The Relevance of the Council of Nicaea

19 November 2025

It has received little attention, but this event is still relevant today: the first Council of the Christian Church in 325, held in Nicaea (today Iznik, Turkey). For centuries, the emperors of the Roman Empire ruled over large parts of Europe, Asia and Africa, including present-day Turkey and Switzerland.

In the early centuries, Christianity spread mainly in the Middle East, Turkey and the surrounding regions. From the outset, Christianity was characterised by great theological division. Dozens of Christian schisms arose.

Nicea (Nikaia), 3rd. century AD. Image: Antikensammlung Basel and Sammlung Ludwig

The Council of Nicaea sought to restore the unity of the church, or at least to establish the official dogma of the church. It was, as it were, the first ecumenical initiative!

As is well known, the Christian church subsequently split many more times (including the Great Schism of 1084 and the Reformation from 1517 onwards). Still, it is worth considering this first initiative in 325, a mediation avant la lettre.

Mégalo Metéoron Monastery in Greece, an Icon representing the Council of Nicaea (325 A.D.), condemned Arius at the bottom. Image: Wikipedia

It is no coincidence that this Council is commemorated in Switzerland. During the Reformation, the “Disputatio”, the “Simultaneum”, compromise (“agree to disagree”), statesmanship, and, above all, the voice of the people (Appenzell 1597, for example) were prerequisites for preventing ruthless religious wars, apart from a few minor armed conflicts. Even, or perhaps especially, in the world’s former Calvinist and current international legal capital, “Nicaea” is being commemorated!

At the Council of Nicaea, the bishops discussed Christian dogma. Some of the decisions made at that time are still relevant to the Christian church today! The content is not relevant from a historical perspective.

Gravestones from Phrygia (present-day Anatolia), 3rd century AD. Collection: Antikensammlung Basel und Sammlung Ludwig

Still, it shows how decisions can have an impact, even if they do not have positive and unforeseen consequences in the longer term. What applies to the Council of Nicaea also applies to current institutional treaties, although fortunately, bishops and religion have been replaced by chosen politicians and non-religious laws.