Ecumenical Councils of the 4th century Christianity in the 4th century

the first council of nicaea (325) , first council of constantinople (381) part of later called first 7 ecumenical councils, span 400 years of church history.

first council of nicaea

emperor constantine presents representation of city of constantinople tribute enthroned mary , baby jesus in church mosaic. st sophia, c. 1000.

the first council of nicaea, held in nicaea in bithynia (in present-day turkey), convoked roman emperor constantine in 325, first ecumenical conference of bishops of catholic church (catholic in universal , not roman) , resulted in first declaration of uniform christian doctrine.

the purpose of council resolve disagreements in church of alexandria on nature of jesus in relationship father; in particular, whether jesus of same substance god father or merely of similar substance. alexander of alexandria , athanasius took first position; popular presbyter arius, whom term arian controversy comes, took second. council decided against arians overwhelmingly (of estimated 250–318 attendees, 2 voted against arius). result of council agreement on date of christian passover (pascha in greek; easter in modern english), important feast of ecclesiastical calendar. council decided in favour of celebrating resurrection on first sunday after first full moon following vernal equinox, independently of bible s hebrew calendar, , authorized bishop of alexandria (presumably using alexandrian calendar) announce annually exact date fellow bishops.

the council historically significant because first effort attain consensus in church through assembly representing of christendom. creation of nicene creed, precedent established subsequent general councils create statement of belief , canons intended become guidelines doctrinal orthodoxy , source of unity whole of christendom – momentous event in history of church , subsequent history of europe.

the council opposed arians, , constantine tried reconcile arius church. when arius died in 336, 1 year before death of constantine, controversy continued, various separate groups espousing arian sympathies in 1 way or another. in 359, double council of eastern , western bishops affirmed formula stating father , son similar in accord scriptures, crowning victory arianism. opponents of arianism rallied, in first council of constantinople in 381 marked final victory of nicene orthodoxy within empire, though arianism had spread germanic tribes, among whom gradually disappeared after conversion of franks catholicism in 496.

icon depicting emperor constantine, center, accompanied church fathers of 325 first council of nicaea, holding nicene creed in 381 form.


first council of constantinople

early manuscript illustration of council of constantinople

the first council of constantinople approved current form of nicene creed still used in eastern orthodox church , oriental orthodox churches. creed, written in greek, subsequently translated in other languages. form used armenian apostolic church, part of oriental orthodoxy, has several additions original text. fuller creed may have existed before council , originated baptismal creed of constantinople. later, catholic church in west, added 2 additional latin phrases ( deum de deo , filioque ). exact time, , origin, of these additions disputed. however, formally accepted in 1014.

the council condemned apollinarism, teaching there no human mind or soul in christ. granted constantinople honorary precedence on churches save rome.

the council did not include western bishops or roman legates, accepted ecumenical in west.