Zusammenfassung / Summary
In order to justify the uncompromising attitude of the Holy See in the Acacian Schism, Pope Gelasius cites Roman tradition whereby the Holy See has always supported ecumenical councils, just as in the present case. The author tests the historical truth of this statement using the four earliest ecumenical councils as examples. The Papal letters from Pope Julius I up to Pope Gregory I serve as his sources. The first part of the investigation deals with the Council of Nicea and the Council of Ephesus, the second part with the Council of Chalcedon and the First Council of Constantinople.