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The First '''Council of Nicaea''', the first [[ecumenical council]] recognized by episcopal churches (who do not officially count the [[Council of Jerusalem]]), was summoned by Emperor [[Constantine]] in 325 AD to address disunity in the Church stemming from the [[Arian]] heresy.  It was the first time Christians could be called together from across the [[Roman Empire]] as it had been illegal before then and suffered persecutions leading to death.

The First '''Council of Nicaea''', the first [[ecumenical council]] recognized by Christian churches (other than the [[Council of Jerusalem]] recorded in the [[New Testament]]), was summoned by Emperor [[Constantine]] in 325 AD in order to address disunity in the Church stemming from [[Arianism]].  It was the first time Christians could be called together from across the [[Roman Empire]] as it had been illegal before then and incurred persecutions leading to death.

The sessions opened between 20 May and 19 June.<ref name="Cath">[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11044a.htm Catholic Encyclopedia:  First Council of Nicea]</ref>  According to tradition, 318 bishops attended.<ref name="hu">[http://www.piar.hu/councils/ecum01.htm "THE PROFESSION OF FAITH OF THE 318 FATHERS"]</ref>  They held discussions daily, not being discouraged or intimidated by the emperor's presence.  (Constantine himself wished primarily for unity; he did not appreciate the importance of Arius's heresy.) The church historian [[Eusebius]], an Arian, offered the creed of his church, which did not address the questions in dispute in the least, as a basis for general agreement.  The bishop of Nicomaeda, also an Arian named Eusebius, put forward a defense of Arianism.  Arius himself was also heard and his points discussed; however, the overwhelming majority declared themselves in favor of the orthodox faith.  Using Eusebius's creed as a base, they wrote the [[Nicene Creed]] which specifically and in detail asserted the divinity of [[Jesus Christ]]:  he is ''[[homousis]]'', "of the same substance" as the Father.  As expanded by the [[First Council of Constantinople]], this creed remains the unified statement of faith of all Christians to this day.

The sessions opened between 20 May and 19 June.<ref name="Cath">[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11044a.htm Catholic Encyclopedia:  First Council of Nicea]</ref>  According to tradition, 318 bishops attended.<ref name="hu">[http://www.piar.hu/councils/ecum01.htm "THE PROFESSION OF FAITH OF THE 318 FATHERS"]</ref>  They held discussions daily, not being discouraged or intimidated by the emperor's presence.  (Constantine himself wished primarily for unity; he did not appreciate the importance of Arius's heresy.)  

The Council of Nicea also issued twenty canons concerning church order and discipline.  Modern heretics such as [[Dan Brown]] have asserted that it also declared the official [[canon]] of the [[Bible]]; however, the main body of the canon (including all four [[Gospels]]) was already decided on long before the Council, and a few books were still being discussed afterwards.<ref>[[Eusebius]] of Caesaria, ''History of the Church''</ref>

 

The Council of Nicea also issued twenty canons concerning church order and discipline.  Modern skeptics such as [[Dan Brown]] have asserted that it also declared the official [[canon]] of the [[Bible]]; however, the main body of the canon (including all four [[Gospels]]) was already decided on long before the Council, and a few books only were still being discussed afterwards.<ref>[[Eusebius]] of Caesaria, ''History of the Church''</ref>

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