The Second Council of Constantinople is the fifth of the first seven ecumenical

councils recognized as such by both West and East. Eastern Orthodox, Catholics,
and Old Catholics unanimously recognize it. Protestant opinions and recognition
of it are varied. Traditional Protestants such as Reformed and Lutheran recogniz
e the first four councils,[2] whereas most High Church Anglicans accept all seve
n. Constantinople II was convoked by Byzantine Emperor Justinian I under the pre
sidency of Patriarch Eutychius of Constantinople and was held from 5 May to 2 Ju
ne 553. Participants were overwhelmingly Eastern bishops
only sixteen Western bi
shops were present, including nine from Illyricum and seven from Africa, but non
e from Italy out of the 152 total.[3][1]
The main work of the council was to confirm the condemnation issued by edict in
551 by the Emperor Justinian against the Three Chapters (cf. Three Chapters cont
roversy and Three Chapters schism). The "Three Chapters" were, one, both the per
son and writings of Theodore of Mopsuestia (d. 428), two, the attacks on Cyril o
f Alexandria and the First Council of Ephesus written by Theodoret of Cyrus (d.
c. 466), and three, the attacks on Cyril and Ephesus by Ibas of Edessa (d. 457).
[4]