QUESTION:

1/10/2010: 1. What is the Greek name of the prayer which begins "Holy, Holy, Holy Lord Sabaoth..."? It seems like it should be called a Trisagion prayer, but the Trisagion is the one that goes "Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy and Immortal..." 2. From whence do the seven "ecumenical" councils derive their formal validity? For example, how can the fourth council (Chalcedon)--which resulted in schism with the Monophysitic churches--be said to express the views of the entire church? (Isn't this a "no true Scotsman" type of argument?) And what about the so-called "Robber Council? It is tempting to conclude that the outcomes of these were more the result of worldly politics than of divine guidance...

ANSWER:

1. This hymn does not have a specific Greek name, although Ὡσαννὰ ὁ ἐν τοῖς ὑψίστοις would be recognized (Hosanna in the Highest). This Temple hymn it is placed between the Anaphora and Epiklesis. You are correct, the Trisagion (meaning Thrice Holy) is a different prayer...

2. This is a difficult question. Orthodox Christians believe that the 7 recognized Councils did represent the faith of the great majority of the ancient churches (there is no such thing as the "entire church" in formal Orthodox ecclesiology). In fact, the Non-Chalcedonian churches recognize the dogmatic intent of the Councils after 451 (i.e. they have icons) and the dialogue with them has revealed that the dogmatic intent is acceptable in spite of the understandable problems of terminology.

No one today considers the "Robber's Council" as ecumenical, not even the non-Chalcedonians.

Orthodox Christians are well aware that the Councils were part of the political landscape - this is the way God works, through broken and sinful humanity, as the Scriptures amply illustrate...

Keyword: Ecumenical Councils | Other keywords: Trisagion