Folia Theologica 14. (2003)
Szabolcs Anzelm Szuromi: A Turning Point in the History of the General Councils of the West in the 13th Century (A Critical Summary on the Importance of the Constitutions of the Fourth Lateran Council [1215] According to its Theological, Canonical and Historical Aspect)
162 SZ. A. SZUROMI other councils from very early times. The reason for this was not only the political importance of the city, but also the prominent position of the bishop of Rome, the Pope (especially in regard to his primacy). Moreover, the importance of the questions which were discussed, as well as the members who were present at these councils, helped contribute to the distinguished place which the roman councils held in the early Church. Of course, we know other councils which included not only one province. These councils did not belong to one particular administrative territory. Some councils extended to the whole Eastern or Western part of the Roman Empire as, for example, the council of Arles in 314. The highest level in the hierarcy of councils was the general council (synodos oikumenike), whose decrees were intended to regulate normitavely the whole Church. (Nota Bene: through the institution of the general council, the bishops of the Church, acting collegially, were able to exercise their power over the entire Church. This form of Church government endures to the present day. But this institution can never be independent from the Pope who alone is the supreme authority in the Church. Therefore, the college of bishops is able to act as the supreme authority only in union with the Pope.).3 The first general councils were held in the Eastern part of the Roman Empire where, usually, the Pope was not personally present, but was present through his legates. Nevertheless, the general authority of the canons of these councils depended upon the approval of the Pope at the time. The councils which were convoked at the Lateran (Lateran councils I-IV) were the first large group of general councils in the West. They were held between 1123 (Lateran I) -1215 (Lateran IV). The first three of these had considered such problems as simony, treuga Dei, the administration of the sacraments, the donation of ecclesiastical offices, celibacy, canonical elections (including papal elections), usury, dueling, various heresies, the consecration of bishops and cathedral schools.4 3 Lumen gentium (Cocilium Vaticanum II) 22 b; Nota explicativa praevia 4; Christus Dominus 4. Cf. ERDŐ, P., Egyházjog (Szent István kézikönyvek 7). Budapest 2003. 275-277. About the theological backround in the 12th-14* Centuries cf. SIEBEN, H.J., Die Konzilsidee des lateinischen Mittelalters (847-1378) [Konziliengeschichte B], Paderborn 1984. 232-276. 4 Cf. MOLLAT, M.-TOMBEUR, P., Les conciles Latron 1 Latron IV. Concordance, Index, Listes de fréquence, Tables comparatives (Conciles
