oikoumenikós

Oikoumenikós is a Greek word that translates to "universal" or "inhabited world." It is most commonly used in the context of ecumenical councils within Christianity. The term signifies that a council is intended to represent the entire Christian Church, or at least the major part of it, rather than a local or regional assembly. These councils were historically significant events where bishops from across the known Christian world gathered to discuss and resolve matters of doctrine, practice, and church governance.

The concept of "oikoumenikós" highlights the early Church's aspiration for unity and its understanding of itself as a global community. The decisions made at these ecumenical councils, such as those held in Nicaea, Constantinople, Ephesus, and Chalcedon, have had a profound and lasting impact on the development of Christian theology and the formation of its creeds. While the term originally referred to the entire known Roman Empire, its application in ecclesiastical contexts expanded to encompass the broader Christian world. Today, "ecumenical" is used to refer to efforts promoting unity and cooperation among different Christian denominations.