these historical settings, theological arguments, and council judgments, as well as to analyze their applicability to contemporary ecclesiastical and doctrinal difficulties. Contributions may include theological insights, historical studies, and debates on how different Christian traditions are shaped by the councils.
We look forward to receiving your contributions.
Prof. Dr. Michal Valčo
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a double-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Religions is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1800 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- ecumenical councils
- Nicene creed
- Christology
- trinity
- iconoclasm
- arianism
- nestorianism
- monophysitism
- church unity
- historical theology
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
- Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
- Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
- Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
- External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
- e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.
Further information on MDPI's Special Issue polices can be found here.
