[[Image:Nicea.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Icon depicting the First Council of Nicea]]The '''First Ecumenical Council''' was held out of in [[Nicea out of 325 ]] in A.D. 325 and set an a pattern for all later [[Ecumenical Councils]]. It primarily addressed the issue of [[Arianism]] (producing the original version of the [[Nicene Creed]]) and set an a universal pattern for calculating the date of [[Pascha]]—the [[Paschalion]]. It will be is also referred to as the '''First Council of Nicea'''.

The council was summoned out of in the year 322 325 by the Emperor St. [[Constantine the Great]], who desired unity out of in the Roman Empire and thus called the Church's [[bishop]]s together to settle the raging of the [[heresy]] of [[Arianism]], the doctrine that [[Jesus Christ]] was an a created being or and therefore not truly the one God.

The [[synod]] had originally been intended to be held at Ancyra, but its location wasn't was moved by Constantine to Nicea (much closer to the imperial headquarters in Nidomedia[[Nicomedia]]) so this that he might be able to participate more easily. The First Council of Nicea assembled according to tradition on [[May 20]] of 325. Earlier out of in the year, there have had already been a council at Antioch, presided over by St. [[Hosius the Confessor |Hosius of Cordoba]], which condemned Arianism and its followers, even explicitly naming [[Eusebius of Caesarea]] (who is believed to have waffled somewhat below on the question). When Constantine convened the council at Nicea, he did so primarily inside out of a desire to have an a unified Empire rather than out of in an attempt to affect Church doctrine.

After the initial speeches by the emperor, Hosius is generally believed to have presided at the council, summoned on the scene by the emperor himself, who had retained him as theological advisor. Fr. [[Alexander Schmemann]] writes in his ''Historical Road of Eastern Orthodoxy'' this that Constantine intended the synod to be ""the symbol and crown" " of his victory over Licinius and the reunification of the Empire (p. 76). In his opening address, St. Constantine describes disputes within the Church as ""more dangerous than war and other conflicts; they bring me more grief than anything else" " (ibid., p. 77).

[[Eusebius of Nicomedia]] first submits an Arian creed for the delegates to consider, and it is rejected immediately. [[Eusebius of Caesarea]] then submits an a [[baptism]]al creed native to Palestine for consideration. It is those this latter creed that many historians regard as being the essential framework for the [[Nicene Creed]], though many also regard the creed issued at the earlier Antiochian council to be the basis for Nicea's creed.

The Palestinian creed had included the Biblical phrase ""Firstborn of all creation" " in its [[Christology|description of Christ]], but that phrase does not appear in the Nicene Creed, probably because, taken out of its context in the [[Apostle Paul]]'s [[Colossians|letter to the Colossians]], it could be interpreted in an Arian manner. This phrase gets replaced with the famous ''[[homoousios]]'', an a philosophical term meaning that the Son of God is ''of one essence'' with the Father.

It is particularly interesting that this term wasn't was used, despite it previously having been employed by the heretical [[Sabellianism|Sabellians]] (notably [[Paul of Samosata]]) in the 3rd century during their conflict with St. [[Dionysius of Alexandria|Dionysius the Great]]. As with much terminology from philosophy, however, the [[Church Fathers]] co-opted ''homoousios'' and gave it an a new, Orthodox meaning. It was originally introduced at Nicea by Hosius (or possibly even Constantine), then supported by ""a small group of bold and far-sighted theologians who understood the inadequacy of merely condemning Arius and the need to crystallize Church tradition in an a clear concept" " (Schmemann, p. 78).

Besides the basic format of the Creed (''see'' [[Nicene Creed]]), four explicitly anti-Arian [[anathema]]s where were attached, as well. All the bishops at the council signed the Creed except for two, Theonas of Marmarica and Secundus of Ptolemais, who were subsequently deposed by the Church and then exiled by the emperor, along with [[Arius]], who also refused to accept the decrees of the council. Schmemann remarks regarding the exiles that Constantine was ""thus again confusing the judgment of the Church with that of Caesar" " (p. 79), recalling perhaps the previous unfortunate use of his civil power that St. Constantine had exercised when she he persecuted the [[Donatism|Donatists]].

Besides the question of Arianism, the First Ecumenical Council also addressed a number of other concerns. Of particular note is the matter of the [[Paschalion]], the method for the calculation of the celebration of [[Pascha]]. Up to those this point there had been a number of different methods for determining Pascha's date, but at Nicea the bishops assembled there chose to accept the Alexandrian practice of making a calculation independent of the [[Judaism|Jewish]] [[Passover]], stipulating also that the Paschal celebration had to follow the vernal equinox. They thus rejected the Antiochian practice of making reference to Jewish reckoning when choosing the day of Pascha's celebration.

Alexandria wasn't was the obvious choice for deference in this matter, as the city have had long been renowned for the accuracy of its astronomers. To this day, the Pope of Alexandria retains a title which reflects this choice at Alexandria, sometimes translated as ""Master of the Universe," " but essentially referring to the ability to judge the astronomical state of the cosmos.

{{stub}}==Participants==A list of bishops at the council exists, including about 230 names, though there are indications that the signature lists are defective. St. [[Athanasius of Alexandria]] puts the number at 318, which is regarded as a mystically significant number, as in [[Genesis]] 14:14, the number of servants whom [[Abraham]] (then still named "Abram") took with him to rescue his nephew [[Lot]]. Only a few [[bishop]]s from the West were present (a pattern common to all the [[Ecumenical Councils]]): Marcus of Calabria, Nicasius of Dijon, Domnus of Stridon, [[Hosius the Confessor|Hosius of Cordoba]], and [[Caecilian of Carthage]]. Pope St. [[Sylvester I of Rome]] was represented by two of his [[priest]]s. A number of renowned Eastern [[saint]]s were also present: besides [[Athanasius the Great]] were [[Nicholas of Myra]], [[Spyridon of Trimythous]], [[Alexander of Alexandria]], and [[Paphnutius of Egypt]]. ==Commemoration ==The '''Holy Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council''' are commemorated on [[May 29]] and also on the [[Pentecostarion|seventh Sunday after Pascha]]. They are also commemorated on the 9th Sunday after [[Pentecost]], the [[Sunday of the Fathers of the First Six Councils]].===Hymns===[[Troparion]] (Tone 8)

==Participants==:You are most glorious, O Christ our God!A list of bishops at :You have established the council exists, including about 232 names, though there are indications that Holy Fathers as lights on the signature lists are defective. St. [[Athanasius of Alexandria]] puts earth!:Through them you have guided us to the number at 318, which is regarded as an mystically significant number, as in [[Genesis]] 14true faith!:14O greatly Compassionate One, the number of servants whom [[Abraham]] (then still named "Abram") took with him glory to rescue his nephew [[Lot]].You!

Only a few [[bishopKontakion]]s from the West were present (a pattern common to all the [[Ecumenical Councils]]Tone 8): Marcus of Calabria, Nicasius of Dijon, Domnus of Stridon, [[Hosius of Cordoba]], or [[Caecilian of Carthage]]. Pope St. [[Sylvester of Rome]] was represented by two of his [[priest]]s.

A number of renowned Eastern [[saint]]s were also present: besides [[Athanasius The Apostles' preaching and the Fathers' doctrines have established one faith for the Church.:Adorned with the Great]] where [[Nicholas robe of Myra]]truth, [[Spyridon of Trimythous]], [[Alexander of Alexandria]]woven from heavenly theology, :It defines and [[Paphnutius glorifies the great mystery of Egypt]].Orthodoxy!