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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 A.D. 325 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 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 A.D. 325 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 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.papalencyclicals.net/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, as a basis for 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]]: Used by Eusebius of Caesarea, hom'''oio'''usios means "of a similar substance". This is in contrast to the Nicene affirmation that Jesus and God the Father are hom'''oo'''usios, "of the same substance." <ref>[http://www.theopedia.com/homoiousios Theopedia: Homoiousios] The only difference in spelling between homoiousios and homoousios is the single Greek letter '''''iota''''' ( '''ι''' ). From this comes the expression "an iota of difference": ''There is not an iota of difference here. How can it make an iota of difference? I&nbsp;don't care an iota about this.'' However, the difference here is profound.</ref>  As expanded by the [[First Council of Constantinople]], this creed remains the unified statement of faith of the majority of Christians to this day.

The church historian [[Eusebius]], an Arian, offered the creed of his church, which did not address the questions in dispute, as a basis for 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]]: Used by Eusebius of Caesarea, hom'''oio'''usios means "of a similar substance". This is in contrast to the Nicene affirmation that Jesus and God the Father are hom'''oo'''usios, "of the same substance." <ref>[http://www.theopedia.com/homoiousios Theopedia: Homoiousios] The only difference in spelling between homoiousios and homoousios is the single Greek letter '''''iota''''' ( '''ι''' ). From this comes the expression "an iota of difference": ''There is not an iota of difference here. How can it make an iota of difference? I&nbsp;don't care an iota about this.'' However, the difference here is profound.</ref>  As expanded by the [[First Council of Constantinople]], this creed remains the unified statement of faith of the majority of Christians to this day.