Fascination of Nicaea: Anniversary of the first Ecumenical Council celebrated!

Fascination of Nicaea: Anniversary of the first Ecumenical Council celebrated!

The Society for Middle Rhine Church History held its annual conference in Trier from April 24th to 26th, 2025. The occasion for the meeting was the 1,700th anniversary of the first ecumenical council, which was convened in Nicaea in 325. The central theme of the conference was: “Councils and synods as focal points of church and diocese history”.

Various scientific lectures were held during the conference. Among these, the keynote speech by Prof. Dr. Annemarie Mayer focuses on the importance of the Council of Nicaea for the church today. Particularly noteworthy are the “Trier Perspectives,” which shed light on various historical and theological aspects. The University of Trier reports that a total of seven lectures dealt with the Council of Nicaea and other church councils.

Honors and new leadership

As part of the conference, Dr. Thomas Brockmann was elected as the company's new president. In addition, two “honorary gifts” were awarded to deserving church historians. Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Schmid received the first honorary award for his special contributions to Middle Rhine church history. The laudatory speech was given by the outgoing chairman Prof. Dr. Bernhard Schneider, who was associated with the company for over 40 years and was chairman from 2017 to 2025. Schneider received the second award, with Auxiliary Bishop Otto Georgens giving the laudatory speech.

More than 60 guests, including students from the Faculty of Theology, took part in the annual conference. City excursions with guided tours rounded off the program on the final day.

The context of the Council of Nicaea

The first ecumenical council of Nicaea, first convened in 325, played a central role in Christian history. It established fundamental dogmatic decisions, including the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Council, which affirmed the doctrine of the Trinity and the divinity of Christ. The Council's recommendatory decisions were recognized by the Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches worldwide explains Wikipedia.

Nicaea, now known as Iznik, is located about 140 kilometers southeast of Istanbul and historically hosted two of the seven ecumenical councils. The city has a rich history, spanning from the Hellenistic to the Ottoman periods. What is interesting is that archaeological discoveries were made at Lake Ascanius in 2014, which indicate the existence of a three-aisled basilica. This ruin, known as the “Sunken Church,” may possibly be associated with the First Council. However, historical accounts suggest that the council actually met in a palace belonging to Emperor Constantine outside the city walls. However, there remains uncertainty about the exact circumstances of the gathering and the exact location of the church in which the council took place.

For future excavation seasons, measures are planned to develop a visitor center and an open-air museum on the shores of the lake to further illuminate and preserve the legacy of the Council of Nicaea. The museum is expected to be completed by the upcoming anniversary of the council on May 26th. Pope Francis' participation in the celebrations remains uncertain due to health concerns.