This year, Christians around the world are preparing to commemorate the 1,700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea — an event that fundamentally shaped the Christian faith and continues to unify believers across centuries and traditions.
Convened in 325 by Emperor Constantine in what is modern-day Turkey, the Council of Nicaea gave birth to the Nicene Creed: the first universal summary of Christian belief.
To mark this historic anniversary, the Vatican’s International Theological Commission has released a significant new document titled Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior: 1700th Anniversary of the Ecumenical Council of Nicaea.
Rich reflection
Published with the approval of Pope Francis, the nearly 70-page text invites both theological reflection and renewed pastoral energy for proclaiming the faith in today’s world.
Far from being a purely academic work, the document offers a rich yet accessible reflection on the Creed’s lasting relevance. Structured in four major chapters, it traces how the Nicene faith has shaped Christian worship, community life, and the Church’s mission for 17 centuries.
“We believe as we baptize; and we pray as we believe,” it reminds readers — pointing to the Creed’s role not only in defining doctrine but in forming lives.
The Nicene Creed was originally formulated to affirm the divinity of Christ, particularly in response to growing theological disputes in the early Church. Its core declaration — that Jesus is “God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father” — remains a cornerstone of Christian worship and identity to this day.
Later expanded at the Council of Constantinople in 381, the Creed is recited weekly by millions in Churches of various traditions.
A beginning
This anniversary year is especially poignant, as Easter 2025 will be celebrated on the same day by all Christians — a rare occurrence due to the different calendars of East and West, the coinciding date underlines the unity the Creed once symbolized and still strives to inspire.
The new document expresses hope that this common celebration might encourage renewed efforts toward greater Christian unity.
Importantly, the Commission also acknowledges the pastoral challenges of disunity, particularly when Christian families and communities are divided by differing Easter dates. It argues that such visible fractures can obscure the shared core of belief and cause confusion or even scandal among non-Christians.
Turning point
Theologically, the document positions Nicaea as a turning point — not only in doctrine, but in Church structure. It was the first time bishops from across the Christian world gathered to express faith in a truly universal way, a moment echoed today in the Church’s ongoing synodal journey under Pope Francis.
The Vatican will also host a special study day on May 20 at the Pontifical Urban University in Rome, featuring contributors to the document and leading theologians. The gathering aims to deepen understanding of the Council’s legacy and its relevance for contemporary evangelization.
The Nicene Creed continues to serve, as the document puts it, as a “symbol for salvation” — a shared profession that transcends borders, cultures, and centuries.
It remains to be seen if Pope Francis will be able to fulfill his plan of meeting with Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople in Turkey to mark the anniversary. While the Holy Father continues to improve after his 5-week hospital stay, a May trip to Turkey might still be asking a lot.
In any case, as the Catholic Church continues the Jubilee Year themed around hope, the voice of Nicaea still calls out clearly: a voice of faith in the Triune God and the saving love of Jesus Christ, offered to all.
