What's the difference between an ecumenical council and a regional council?

[MartyrForJesus]

Thanks,

Martyr for Jesus.

 

[GEddie]

A regional council is just that, called to deal with issues in one country or group thereof.

An ecumenical council is worldwide. The Ecumene was a Roman term for the whole of the Empire, which at the time, was believed to be worldwide.

ICXC NIKA

 

[Aelred_Minor]

A regional council is just that, called to deal with issues in one country or group thereof.

An ecumenical council is worldwide. The Ecumene was a Roman term for the whole of the Empire, which at the time, was believed to be worldwide.

ICXC NIKA

Just to be clear, the Romans knew very well that other lands lay beyond their borders. They were aware of India and sub-Saharan Africa, and were constantly fighting wars with nearer independant neighbors like the Persians and Germans.

According to the Online Etymology Dictionary:

ecumenical late 16c., “representing the entire (Christian) world,” formed in English as an ecclesiastical word, from L.L. oecumenicus “general, universal,” from Gk. oikoumenikos, from he oikoumene ge “the inhabited world (as known to the ancient Greeks); the Greeks and their neighbors considered as developed human society,” from oikoumenos, present passive participle of oikein “inhabit,” from oikos “house, habitation” (see villa).

etymonline.com/index.php?term=ecumenical

 

[Joe_Kelley]

For example the Councils of Baltimore dealt with problems of the Church developing in a different society than much of the rest of the Church. Their conclusions bound only the U.S. dioceses. VII dealt with the whole Church and its conclusions are binding on all.

 

[Aelred_Minor]

Another important distinction is that an ecumenical council, when it turns its attention to teaching faith or morals, is an act of the Extraordinary Magisterium. A local council or synod is not.

 

[MartyrForJesus]

Then if the Council of Hippo was only a regional council, why was the Canon used universally?