The Eighth Council of Toledo commenced on 16 December 653 in the church of the Holy Apostles in Toledo. It was attended by fifty two bishops personally – including the aged Gavinio of Calahorra, who had assisted at the Fourth Council – and another ten by delegation, ten abbots, and the archpriest and primicerius of the cathedral. Also, for the first time, saecular officials, sixteen counts palatine, participated in the discussion, voting, and affirmation of the council's acts. It was the second of King Chindasuinth's two councils, held under the names of both he and his co-reigning son, Reccesuinth.
The eighth council was unique in its calling in that Chindasuinth had written a tomus to the bishops describing the issues he wished them to address.