Tolete Council XI and III Constantinople – Theotokos Aeiparthenos (Pontificial Doctrine IV, nos. 48-60)

# Documents from *Doctrina Pontificia IV* on Marian Theology (nn. 48-60)

## Key Conciliar Moments in the Seventh Century

The documents nn. 48-60 of *Doctrina Pontificia IV* focus on two pivotal conciliar periods in seventh-century Marian theology: the Tenth Council of Toledo (675) and the Third Council of Constantinople (680-681).

**Tenth Council of Toledo (675), nn. 48-50: The Faith Symbol**

This council is notable for crafting one of the most comprehensive faith statements of the Visigothic Church. Its symbol includes a detailed Marian section, affirming that Jesus Christ was incarnated “by the Holy Spirit and Mary Ever Virgin.” This aligns the Visigothic Church with the traditions of Ephesus and Lateran (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 truly man born of the Holy Spirit and Mary Ever Virgin… so that two natures were united in one person… ministered by the Holy Spirit, with the Mother’s virginity inviolate.)

**Pope Saint Agatho (678-681): Faith Statement to the Third Council**

Pope Saint Agatho sent a renowned dogmatic letter to the Third Council of Constantinople, explicitly stating: Christ was born of the Virgin Mary by the power of the Holy Spirit, without human seed, guaranteeing the integrity of His divine nature.

**Third Council of Constantinople (680-681), nn. 51-60: Faith Statements**

The Sixth Ecumenical Council, which condemned Monothelitism (the doctrine attributing to Christ only one will, divine), produced ten Marian documents (nn. 51-60). Each document refers to Mary as “holy and glorious Theotokos and Ever Virgin Mary.” The composite title, *”Theotokos kai Aeiparthenos”* (Mother of God and Ever Virgin) became the definitive formula of the Ecumenical Council tradition.

> *”Iesus Christus… gennetheis ek Pneumatos Hagiou kai Marias tes hagias endoxou Theotokou kai aeiparthenous.”*

(Jesus Christ… born of the Holy Spirit and Mary, the holy, glorious Mother of God and Ever Virgin.)

## Further Reading

Explore Marianology, the *Lumen Gentium* (Chapter VIII), and Post-Graduate Marian Studies.

Also see: The 4 Marian Dogmas: What They Are and What the Church Defines

Also see: Theotokos: What Does ‘Mother of God’ Mean and Why Is It Dogma?