Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
This coming Tuesday, His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and Pope Leo XIV will be together for a most historic commemoration as they gather in Nicaea to commemorate the 1700th Anniversary of the 1st Ecumenical Council and the drafting of the Nicene Creed. For Orthodox Christians, the Nicaean Creed is not an historical document for scholars to contemplate or a point in history to simply be appreciated. It represents the first articulation of our Faith. It defines our beliefs. It celebrates the relationship between the Three Persons of our Triune God, and the Lord’s relationship with each of us. We as a people. We as a family of believers. We as individuals, baptized, illumined and made whole. We recite it as we sacramentally enter the Church. And in unison, we proclaim it at every Divine Liturgy. By it and through it, we are affirmed, justified and inspired.
But I also found an interesting article in Christianity Today Concerning this milestone in history. It was refreshing to see what Western Christianity in general has to say about the event and the Creed, Itself. Please enjoy this read. And remember to give thanks to our loving Savior that after 1700 years, you still maintain and are grounded in the doctrinal truths as expressed in the Creed. You belong to the very Church which composed it. And you remain true to their traditions. I have personally stood in the ruins of the church in Nicaea where the Creed was drafted and first proclaimed. Praying in that space and reciting the Creed with my fellow pilgrims, I felt a sense of awe, appreciation, connection, and responsibility.
I hope you enjoy this article:
“This year marks the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea and the formulation of the Nicene Creed. If you’re not deeply familiar with Christian history or theology, that might sound like an obscure detail. You might even be wondering: what does a fourth-century church meeting have to do with me today?
Actually, quite a lot.
Let’s take a quick journey down history lane.
The Council that changed everything
The First Council of Nicaea took place in 325 AD, called together by Roman Emperor Constantine the Great in the city of Nicaea (modern-day İznik, Turkey). His aim? To bring unity to a fragmented empire.
While Constantine sought political stability, the bishops who gathered were focused on something deeper: the unity and clarity of Christian belief. At the heart of their discussions was a growing controversy known as Arianism – a teaching that denied the full divinity of Jesus Christ.
The result? The Council of Nicaea produced the Nicene Creed, set a lasting precedent for ecumenical councils (global gatherings of Christian leaders to define core beliefs), and even established a unified date for celebrating Easter.
Now that we’ve got the basics of what the Council of Nicaea was all about, you might still be asking: why does the Nicene Creed matter so much today?
The birth of the Nicene Creed
Well, as previously mentioned, one of the most enduring outcomes of this council was the creation of the Nicene Creed.
In today’s churches, you’ll hear a wide range of messages – some deeply rooted in Scripture, others perhaps less so. But the Nicene Creed brings us back to the centre. It grounds our congregations in the truth of Christ Himself, cutting through the noise and reminding us of what matters most.
The creed didn’t just resolve one theological debate; it set the foundation for what most Christians – Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant – believe about God today.
It condemned Arianism, asserting the belief in one God – the Father Almighty, Jesus Christ as true God, begotten, not made, and of one substance with the Father (and that He was incarnated, crucified, resurrected and ascended) and the Holy Spirit as Lord and giver of life.
It also declared the belief in a united church, set apart for God’s purposes, open to all and present worldwide and built on the foundations of the apostles’ teachings.
It acknowledged one baptism for the forgiveness of sins and pointed to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come.
The Creed is still said every week in Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican, and many Protestant churches around the world.
Why this still matters
Let’s be real, Christian churches today can feel divided. Different doctrines, different styles of worship, even disagreements over what’s essential to the faith. Sometimes, that lack of unity is exhausting and confusing – not just for believers, but for seekers and sceptics watching from the outside.
That’s exactly why this anniversary is so powerful! It centers us. It reminds us of our shared foundation. It points us back to Christ and affirms our belief in the God who came down, died, rose, and is still alive and active today.
Even if you’ve never studied the Council of Nicaea, if you’ve ever said the words of the Nicene Creed, then you’ve participated in a tradition that stretches back 1,700 years. It has shaped how you think about God’s love, salvation, and your purpose in the world even if you didn’t realize it. This anniversary is more than just a historical footnote. It’s an opportunity to reconnect with what we believe and why it matters.”
So, if Evangelical Christians can articulate such a lovely appreciation for the Nicaean Creed, let it’s teaching penetrate our hearts even more deeply. Happy Anniversary to the First Ecumenical Council. You still look great after 1700 years!
With Much Love in Christ,
Fr. Anthony Savas
Protopresbyter