The Eleventh Council of Toledo and Constantinople III – Theotokos Aeiparthenos (Doctrina Pontificia IV, nn. 48-60)
Documents nn. 48-60 of the Doctrina Pontificia IV cover two conciliar moments crucial for the Mariology of the seventh century: the Eleventh Council of Toledo (675) and the Third Council of Constantinople (680-681). Between them, Pope Saint Agatho presents to the Council the position of Rome on the orthodox faith, including Mary’s divine motherhood.
| Collection | Doctrina Pontificia IV: Marian Documents, nn. 48-60 |
| Councils | Toledo XI (675) | Constantinople III (680-681) |
| Pope | Saint Agatho (678-681) |
| Topic | Marian creeds, conciliar professions of faith |
Eleventh Council of Toledo (675), nn. 48-50: the creed
The Eleventh Council of Toledo is notable for having drawn up one of the most complete professions of faith of the Visigothic Church. Its Creed includes a developed Mariological section, affirming that the Son of God became incarnate “de Spiritu Sancto et Maria semper Virgine”, of the Holy Spirit and of Mary Ever-Virgin. The Hispanic Church of the Visigoths was thus in full communion with the tradition of Ephesus and of the Lateran Council of 649.
“Hic ergo Filius Dei… verus homo natus est ex Spiritu Sancto et ex Maria semper Virgine… ita ut duae naturae in una persona coirent… Spiritu Sancto ministrante, inviolata virginitate genitricis”
This Son of God… was born true man of the Holy Spirit and of Mary ever-Virgin… so that two natures came together in a single person… with the Holy Spirit ministering, the virginity of the Mother inviolate.
Saint Agatho (678-681), profession of faith to the Third Council
Pope Saint Agatho sent to the Third Council of Constantinople his celebrated dogmatic letter, which contains an explicitly Marian affirmation: Christ was born of Mary the Virgin by the work of the Holy Spirit, without the involvement of human seed, which is the guarantee of the integrity of His divine nature.
Third Council of Constantinople (680-681), nn. 51-60: professions of faith
The sixth ecumenical council, which condemned Monothelitism (the doctrine that attributed to Christ only a divine will), produced ten Marian documents (nn. 51-60). In all of them Mary is called “holy and glorious Theotokos and ever-Virgin Mary”. The joint title “Theotokos kai Aeiparthenos” (Mother of God and Ever-Virgin) becomes the definitive formula of the ecumenical conciliar tradition.
“Iesus Christus… gennetheis ek Pneumatos Hagiou kai Marias tes hagias endoxou Theotokou kai aeiparthenous”
Jesus Christ… born of the Holy Spirit and of Mary, the holy glorious Mother of God and Ever-Virgin.
Further reading
Explore Mariology, Lumen Gentium ch. VIII, and the Postgraduate Program in Mariology.
Postgraduate Program in Mariology
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See also: The 4 Marian Dogmas: What They Are and What the Church Defines
See also: Theotokos: What “Mother of God” Means and Why It Is Dogma
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