On June 4, 2025, the Pontifical University of Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum) in Rome inaugurated the international conference “Nicaea and the Church of the Third Millennium.” This significant gathering brought together theologians, clergy, and scholars from various Christian traditions to commemorate the 1700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea and to reflect on its enduring relevance for the Church today.

The opening ceremony featured a profound address by His Eminence Metropolitan Job (Getcha) of Pisidia, representing the Ecumenical Patriarchate. His reflections offered a compelling vision for how the legacy of Nicaea can guide contemporary efforts toward Christian unity (see video from 1:26:05 to 1:57:20).

Nicaea: A Council of Unity

Metropolitan Job emphasized that the Council of Nicaea was convened primarily to preserve the unity of the Church. It addressed pressing issues such as the Arian controversy and disputes over the date of Easter, seeking to establish doctrinal clarity and liturgical harmony. He asserted that Nicaea serves as a model for restoring ecclesial communion today, not through enforced uniformity, but through a shared commitment to the apostolic faith.

The Nicene Creed: A Universal Confession

A central achievement of the Council was the formulation of the Nicene Creed, affirming the consubstantiality (homoousios) of the Son with the Father. This creed, later expanded at the Second Ecumenical Council to include the Holy Spirit, became the universal confession of faith for the undivided Church. Metropolitan Job highlighted its enduring authority, noting that the Church adheres to it without alteration, as a testament to its foundational role in expressing the faith.

Baptism and Ecclesial Recognition

The Council also established criteria for recognizing the validity of baptisms performed outside canonical boundaries. Those who did not confess the Trinity, such as the followers of Paul of Samosata, were required to be rebaptized. Conversely, groups like the Novatians, who maintained Trinitarian faith, were received without rebaptism. This principle, affirmed by subsequent councils, continues to inform the Orthodox Church’s approach to baptismal recognition, emphasizing the importance of Trinitarian confession.

The Date of Easter: A Call for Unity

Metropolitan Job addressed the ongoing divergence in the celebration of Easter between Eastern and Western Christians. He noted that the Council of Nicaea sought to establish a common date for Easter, independent of the Jewish Passover, based on the first Sunday after the full moon following the vernal equinox. The current differences arise from the use of different calendars—the Julian in the East and the Gregorian in the West. He advocated for a return to the Nicene principles, using accurate astronomical data to determine a unified date for Easter, as recommended by various ecumenical consultations, including the 1997 Aleppo meeting.

Visions of Unity and Ecumenical Dialogue

Rejecting notions of “unionism,” Metropolitan Job called for a model of unity rooted in mutual recognition and shared faith, reflecting the lived experience of the first millennium. He cited encouraging developments, such as the recitation of the Nicene Creed without the Filioque by recent Popes, and the recommendations from Orthodox-Catholic dialogues to use the original form of the Creed in liturgical contexts. These steps signify a growing convergence and a commitment to healing historical divisions.

Conclusion: Nicaea’s Enduring Legacy

The Council of Nicaea stands as a beacon of unity, demonstrating that the Church can address internal challenges through conciliar discernment and fidelity to the apostolic faith. As we commemorate its 1700th anniversary, Metropolitan Job’s reflections invite us to draw from its wisdom in our pursuit of Christian unity today. By embracing the principles established at Nicaea, we can work toward a future where the Church, is united in faith and love.

For those interested in viewing the full address by Metropolitan Job and other sessions from the conference, recordings are available on the Angelicum’s official YouTube channel:

For more information about the conference and its proceedings, please visit the Angelicum’s official event page: