First Council of Nicaea

The council of Nicaea was the first Ecumenical Council of Church history. It took place in 325 AD in the town of Nicaea (Britannica). Nicaea, which is present day Turkey, welcomed multiple Bishops into its gates in the year that the council took place (Mcguckin). At the council, they covered various topics of conversation and tried to settle many dogmatic disputes that arose over the years. Ecumenical councils, like this one, are very important to the Catholic faith. The council of Nicaea is important

THE COUNCIL OF NICAEA In 325 AD, Constantine the leader of the Roman Empire convened a council of three hundred Bishops to unite the Christian sects under his church, the Universal Church of Rome. Constantine himself was a leader of the cult of Sol Invictus (Invisible Sun). The council formed came to be known as the Council of Nicaea. The Council of Nicaea, is the first ecumenical council of the Christian church, in ancient Nicaea which was located in Asia Minor, east of Constantinople now İznik

churches. He played a key role in framing important church policies namely The Council of Arles, A.D. 314 and The Council of Nicaea, A.D. 325. Constantine, however faced much challenges after he legalized Christianity. Christianity had been divided into different churches and their views. Constantine is also responsible for the creation of a universal church. Constantine presided over the First Ecumenical Council held at Nicaea to resolve the Arian Controversy.

Over the course of hundreds of thousands of years, Christianity and Catholicism have gone through tremendous changes through different major events in history. Ranging from the Council of Nicaea—the early church community prior to 1054—to the Spanish Colonization of the New World—prior to 1900—to the Second Vatican Council—after 1900—all of these events created waves of change in these religions and helped form them into what they are today. At the dawn of Christianity, many differing beliefs existed

INTRODUCTION The Church went through a period of cruel persecution under various Roman Empire emperors prior to the 4th century. The church also had to go through the issue with heretics inside the church. During this crucial period in church history, one of the important theological and ecclesiastical question concerned Christology. Christology deals with the life of Jesus Christ. One bishop, Arius, taught that Jesus was not God the Son. God providentially sent a man, St. Athanasius, to defend

faith. In an effort to bring unity, Emperor Constantine summoned a council to rule on Arius’s position, that “affirmed a kind of Trinity made up of three “divine” beings (Father, Son and Holy Spirit), only one of whom is truly God.” Through the guidance of Alexander of Alexandria and Athanasius, orthodox doctrine would prevail, and the emperor would decree that Arius’s teaching was heresy and banished him. Subsequently, the council recognized the necessity of writing an indisputable definition of

Church Fathers gathered to discuss and agree to a common, Biblical view of Christ in response to some erroneous views. These were the Councils of Nicaea (325 A.D.), Constantinople (381 A.D.), and Chalcedon (451 A.D.). 2. The Outcome The first Ecumenical Council, (meaning that it involved and bound all Church traditions), was the Council of Nicaea. This council met as a response to Arianism (named after Arius of Alexandria) which denied that Jesus the Son is eternal, but rather made by God and

from the real goal which is to glorify and worship The Trinity and bring justice to it and its people. The council which condemned it and basically put it out of its misery was the Second Ecumenical Council and this council was probably the most unimportant one due to what its topic was and the amount of bishops presiding over it, that number being a mere 150. All the other Ecumenical Councils had at least 200 or more bishops presiding over them. This topic was pretty much already brushed under a

view and the controversy that enveloped. I will then talk about the views and response of the church to Arius’ teachings and the reasoning behind the formation of the Council of Nicaea, as well as attempt to prove that Arius was wrong in his belief. Lastly I will discuss the influence of Emperor Constantine in the formation of the council and the politics within the church in regards to the growing issue that Arius started, as well as explain the role of argumentation that Arius had (knowingly or unknowingly)

as well as texts concerning the role of Athanasius throughout the fourth century, it has become evident that St. Athanasius of Alexandria impacted the Trinitarian Controversy most significantly through his noteworthy orations, his role at the Council of Nicaea, and most importantly, his commitment to the betterment of the Catholic Church. Athanasius is known as a Church Father, a renowned Christian theologian, and a defender of Trinitarianism.