Council of Nicaea: 1700th Anniversary - 20th May 2025

20th May 2025

THE FIRST COUNCIL OF NICAEA (First Ecumenical Council of the Catholic Church) was held in 325 AD on the occasion of the heresy of Arius (Arianism, a heresy which denied the Divinity of Jesus Christ). It is generally held to have opened on 20 May 325 AD according to Socrates of Constantinople (a fifth-century church historian) and by the Acts of the Council of Chalcedon.

It was at this Council that St Athanasius influenced those magnificent words of the Nicene Creed that unashamedly declare the true Divinity of Jesus Christ and His Oneness with God the Father:

"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."

To deny the true Divinity of Jesus Christ, to say that there was a time when He did not exist, that He was created, that He is not One with God the Father, is to commit the sin of heresy and the Catholic Church anathematizes those who do this.

Today, let us meditate on each line of the Nicene Creed in its finalised form (at the Council of Constantinople in 381 AD it was further expanded to give a clearer definition of the Holy Spirit) and give thanks to God for those Bishops who staunchly defended the truth of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

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. Amen.

For more information on the Council of Nicaea, you may read the article at Catholic Answers: https://www.catholic.com/encyclopedia/councils-of-nicaea