Fourth Council of Constantinople (Eastern Orthodox)
| Fourth Council of Constantinople | |
| Date | 869-870 |
| Accepted by | Catholicism |
| Previous Council | Third Council of Constantinople |
| Next Council | First Council of the Lateran |
| Convoked by | Emporer Basil I and Pope Adrian II |
| Presided by | papal legates |
| Attendance | 20-25 (first session), 102 (last session) |
| Topics of discussion | Photius' patriarchate |
| Documents and statements | deposition of Photius, twenty-seven canons, including directives for behavior of bishops and the rights of patriarchs |
| chronological list of Ecumenical councils | |
The The Fourth Council of Constantinople is considered an ecumenical council by Roman Catholics and met from October 5, 869 to February 28, 870.
It was called by Emperor Basil I the Macedonian and Pope Adrian II. It deposed and condemned Photius as patriarch and, of the four Eastern patriarchates, ranked Constantinople before Alexandria, Antioch, and Jerusalem. Photius is now considered a Saint of the Eastern Orthodox Church, in part for having refused to acquiesce to the decision of this council and what the Eastern Orthodox consider to have been overweening monarchical aspirations on the part of Rome's patriarch.