Fifth Council of Constantinople (Premysloides Dynasty)

At early of Romanos reign, shortly before his "Great Travel", Romanos summoned Ecumenical Council to found out situation in Orthodox Church and relations with other Eastern and Western Churches. Event, that even most of initiators did not believe can be successful, became one of earliest Emperor great success in theological and Church affairs, not just in Empire, but with influence and effects in many countries.

Council was initiated few weeks after Imperial Coronation, but whole preparation took three years, include inviting wide range of churches. Aside of Orthodox Church, Fifth Council of Constantinople was attended by: Much more controversial was invitation of heretic sects and formations: Aside of Churches and representatives of theological schools and heretics, Council was participated by representatives of newly restored University of Constantinople and by foreign visitors, masters, theologians, scholars and emissars of Universities of Paris, Bologna, Salamanca, Oxford, Padau and Cambridge.
 * Ethiopian Orthodox Church
 * Assyrian Church of the East
 * Armenian Apostolic Church
 * Remnants of Orthodox Church in Slovakia
 * Independents (common name for Catholic Churches which separated from Pope and Latin Church hierarchy)
 * Archdiocese of Utrecht (later excommunicated for participation)
 * Indian Orthodoxy
 * Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem (under influence of Templars, later excommunicated and suffered schism)
 * Nestorians (disputed heresy)
 * Fraticelli
 * Cathars
 * Remaining Bogomils
 * Waldesians
 * Henricians
 * Nestorians (disputed legitimate theology)
 * Remaining Paulicians

On Council, as observers and debaters with some influence on progress of Council, participated also members of other religions, especially Jews, include Moses ben Nahman who was co-author of Edict of Constantinople.

As Italy was crumbling in series of civil wars and Rome and Latin Catholic Church was in chaos as they were not able to elect new Pope, most excommunications and protests against Council from Latin Church, was after many years later. Because of that, Council was participated on large number of visitors and was hosted in four different places - Imperial Palace, Imperial Senate, Hagia Sofia and University of Constantinople.

Imperial Palace was used only for welcoming ceremony, feasts and ending ceremony. Imperial Senate was used as place of final agreements and taking decisions in theological and Church reforms. In Hagia Sofia were present only Orthodox Churches and their representatives for debates, mediation of relationships and prepairing Council documents, edicts and proposals to Emperor. In University of Constantinople was large discussion and mediations between all participants, include university professors, scholars and Emperor himself. Libraries and study halls were used to arguments and counter-arguments with heretics, but most of these discussions were under oversee of Imperial Guard and armed militia to prevent violence.

Program of Fifth Council of Constantinople was prepared by Ecumenical Patriarch Manuel II, Emperor Romanos V and First Consul Constantine Chadenos: Emperor and organisers of Council were very surprised by open and sincere participations of heretics, despite threat that they can be arrested and killed. Emperor was also very successful in summoning most of invited Churches. Only Indian Orthodox Christians did not participate, as most of routes and connections with Empire were cut off by various Mongol Khans.
 * 1) Opening and welcoming ceremony with celebration and feast.
 * 2) Discussion about state of Orthodox Church matters after fall of Latin Empire and end of Latin Church influence (only Orthodox Patriarchs of Roman Empire and Emperor).
 * 3) Discussion about relationship between Orthodox Church (main branch) and autocephalous and semi-independent and independent Orthodox Churches (main branch and foreign Orthodox Church representatives).
 * 4) Analysis of disputed topics within Orthodox Church and their sorting in to mild (Council will be capable to solve them), moderate (discussion will be initiated) and severe (that will be ignored as unsolvable)
 * 5) Analysis of disputed topics between Orthodox Church and Orthodox Heresies.
 * 6) Discussion about organizational and hierarchical affairs of Orthodox Church.
 * 7) Discussion about name of Orthodox Church and Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople.
 * 8) Recognization, or condemnation of present heretics.
 * 9) Edict of Constantinople discussion.
 * 10) Discussion on relationships and history of participating Churches and heresies.
 * 11) Questioning (educational and discussion) of Church and heretic authorities from scholars and Emperor.
 * 12) Visits and personal negotiations between Imperial authorities and participating Churches.
 * 13) Presenting of Edicts and Council Resolutions to Patriarch of Constantinople and Emperor Romanos.
 * 14) Voting on Edicts and Council Resolutions.
 * 15) Ending ceremony and ending of Council.

Despite this, already during welcoming ceremony were seen disputes and disagreements between heretics and officials. Heretics participated on first part of welcoming ceremony, include Emperor speech, but left when started feast and celebration. Some of them criticized richness and luxury of Imperial Palace and Orthodox Church, other viewed material world and its pleasures as diabolic and other both.

Fifth Council of Constantinople was first Orthodox Council since 879-880, occured for 17-months and was participated by 895 theologians, scholars, priests, deacons, patriarchs, mystics, heretics, imperial officials, university masters and professors, rabbis and representants of other religions.