One of the most significant milestones in Christian history was the first Ecumenical Council of Nicaea in 325 AD. 318 bishops and priests gathered for about a month to discuss and study the most dangerous heresies of that era, which threatened the peace of the Church and the Roman Empire alike.
There were three major takeaways from this event:
First: The Value of Discipleship
Pope Alexander the nineteenth Patriarch brought along his young, brilliant disciple Athanasius, who was once seen as a child playing and leading a group of children in play. Pope Alexander saw, with a spirit of prophecy, a gifted individual who with care and attention, could become someone of great significance. Therefore, he brought him to the council as a secretary, deacon, assistant, and disciple. It is said that he even ordained him as a priest, as some objected to his attendance while still a deacon. Through God’s providential arrangement in His holy Church, this deacon later became the twentieth Patriarch, succeeding Pope Alexander, shortly after the conclusion of the Council of Nicaea.
Second: The Concept of Conciliarity
This is a Biblical concept, as seen in the Apostolic Council that convened to discuss the issue of Judaizing (Acts 15). However, for the bishops of both East and West to gather around a significant issue such as the Arian heresy was a monumental step. Alongside discussions on several other topics, they issued binding canons to regulate the Church’s life. Among the most important resolutions was the determination of the date for the Feast of Resurrection by the Pope of Alexandria, owing to the Alexandrian Church’s unique mastery of the Epact calculation system. Through this, the date of the feast was announced to all the churches of the world to celebrate the glorious Resurrection on the same day. Thus, the concept of conciliarity is the path to unity built on faith.
Third: The Greatness of Orthodoxy
The straightforward (i.e. upright) faith, articulated by the Fathers of Nicaea, took the form of the specific and textual Creed recited by all churches in a spirit of prayer. We pray it while standing, as it is a concise canonical statement grounded in Scripture and the interpretations of the holy Fathers. Agreed upon by all, it became the defining marker of faith in Christ – straightforward, orthodox, unwavering, and without doubt. This greatness of faith defeated Arius and those like him, as we always pray: “Strip the vanity of the heretics, and count us all in the unity of godliness.”
The Council concluded by establishing the following Creed:
The Divinity of the Father
We believe in one God: “For there is one God” (1 Timothy 2:5 NKJV).
God the Father: “One God and Father of all” (Ephesians 4:6).
The Pantocrator: “Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows” (Matthew 10:29 -31).
Creator of heaven and earth, and of all things seen and unseen: “For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them” (Exodus 20:11).
The Divinity of Christ
We believe in one Lord: “No one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit… There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all” (1 Corinthians 12:3- 6).
Jesus Christ: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8).
The only-begotten Son of God: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).
Begotten of the Father before all ages: “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be Ruler in Israel, whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting” (Micah 5:2).
Light of Light: “Who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power” (Hebrews 1:3).
True God: “And we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life” (1 John 5:20).
Of true God: “I know Him, for I am from Him” (John 7:29).
Begotten, not created: “For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself” (John 5:26).
Of one essence with the Father: “I and My Father are one” (John 10:30).
By whom all things were made: “Who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person” (Hebrews 1:3).
Who for us men and for our salvation: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made” (John 1:1 -3).
The Incarnation of Christ
Came down from heaven: “For I have come down from heaven” (John 6:38).
And was incarnate: “And the Word became flesh” (John 1:14).
Of the Holy Spirit and of the Virgin Mary: The angel said to Mary: “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God” (Luke 1:35); “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 1:20).
And became man: “Who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross” (Philippians 2:6- 8).
The Crucifixion
And He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate: “The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified His Servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let Him go” (Acts 3:13).
Suffered: “Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate” (Hebrews 13:12).
And was buried: “When Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and laid it in his new tomb which he had hewn out of the rock; and he rolled a large stone against the door of the tomb, and departed” (Matthew 27:59-60).
And on the third day, He rose from the dead according to the Scriptures: “And that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:4).
He ascended into the heavens: “Now it came to pass, while He blessed them, that He was parted from them and carried up into heaven” (Luke 24:51).
He sits at the right hand of His Father: “So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God” (Mark 16:19).
And He is coming again in His glory: “When e Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory” (Matthew 25:31).
To judge the living and the dead: “And He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead” (Acts 10:42).
Whose kingdom shall have no end: “And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end” (Luke 1:33).
This page is also available in:
العربية