Vatican document marks 1700 years since Council of Nicaea

The International Theological Commission (ITC) published the in-depth document Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior: The 1700th Anniversary of the Ecumenical Council of Nicaea on April 3.

Nicaea was the Church’s first ecumenical council. It defended the divinity of Jesus Christ as a profession of faith amid the spread of the Arian heresy. The Nicene Creed came out of the council and was completed by the Council of Constantinople in 381.

The Vatican’s theological commission said the latest publication responds to Pope Francis’ desire to promote fraternity among Christians and inspire greater participation of Catholic faithful within local Churches. The 70-page document is not just a historical record or a “text of academic theology”, the commission stated.

“It was in Nicaea that the Church’s unity and mission were first expressed emblematically at a universal level (and from here, it draws its designation as an ecumenical council) through the synodal form of that ‘walking together’ which is proper to the Church,” the ITC stated.

“Nicaea stands as an authoritative reference point and inspiration in the synodal process in which the Catholic Church is involved today, in its commitment to live a conversion and reform marked by the principle of relationship and reciprocity for mission,” the press release stated.

“The faith professed at Nicaea opens our eyes to the explosive and enduring newness of the coming of the Son of God among us,” the ITC noted.

The theological commission said that the Nicaea Council publication can be used as a dynamic resource for Christian evangelisation. The publication has the twofold objective of recalling the fundamental meaning of the Creed and highlighting the resources therein, relaunching them in the perspective of a new stage of evangelisation.

The anniversary of the Council of Nicaea occurs during the Jubilee of Hope, and also in a year when Easter is celebrated by all Christians on the same date.

FULL STORY

Vatican releases document to mark 1,700th anniversary of First Council of Nicaea | Catholic News Agency (By Kristina Millare/CNA)

The Nicene Creed: an expression of Christian identity | Vatican News (Vatican News)