The Council of Nicaea
In 325, the Council of Nicaea, the first ecumenical council, was convoked by Constantine in order to settle the Arian dispute. Constantine had personally written to St. Alexander (d. 326/328) and Arius (256 – 336), admonishing the bishops back into communion.
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| First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea with the condemned Arius in the bottom of the icon. |
Constantine “appeared to be the only one on earth capable of being [God's] minister for this good end,” that is, the healing of the differences within the Church (Eusebius, The Life ..., 3.5). As Eusebius described, Constantine “proceeded through the midst of the assembly, like some heavenly messenger of God, clothed in raiment which glittered as it were with rays of light, reflecting the glowing radiance of a purple robe, and adorned with the brilliant splendor of gold and precious stones” (Ibid., 3.10). Not only was great reverence bestowed upon the Christian emperor who ended the persecution, but Constantine also exceedingly honored the Christians who survived the persecution. Fourteen years had passed since the final persecutions under the Emperor Galerius had ended, and many of the bishops who made up the Council of Nicaea in the year 325 bore in their bodies the scars of persecution. Among the writings of St. Maruthas, or Marutha of Martyropolis (d. c. 420), is History of the Council of Nicaea, in which he provides a brief account of the Council. Describing the assembly of the bishops, he says: