The First Council of Nicea was congregated by the Roman emperor Constantine in 325 AD. It was the first ecumenical conference of Bishops in the Christian Church and the purpose was to formulate one final understanding of Jesus Christ instead of there being many inaccurate teachings of Him. This led to the creation of the Nicene Creed, a uniform statement of the Christian faith. The Council came to an agreement in the Church of Alexandria over the terms of Jesus in relationship to the Father and also agreed on a date for Easter, the most celebrated event in the Christian calendar.
Reasons for the Council of Nicea
There were several reasons that resulted in the assembly of the Council of Nicea in 325 AD. In 313 AD, Christianity could now be freely practiced without a fear of being persecuted. As a result, the church grew dramatically in numbers and so did the false church heretics. Due to this factor it became very difficult to explain the correct teachings of Christ. Therefore, the council of Nicea was assembled to discuss the true teachings of Christ. One particular false teaching was Arianism. Arianism was a theory that explained Jesus had no relation to God the Father and taught that Jesus was a superficial being. The Arianism belief caused major controversy within the Church and at the Council of Nicea, the Arianism doctrine was condemned. Part of the reason for organising the council was to formulate one final understanding of Christ. Emperor Constantine and the fellow bishops invited to the council created the Nicene Creed which is the Christian statement of faith. Furthermore, the council was assembled together to set a date for Easter. The Council decided that Easter should be celebrated on the first Sunday after the Equinox and should be celebrated on the same day by all. However, some Christians celebrated Easter on the fourteenth of the Jewish month ‘Nisan’. To avoid he problem of these two
Bibliography: – Websites Norman, P. Year Unknown, The First Council of Nicea [online], Decrees of the Ecumenical Councils. Available from: http://www.piar.hu/councils/ecum01.htm.> [Accessed 27 March, 2006]. Author Unknown. 24th March, 2006, The First Council of Nicea [online], Wikimedia Foundation Inc. Available From: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Council_of_Nicaea#Passover_.28Easter.29_controversy. > [Accessed 27 March, 2006]. Author Unknown. 31st March, 2003, The Nicene Creed [online], CNN. Available from: http://www.believersweb.org/view.cfm?ID=273.> [Accessed 28th March, 2006]. Dr Arnold L, J. September 5th, 1999, Church History: The Council of Nicea [online], IIIM Magazine Online. Available from: http://www.thirdmill.org/newfiles/jac_arnold/CH.Arnold.CH.13.html.> [Accessed 28th March, 2006]. Class, J. 2001, The Dragon [online], Publisher unknown. Available from: http://www.revelation-today.com/Dragon2.htm.> [Accessed 2 April, 2006]. Author Unknown. 2006, The Ecumenical Council of Nicea [online], Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. Available from: http://www.goarch.org/en/resources/clipart/icondetail.asp?i=55&c=Other&r=Ecumenical_Synod.> [Accessed 2 April, 2006]. Books Dr Engebreston, K. 2003 To know, worship and love: Year 10. James Goold House Publications, Melbourne, p285, 302.