20251700 Years since the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea - Miniature Sheet

After the great persecution of Christians at the beginning of the 4th century, followed by the adoption of the Edict of Milan (313) and several local councils in the east and west of the Roman Empire, during the reign of Emperor Constantine the Great (306–337), conditions were created for resolving key church issues at the ecumenical level. The First Ecumenical Council was convened at the initiative of Emperor Constantine and was held in Nicaea (today the town of Iznik in Turkey), from May 20 to August 25, 325. The Council was convened by the Emperor, and the immediate cause was the heresy of Arius in Alexandria. About 300 bishops participated in the work of the Council. The vast majority of bishops represented Christian communities from the east of the Roman Empire: Alexander of Alexandria, Eustathius of Antioch, Macarius of Jerusalem, St. Nicholas, St. Paphnutius, St. Hypatius, St. Spyridon, Jacob the Persian, Eusebius of Caesarea, etc. Pope Sylvester I sent two priests, Vitus and Vincentius, to represent the Church of Rome.