First Council of Nicaea

== Role of Constantine ==
{{See also|Constantine the Great and Christianity}}
Christianity had only recently been legalised in the empire, the [[Diocletianic Persecution]] having ended in 311 under [[Galerius]]. Although Galerius stopped the Persecution, Christianity was not legally protected until 313, when the emperors Constantine and [[Licinius]] agreed to what became known as the [[Edict of Milan]], guaranteeing Christians legal protection and tolerance. However, Nicene Christianity did not become the [[state religion]] of the [[Roman Empire]] until the [[Edict of Thessalonica]] in 380. In the meantime, paganism remained legal and present in public affairs. Constantine's coinage and other official motifs, until the Council of Nicaea, had affiliated him with the pagan cult of [[Sol Invictus]]. At first, Constantine encouraged the construction of new temples<ref>Gerberding, R. and J. H. Moran Cruz, ''Medieval Worlds'' (New York: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2004) p. 28.</ref> and tolerated [[Religion in ancient Rome#Sacrifice|traditional sacrifices]].<ref>Peter Brown, ''The Rise of Christendom'' 2nd edition (Oxford, Blackwell Publishing, 2003) p. 60.</ref> Later in his reign, he gave orders for the [[pillaging]] and the tearing down of [[Roman temple]]s.<ref>R. MacMullen, ''Christianizing The Roman Empire A.D. 100–400'', Yale University Press, 1984, {{ISBN|0-300-03642-6}}</ref><ref>"A History of the Church", [[Philip Hughes (historian)|Philip Hughes]], Sheed & Ward, rev ed 1949, vol I chapter 6.[http://www.ewtn.com/library/CHISTORY/HUGHHIST.TXT]</ref><ref>Eusebius Pamphilius and [[Philip Schaff|Schaff, Philip]] (Editor) and McGiffert, Rev. Arthur Cushman, PhD (Translator) [http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf201.txt ''NPNF2-01. Eusebius Pamphilius: Church History, Life of Constantine, Oration in Praise of Constantine''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180417033355/http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf201.txt |date=17 April 2018 }} quote: "he razed to their foundations those of them which had been the chief objects of superstitious reverence".</ref>

Constantine's role regarding Nicaea was that of supreme civil leader and authority in the empire. As Emperor, the responsibility for maintaining civil order was his, and he sought that the Church be of one mind and at peace. When first informed of the unrest in Alexandria due to the Arian disputes, he was "greatly troubled" and, "rebuked" both Arius and Bishop [[Pope Alexander I of Alexandria|Alexander]] for originating the disturbance and allowing it to become public.<ref name="sozomen1">{{harvnb|Sozomen|loc=Book 1, Chapter 16}}</ref> Aware also of "the diversity of opinion" regarding the celebration of Easter and hoping to settle both issues, he sent the "honored" Bishop [[Hosius of Corduba|Hosius of Cordova]] (Hispania) to form a local church council and "reconcile those who were divided".<ref name="sozomen1" /> When that embassy failed, he turned to summoning a synod at Nicaea, inviting "the most eminent men of the churches in every country".<ref>{{harvnb|Sozomen|loc=Book 1, Chapter 17}}</ref>

Constantine assisted in assembling the Council by arranging that travel expenses to and from the bishops' [[episcopal see]]s, as well as lodging at Nicaea, be covered out of public funds.<ref name="theodoret1">{{harvnb|Theodoret|loc=Book 1, Chapter 6}}</ref> He also provided and furnished a "great hall ... in the palace" as a place for discussion so that his guests "should be treated with becoming dignity".<ref name="theodoret1" /> In addressing the opening of the Council, he "exhorted the Bishops to unanimity and concord" and called on them to follow the Holy Scriptures with: "Let, then, all contentious disputation be discarded; and let us seek in the divinely-inspired word the solution of the questions at issue."<ref name="theodoret1" />

Thereupon, the debate about Arius and church doctrine began. "The emperor gave patient attention to the speeches of both parties" and "deferred" to the decision of the bishops.<ref>{{harvnb|Sozomen|loc=Book 1, Chapter 20}}</ref> The bishops first pronounced Arius' teachings to be anathema, formulating the creed as a statement of correct doctrine. When Arius and two followers refused to agree, the bishops pronounced clerical judgement by excommunicating them from the Church. Respecting the clerical decision, and seeing the threat of continued unrest, Constantine also pronounced civil judgement, banishing them into exile. This was the beginning of the practice of using secular power to establish doctrinal orthodoxy within Christianity, an example followed by all later Christian emperors, which led to a circle of Christian violence, and of Christian resistance couched in terms of martyrdom.<ref>There is no crime for those who have Christ; religious violence in the Roman Empire. Michael Gaddis. University of California Press 2005. p. 340.{{ISBN|978-0-520-24104-6}}</ref>