This week in Christian history: Council of Nicaea, Geneva embraces Reformation, missionary travels to Persia

By Michael Gryboski, Mainline Church Editor Sunday, May 16, 2021

First Council of Nicaea begins – May 20, 325

A 16th century painting depicting the First Council of Nicaea, which took place in 325. | Public Domain

This week marks the anniversary of the beginning of the First Council of Nicaea, which was held in modern-day Turkey and was the first ecumenical council in the history of the early church.

Called by Emperor Constantine the Great, the first Christian leader of the Roman Empire, the council debated the merits of Arianism, leading to the creation of the Nicene Creed.

“The council summoned all the Bishops of the Christian Church who produced a significant statement of Christian doctrine, known as the Nicene Creed that sought to clarify issues of Christology, in particular, whether Jesus was of the same substance as God the Father or merely of similar substance,” explained the New World Encyclopedia.

“The event was historically significant because it was the first effort to attain consensus in the church through an assembly representing all of Christendom.”