The First Ecumenical Council (Nicaea I, 325)

The Seven Holy Ecumenical Councils · c. 325 AD

Ante-Nicene Fathers (Roberts–Donaldson), Roberts, Donaldson, and Coxe (eds.), Ante-Nicene Fathers, Buffalo: Christian Literature Publishing, 1885–1887; digitized by CCEL.

The Holy Fathers gathered in council under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. The Orthodox Church receives seven councils as Ecumenical: Nicaea I (325), Constantinople I (381), Ephesus (431), Chalcedon (451), Constantinople II (553), Constantinople III (680–681), and Nicaea II (787). The Quinisext Council in Trullo (692) is received in the East as having ecumenical authority for its disciplinary canons. The canons of certain local councils (Ancyra, Gangra, Neocaesarea, Antioch, Laodicea, Sardica, Carthage) were ratified by the Ecumenical Synods and likewise carry conciliar weight.

Contents

1. The Nicene Creed(1 chapter)
2. The Canons of the 318 Holy Fathers Assembled in the City of Nice, in Bithynia(31 chapters)
3. The Captions of the Arabic Canons Attributed to the Council of Nice(1 chapter)
4. Proposed Action on Clerical Celibacy(1 chapter)
5. The Synodal Letter(1 chapter)
6. On the Keeping of Easter(1 chapter)