Fourth Council of Toledo facts for kids

The Fourth Council of Toledo was a big meeting held in the year 633. It was called by Visigothic King Sisenand and took place at the church of Saint Leocadia in Toledo.

This important council was probably led by the famous Isidore of Seville. During the meeting, they made many rules about how the church should be run. They also decided that everyone in the Visigothic kingdom should use the same church services and prayers. The council also discussed rules for people who had converted to Christianity but then returned to their old beliefs.

The Fourth Council of Toledo

The council started on December 5, 633. All the bishops from Hispania (which is modern-day Spain and Portugal) came to attend. Even though Isidore was old, he led the discussions and came up with most of the new rules.

What Was Discussed?

The decisions made at this council showed a lot about what Isidore thought and how much influence he had. It's interesting to see how much respect was given to the king. The church was seen as free and independent, but it also had a strong loyalty to the king. They didn't mention being loyal to the Pope in Rome.

Isidore of Seville's Big Role

It was at this Fourth National Council of Toledo, and thanks to Isidore's influence, that a very important rule was made. This rule said that all bishops had to start schools in their main church cities. These new schools were meant to be like the one Isidore already had in Seville.

Setting Up Schools

Isidore had used education to help improve things in his own area and stop the spread of less educated ways from the Goths. He was the driving force behind the push for education, and Seville was the center of this movement. The council decided that students should study Greek and Hebrew, as well as subjects like grammar, public speaking, and math (known as the liberal arts). They also encouraged learning about law and medicine. Because of the Fourth Council, this plan for education became something all bishops in the kingdom had to do.