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First Council of Nicaea

A reference page linking a name, group, or concept to the materials that discuss it.

Council convened by Constantine in 325, a major stage that did not immediately end dispute.

Modern timeline of witnesses and formulations, not one birth date for belief or immediate consensus. It distinguishes 381 from the expanded creed’s attestation in 451
Modern timeline of witnesses and formulations, not one birth date for belief or immediate consensus. It distinguishes 381 from the expanded creed’s attestation in 451IL Archive · original diagram · CC BYImage source

Text

Met at Nicaea, modern İznik, within a religious and imperial setting. Eusebius’s participant letter credits the emperor’s support of homoousiosHomoousios — consubstantialTerm in the 325 creed relating the Son’s substance to the Father, debated in reception.Glossary · Click to read the explanation. [1]

Reception disputes continued for decades. The modern timeline dates witnesses; it is not an image of the ancient site or a council-session reconstruction. [2]

References and notes

  1. Eusebius of Caesarea, Letter on the Council of Nicaea, sections 1–11, transmitted by Athanasius. Displayed letter read: Eusebius credits Constantine’s recommendation and explanation of homoousios and explains acceptance. A participant defending his position, not neutral minutes. Return to the text ↑
  2. Sara Parvis, “The Reception of Nicaea and Homoousios to 360”, The Cambridge Companion to the Council of Nicaea (2021), pp. 225–255. Publisher summary only: changing reception, formulas and imperial politics to 360; not a complete reading of chapter arguments. Return to the text ↑

Research history

Substantive changes are retained here. Minor copy edits remain in the internal operational log.

  1. Edition 2 · 11 October 2026 · editor:aladmin

    Substantive record update

    Read this revision in its original language (Arabic)

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Cite this record

IL Archive, «First Council of Nicaea», Edition 2, https://ilarchive.com/en/entities/council-of-nicaea