Editing Third Council of Constantinople (section)

==Proceedings==
On 7 November 680, a mere 37 bishops and several presbyters convened in the imperial palace, the domed hall called the Trullus. The patriarchs of Constantinople and Antioch participated in person. In contrast, the patriarchates of Alexandria and [[Jerusalem]] were represented by Byzantine appointees (because of the [[Saracen]] [[Muslim]] conquest, there was, at this date, no patriarch in either of these sees). The Pope and a council he had held in Rome were represented (as was customary at eastern [[ecumenical council]]s) by a few priests and bishops. In its opening session, the council assumed the authority of an ecumenical council. The emperor attended and presided over the first eleven sessions, participated in the discussions, and returned for the closing session on 16 September 681, attended by 151 bishops.<ref name="Ostrogorsky127" />

During the council, a letter by Pope Agatho was read, which asserted the traditional belief of the Church that Christ was of two wills, divine and human. Most of the bishops present accepted the letter, proclaiming that [[Apostle Peter|Peter]] spoke through Agatho,<ref name="popes"/> though this council also proclaimed another historical pope as anathema. [[Macarius I of Antioch|Macarius of Antioch]] defended [[monothelitism]] but was condemned and deposed, along with his partisans. The council, in keeping with Agatho's letter, defined that [[Jesus Christ]] possessed two energies and two wills but that the human will was 'in subjection to his divine and all-powerful will'. The council carefully avoided any mention of [[Maximus the Confessor]], who was still regarded with suspicion. It condemned both [[monoenergism]] and [[monothelitism]] as [[heresy|heretical]] and included those who had supported this heresy, including [[Pope Honorius I]] and four previous patriarchs of Constantinople.<ref name="Ostrogorsky127" /> When the council had concluded, the decrees were sent to Rome where they were accepted by Agatho's successor, [[Pope Leo II]].<ref name="popes"/> In his letter of confirmation of the council, Leo accuses, "Honorius who did not attempt to sanctify this Apostolic Church with the teaching of Apostolic tradition, but by profane treachery permitted its purity to be polluted".<ref>[https://archive.org/details/a620530200chapuoft/page/n117/mode/2up Chapman, John. "The Condemnation of Pope Honorius".] London : Catholic Truth Society, 1907. p. 114.</ref>

At some point during the council's proceedings, a Monothelite priest claimed he could raise the dead, thereby proving his faith supreme. He had a corpse brought forth, but after whispering prayers into its ears, he could not revive the body.<ref>Kelly, Joseph F. "Chapter Three: The Byzantine Councils." ''The Ecumenical Councils of the Catholic Church: A History''. Collegeville, MN: Liturgical, 2009. p. 59. [ISBN 0814653766]</ref>