Council of Nicaea: Difference between revisions
Created page with "섬네일|Nicaea (now Iznik), where the Council of Nicene was convened, is located on the east coast of Lake Iznik in the northwest of Türkiye. The '''Council of Nicaea''' is a world ecumenical council<ref>[https://www.britannica.com/topic/council-Christianity Council], ''Britannica''</ref> held in [https://www.google.com/maps/place/%ED%84%B0%ED%82%A4+%EB%B6%80%EB%A3%A8%EC%82%AC+%EC%9D%B4%EC%A6%88%EB%8B%88%ED%81%AC+%EB%8B%88%EC%B9%B4%EC%..." |
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[[file:Turkey-Iznik_Nicaea.png| | [[file:Turkey-Iznik_Nicaea.png|thumb|Nicaea (now Iznik), where the Council of Nicene was convened, is located on the east coast of Lake Iznik in the northwest of Türkiye.]] | ||
The '''Council of Nicaea''' is a world ecumenical council<ref>[https://www.britannica.com/topic/council-Christianity Council], ''Britannica''</ref> held in [https://www.google.com/maps/place/%ED%84%B0%ED%82%A4+%EB%B6%80%EB%A3%A8%EC%82%AC+%EC%9D%B4%EC%A6%88%EB%8B%88%ED%81%AC+%EB%8B%88%EC%B9%B4%EC%9D%B4%EC%95%84/@40.4304772,29.6972329,14z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x14cb0bc05d7864f5:0x17b677c58432bec8!8m2!3d40.429524!4d29.719743 Nicaea (now Iznik in Türkiye)], Asia Minor. The Council of Nicaea was held twice in 325 and 787. The first council was convened by the Roman Emperor [[Constantine I]] (Latin: Flavius Valerius Aurelius Constantinus, reigned 306–337), which was the first synod of the Roman Catholic Church. The main agendas were the [[The Paschal Controversy (The Passover Controversy)|Paschal controversy]] and the [[Arianism|Arian controversy]]. In 787, Empress Irene of the Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantine Empire) convened the second council and approved the veneration of [https://www.britannica.com/topic/icon-religious-art icons]. In general, the Council of Nicaea refers to the first council, which has a great significance in history. | The '''Council of Nicaea''' is a world ecumenical council<ref>[https://www.britannica.com/topic/council-Christianity Council], ''Britannica''</ref> held in [https://www.google.com/maps/place/%ED%84%B0%ED%82%A4+%EB%B6%80%EB%A3%A8%EC%82%AC+%EC%9D%B4%EC%A6%88%EB%8B%88%ED%81%AC+%EB%8B%88%EC%B9%B4%EC%9D%B4%EC%95%84/@40.4304772,29.6972329,14z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x14cb0bc05d7864f5:0x17b677c58432bec8!8m2!3d40.429524!4d29.719743 Nicaea (now Iznik in Türkiye)], Asia Minor. The Council of Nicaea was held twice in 325 and 787. The first council was convened by the Roman Emperor [[Constantine I]] (Latin: Flavius Valerius Aurelius Constantinus, reigned 306–337), which was the first synod of the Roman Catholic Church. The main agendas were the [[The Paschal Controversy (The Passover Controversy)|Paschal controversy]] and the [[Arianism|Arian controversy]]. In 787, Empress Irene of the Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantine Empire) convened the second council and approved the veneration of [https://www.britannica.com/topic/icon-religious-art icons]. In general, the Council of Nicaea refers to the first council, which has a great significance in history. | ||
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==Background== | ==Background== | ||
[[File:Nikea-arius.png| | [[File:Nikea-arius.png|thumb|''Icon'' from the Mégalo Metéoron ''Monastery'' in Greece, ''representing the First'' Ecumenical ''Council of Nicaea''in 325]] | ||
The First Council of Nicaea took place in May 325 at the palace of the Roman Emperor for approximately two months. It convened to address the Arian controversy, which was a problem of the world church, and the Paschal controversy, which was a long-standing dispute between the Church in the East and the Church in the West. Additionally, the council established laws regarding church structure, the role of priests, the readmission of apostates, and protocols for open penitence. Notably, the Council of Nicaea was distinctive in that it was convened not by church bishops but by Emperor Constantine I. Furthermore, the Imperial household covered the expenses for the bishops’ stay in Nicaea.<ref name=":0">The Cambridge Companion to the Council of Nicaea, Young Richard Kim, ''Cambridge University Press'', 2021, pg.77</ref> | The First Council of Nicaea took place in May 325 at the palace of the Roman Emperor for approximately two months. It convened to address the Arian controversy, which was a problem of the world church, and the Paschal controversy, which was a long-standing dispute between the Church in the East and the Church in the West. Additionally, the council established laws regarding church structure, the role of priests, the readmission of apostates, and protocols for open penitence. Notably, the Council of Nicaea was distinctive in that it was convened not by church bishops but by Emperor Constantine I. Furthermore, the Imperial household covered the expenses for the bishops’ stay in Nicaea.<ref name=":0">The Cambridge Companion to the Council of Nicaea, Young Richard Kim, ''Cambridge University Press'', 2021, pg.77</ref> | ||
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===Labeling Arianism as Heresy=== | ===Labeling Arianism as Heresy=== | ||
[[File:Nicaea icon.jpg| | [[File:Nicaea icon.jpg|thumb|The Council of Nicaea condemned Arianism by proclaiming the Nicene Creed.]] | ||
*'''Excommunication of Arius''' | *'''Excommunication of Arius''' | ||
