❦From the Apostles to Today
The Sacred Canon:
Thinkers, Doctrines
& Councils
Explore the philosophers, theologians, church fathers, mystics, reformers, ecumenical councils, papal writings, and foundational texts that shaped two millennia of Christian thought.
Featured Thinkers+
View AllTraditions & Schools+
View AllEcumenical Councils & Synods+
View AllCouncil of Nicaea
325
The first ecumenical council
Council of Constantinople
381
Reaffirmed Nicene orthodoxy
Council of Ephesus
431
Condemned Nestorianism and affirmed Mary
Council of Chalcedon
451
Defined Christ as one person in two natu
Council of Nicaea
787
Restored the veneration of icons after t
Lateran Council
1215
Defined transubstantiation
Foundational Writings+
View AllConfessions
Confessions
Hippo · c. 397–400
The City of God
The City of God
Hippo · 413–426
Summa Theologiae
Summa Theologiae
Aquinas · 1265–1274
On First Principles
On First Principles
Alexandria · c. 220–230
The Ninety-Five Theses
The Ninety-Five Theses
Luther · 1517
The Interior Castle
The Interior Castle
Ávila · 1577
Heresies & Controversies+
✧
Arianism
4th c.
✧
Pelagianism
5th c.
✧
Nestorianism
5th c.
✧
Iconoclasm
8th c.
✧
Jansenism
17th c.
✧
Modernism
19th c.
Doctors of the Church+
A
Ambrose
340–397
J
Jerome
347–420
G
Gregory the Great
540–604
C
Catherine of Siena
1347–1380
J
John of the Cross
1542–1591
T
Thérèse of Lisieux
1873–1897
Modern Theologians+
N
J.H. Newman
1801–1890
K
S. Kierkegaard
1813–1855
B
D. Bonhoeffer
1906–1945
R
K. Rahner
1904–1984
B
H.U. von Balthasar
1905–1988
R
J. Ratzinger
1927–2022