The Council of Nicaea, convened in 325 A.D. by Emperor Constantine, was the first ecumenical council of the Church and a pivotal moment in Catholic history. Its primary purpose was to address the Arian controversy, which denied the full divinity of Jesus Christ. Guided by the Holy Spirit, the bishops affirmed the truth of the faith handed down from the Apostles: that Christ is “true God from true God, begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father.” This teaching was enshrined in the Nicene Creed, which remains a central profession of faith in the Catholic Church today. The council also established norms for Church discipline and set the date for Easter, promoting unity among Christians. Nicaea demonstrates the Church’s authority, under the guidance of the Magisterium, to safeguard and clarify doctrine when challenged. It is seen as a profound witness to the promise of Christ that the gates of hell will not prevail against His Church. The decisions of Nicaea continue to safeguard Catholic theology, emphasizing the mystery of the Trinity and the divinity of Christ as foundational truths of the faith.
Nicene Creed
“I believe in one God, the Father almighty,
maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible.
I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God,
born of the Father before all ages.
God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God,
begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father;
through him all things were made.
For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven,
and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate,
he suffered death and was buried, and rose again on the third day
in accordance with the Scriptures.
He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory
to judge the living and the dead
and his kingdom will have no end.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.
I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church.
I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins
and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead
and the life of the world to come.”
Illustration by: Colton Rompala