The Council of Nicaea; Constantine settles the creed.

Symbolum Nicaeno-Constantinopolitanum. Icon depicting the First Council of Nicaea.

The Council of Nicaea concluded around this day in 325 Anno Domini, and the true doctrine was victorious.

The Emperor who cared for his calling – the mighty Illyrian Constantine the Great – called all bishops of western and eastern Christendom to come and settle the shared creed for all. Those who cared and could went to the Byzantine city of Nicaea, about 300 out of 1,800 expected, with the Emperor attending and moderating the debates. The western bishops were far, far fewer than the eastern ones attending.

The main issue discussed at the council was the status of Christ in the Holy Trinity. The Arian heresy was teaching that He was not of the same divine nature as the Father, on grounds of Him having been incarnated in human flesh. They viewed the flesh and the physical world as completely the domain of evil, a view that held strong for centuries in considerable communities from the western lands whose bishops did not show up at the council. It can be argued Constantine acted on the “many are called but few are chosen” principle.

Arianism was rightfully deemed a heresy, and the biblical doctrine of the divinity of Christ was established – the Nicaean Creed. In later centuries, the same Arian heresy led to inner European crusades for the unification of all European churches under one faith, practiced in considerable adaptation to local customs. This oneness of the church and, by consequence, Europe, was severely hit in 1517.

Europe owns a mighty lot to Constantine. Also, eastern Europe seems to have a long tradition of being far more based than its western sister.