An Introduction to the Council of Nicaea — AD 325
The Council of Nicaea was the First Ecumenical Council. It was convened because of the heresy of Arius. Pope Alexander wrote to Emperor Constantine the Great, asking him to convene an ecumenical council to rule on this heresy. He also made the same request to Hosius, Bishop of Córdoba. Constantine agreed to convene an ecumenical council and sent a proclamation summoning all the bishops of the empire to the city of Nicaea, in the province of Bithynia.
Thus, 318 bishops from throughout the Christian world gathered at Nicaea. Pope Alexander was among them. He was the only pope present at that time and was the one bringing the case against Arius.
Accompanying the pope was Archdeacon Athanasius, his personal secretary. He was no more than twenty-five years old, and, in the words of Saint Gregory of Nazianzus, his face was like that of the angels.
Those present included Abba Potamon, Bishop of Heraclea in the Upper Nile region, and Saint Paphnutius, Bishop of Thebes. There were 210 bishops representing the East and 8 representing the West.
Arius and his followers also attended. They included Eusebius, Bishop of Nicomedia; Theognis, Metropolitan of Nicaea; and Maris, Bishop of Chalcedon. Ten philosophers accompanied them.
The council assembled in AD 325. The emperor delivered his address in Latin. Discussions then continued from May 20 until June 14, when the emperor arrived. The Creed was drawn up on June 19, and the council concluded its work on August 25.
One of the most prominent figures at the council was Athanasius, Pope Alexander’s deacon. He undertook the defense of the divinity of the Lord Christ against the arguments of the heretic Arius. He demonstrated great skill in refuting the Arians. When they could find no argument against Athanasius, they objected to his presence among them as a deacon. The emperor, however, would not listen to them and ordered that he remain, recognizing his learning and the strength of the wisdom with which he answered Arius.
The First Session
The first session was marked by considerable argument and anger, as the emperor had given everyone freedom to speak. It therefore ended without reaching a result.
The following day, when they resumed their discussions, Arius stood up, explained his heresy, and said:
“The Son is not equal to the Father in eternity, nor is He of the Father’s essence. The Father was originally alone and brought the Son into existence out of nothing by His own will. The Father cannot be seen or known even by the Son, because one who has a beginning cannot know the Eternal One. The Son is God because He possesses an acquired divinity.”
A loud uproar followed. They covered their ears so as not to hear this blasphemy. Arius also recited some hymns and songs expressing this heresy.
When Arius attempted to defend his teaching by citing passages from the Holy Bible, Athanasius stood against him and silenced him with powerful answers. Everyone rejoiced in this formidable deacon, his responses, and the compelling biblical verses on which he relied. A copy of these responses is held in the library of the Coptic Patriarchate.
Athanasius proposed adding the word HOMOOUSION, meaning “of one essence.”
The difference between the two expressions was a single letter: I, the iota in Greek and Coptic. Yet that one letter signified a clear heresy, since it meant “similar to Him” rather than “equal to Him and one with Him in essence.”
The majority approved Athanasius’s proposal, while approximately seventeen opposed it. The council drew up the Creed from its opening words, “Truly we believe in one God,” through to the phrase, “whose kingdom shall have no end.”
The council signed the decree anathematizing Arius and his followers. Following this decision, the emperor ordered Arius’s exile, the burning of his books, and the execution of anyone who concealed them.
The Heresy of Sabellius
The council also anathematized Sabellius and his teaching that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are one hypostasis rather than three hypostases.
The council also considered several other matters concerning the Church:
Determining the date of the Feast of the Resurrection: It was to be celebrated on the Sunday following the full moon associated with the Jewish feast, so that Christians would not celebrate before the Jews or together with them.
The schism caused by Bishop Meletius: He had ordained bishops and priests without the approval of his superior. The council ruled that he should remain in his native town and perform no priestly duties.
The baptism of heretics: The council decided that a person who had fallen into heresy and subsequently returned to the faith should not be baptized again.
The admission of married men to the clergy: Saint Paphnutius, Bishop of Thebes, strongly defended and supported this position. The council confined its ruling to prohibiting widowed priests from remarrying.
The council subsequently issued twenty canons, which survive to this day.
A Miracle That Occurred at This Holy Council
There were 318 bishops present. Yet whenever they tried to count the council fathers, they found one more than the actual number. The fathers interpreted this as a sign that the Holy Spirit was present among them.
Additional Information
Pope Alexander of Alexandria presided over the council. A magnificent golden throne was prepared for him, but he declined it and sat at the back. When everyone insisted, he took his seat upon it.
Hosius, Bishop of Córdoba, had originally been designated to preside. However, since Pope Alexander was the only pope among them, everyone agreed that he should take precedence in all the sessions.
