The Council of Nicaea: 1700th Anniversary Conference

The event will bring together theologians, ecumenical leaders, and local participants to engage in meaningful conversations about unity, respectful disagreement, and how faith communities can respond to conflict in today’s world.

Jesus told his followers, “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” Yet by 325 AD, the Church was deeply divided by internal conflict over matters of faith and doctrine. The divisions were so severe that they threatened both ecclesial unity and societal stability, prompting Emperor Constantine to intervene. He summoned all Christian bishops from across the known world to come together and seek consensus on the fundamental beliefs of the faith.

This historic gathering, held in the city of Nicaea, became the first ecumenical council—a term meaning a worldwide assembly of the Church. It resulted in Christianity’s first ecumenical document: the foundation of what we now call the Nicene Creed. Central to the debate was the nature of Christ: was Jesus truly divine—of the same substance as God—or merely similar in nature? The Council affirmed that Jesus is of the same essence (homoousios) and co-eternal with the Father.

But the story did not end there. In the centuries that followed, further disputes emerged. One of the most significant was the addition of the Filioque clause—the phrase “and the Son”—to the Creed in the Western Church. This addition, concerning the procession of the Holy Spirit, contributed to a major rift between Western Christianity and Eastern Orthodoxy.

Today, the Church continues to grapple with theological disagreements and denominational divisions. Yet the Council of Nicaea offers a lasting model—not of avoidance, but of courageous, structured dialogue in the pursuit of unity.

In this spirit, Blackburn Cathedral, in partnership with Churches Together in Lancashire, is hosting a three-day event that will reflect on the enduring legacy of Nicaea. The event will bring together theologians and ecumenical leaders to explore how the principles of honest disagreement and loving engagement can help address the challenges we face today—with both passion and compassion.

Programme

The programme begins on Friday evening with a panel examining the Nicene Creed, featuring insights from leading theologians and ecumenists.

Saturday will offer opportunities for in-depth dialogue, networking, and a series of seminars, culminating in an ecumenical service at the Cathedral.

On Sunday morning, the Cathedral Eucharist will include a sermon from The Revd Dr Peter Colwell, General Secretary of Churches Together in Britain and Ireland.

This gathering will highlight the vital role of ecumenism in today’s world. Christians are called to “pursue all that makes for peace”—not by avoiding disagreement, but by engaging with difficult issues faithfully and lovingly. The goal is not to erase our differences, but to face them with integrity, striving for the peace and unity that Jesus so passionately desired for his followers.