One of the main agendas at the Council of Nicaea was the Arian controversy. The Arian controversy originated when [https://www.britannica.com/biography/Arius Arius], a Christian presbyter in Alexandria, Egypt, argued that Jesus Christ is not God but a mere creature. Among the 300 bishops who attended the Council of Nicaea, approximately 20 supported Arius. It was [https://www.britannica.com/biography/Saint-Athanasius Athanasius], a Greek from Alexandria, who staunchly opposed Arius during the council. Athanasius vehemently rejected Arius’s doctrine, asserting the equality of Christ with God. Constantine mandated that all bishops sign the Nicene Creed, which affirmed the belief that Jesus Christ is of the same essence as God [Homoousios (Greek: ὁμοούσιος,) meaning “of the same essence”]. Seventeen bishops initially opposed this requirement, but under the threat of excommunication by the emperor, the number of dissenters dwindled to two. Ultimately, the two bishops from Africa who refused to sign were excommunicated, along with Arius, and they were deported to Illyria. Additionally, the writings of Arius were burned. | One of the main agendas at the Council of Nicaea was the Arian controversy. The Arian controversy originated when [https://www.britannica.com/biography/Arius Arius], a Christian presbyter in Alexandria, Egypt, argued that Jesus Christ is not God but a mere creature. Among the 300 bishops who attended the Council of Nicaea, approximately 20 supported Arius. It was [https://www.britannica.com/biography/Saint-Athanasius Athanasius], a Greek from Alexandria, who staunchly opposed Arius during the council. Athanasius vehemently rejected Arius’s doctrine, asserting the equality of Christ with God. Constantine mandated that all bishops sign the Nicene Creed, which affirmed the belief that Jesus Christ is of the same essence as God [Homoousios (Greek: ὁμοούσιος,) meaning “of the same essence”]. Seventeen bishops initially opposed this requirement, but under the threat of excommunication by the emperor, the number of dissenters dwindled to two. Ultimately, the two bishops from Africa who refused to sign were excommunicated, along with Arius, and they were deported to Illyria. Additionally, the writings of Arius were burned. | ||
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===A Religious Council Intervened by a Gentile Emperor=== | ===A Religious Council Intervened by a Gentile Emperor=== | ||
[[file:Constantine I- RIC VI 890-886182 AugTrever.jpg| | [[file:Constantine I- RIC VI 890-886182 AugTrever.jpg|thumb|240x240픽셀|Coin of Constantine I, depicting the invincible sun god on the reverse side of the coin and inscribing the words SOLI INVICTO COMITI, which means [https://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=soli%20invicto%20comiti “to the invincible sun god, companion of the emperor,”] c. 315]] | ||
[[file:ChristAsSol.jpg| | [[file:ChristAsSol.jpg|thumb|240px| In mosaics made around the 4th century, Christ was depicted as the sun god.]] | ||
Constantine, favoring the church for political gain, consolidated authority over it through the Council of Nicaea, subsequently employing it as a tool to govern the entire Roman Empire in a theocratic manner.<ref>Odahl, Charles Matson, (2007), "[https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/61754691.pdf Constantine the Great and Christian Imperial Theocracy]", ''Connections: European Studies Annual Review'', 3, 89-113</ref><ref>[https://www.studysmarter.co.uk/explanations/politics/political-ideology/theocracy/ Theocracy], ''Study Smarter''</ref> | Constantine, favoring the church for political gain, consolidated authority over it through the Council of Nicaea, subsequently employing it as a tool to govern the entire Roman Empire in a theocratic manner.<ref>Odahl, Charles Matson, (2007), "[https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/61754691.pdf Constantine the Great and Christian Imperial Theocracy]", ''Connections: European Studies Annual Review'', 3, 89-113</ref><ref>[https://www.studysmarter.co.uk/explanations/politics/political-ideology/theocracy/ Theocracy], ''Study Smarter''</ref> | ||
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===The Rise and Fall of the Arians=== | ===The Rise and Fall of the Arians=== | ||
[[File:Christian states 495 AD (en).svg| | [[File:Christian states 495 AD (en).svg|thumb|Germanic tribes that followed Arianism (orange color), and the Eastern Roman Empire that followed the Nicene Creed (turquoise color) around 495]] | ||
At the Council of Nicaea, [[Arianism]] appeared to have been marginalized, but Arian leaders swiftly regained their positions within their respective churches.<ref>[https://revelationbyjesuschrist.com/arian/ After Nicaea, the church was dominated by Arian emperors], ''From Daniel to Revelation,'' March 19, 2020</ref> Through conspiracies, they purged opposing factions, and even after the death of Arius in 336, Arianism persisted. | At the Council of Nicaea, [[Arianism]] appeared to have been marginalized, but Arian leaders swiftly regained their positions within their respective churches.<ref>[https://revelationbyjesuschrist.com/arian/ After Nicaea, the church was dominated by Arian emperors], ''From Daniel to Revelation,'' March 19, 2020</ref> Through conspiracies, they purged opposing factions, and even after the death of Arius in 336, Arianism persisted. | ||
