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Back to Nicaea?!

Regiomontanus

Ματαιοδοξία ματαιοδοξιών! Όλα είναι ματαιοδοξία.
"Mark your calendars: In 2025, Roman Catholics and Eastern Orthodox Christians may return to Nicaea, the spot in modern-day Turkey where Christianity was literally defined. In 325, early followers of Jesus came together to figure out what it means to be a Christian; the goal was to create theological consensus across all of Christendom. This was way before the faith sub-divided into East vs. West, Catholics vs. Protestants, Southern Baptists vs. Primitive Baptists—these were the early days of the religion, when it still seemed like it could be observed as one, united faith. The council's effect on Christianity was huge; for one thing, most Bible-school students still learn some version of the Nicene Creed, the profession of Christian faith.

On his way home from a meeting with Pope Francis in the Holy Land, Patriarch Bartholomew I, the primary leader of Eastern Orthodox Christians, gave an interviewin which he said that he and Francis are planning a gathering in Nicaea 11 years from now "to celebrate together, after 17 centuries , the first truly ecumenical synod." That's a pretty big deal; in 1054, theological disagreements led to a schism in Christianity, which is how Roman Catholics and Eastern Orthodox Christians became separate faith traditions. This is a call back to a time before the schism, before the fundamental disagreements that kept popes and patriarchs from talking to each other for more than 900 years."


The articles about this so far are all from 2014 but I will keep digging a bit.

Such a meeting would be primarily symbolic but is interesting to think about. Uniting the eastern and western branches of the Catholic church is, I fear, unlikely at any point but there can at least be more dialog.

Christian Leaders May Return to Nicaea: What Does It Mean?
 

Heyo

Veteran Member
"Mark your calendars: In 2025, Roman Catholics and Eastern Orthodox Christians may return to Nicaea, the spot in modern-day Turkey where Christianity was literally defined. In 325, early followers of Jesus came together to figure out what it means to be a Christian; the goal was to create theological consensus across all of Christendom. This was way before the faith sub-divided into East vs. West, Catholics vs. Protestants, Southern Baptists vs. Primitive Baptists—these were the early days of the religion, when it still seemed like it could be observed as one, united faith. The council's effect on Christianity was huge; for one thing, most Bible-school students still learn some version of the Nicene Creed, the profession of Christian faith.

On his way home from a meeting with Pope Francis in the Holy Land, Patriarch Bartholomew I, the primary leader of Eastern Orthodox Christians, gave an interviewin which he said that he and Francis are planning a gathering in Nicaea 11 years from now "to celebrate together, after 17 centuries , the first truly ecumenical synod." That's a pretty big deal; in 1054, theological disagreements led to a schism in Christianity, which is how Roman Catholics and Eastern Orthodox Christians became separate faith traditions. This is a call back to a time before the schism, before the fundamental disagreements that kept popes and patriarchs from talking to each other for more than 900 years."


The articles about this so far are all from 2014 but I will keep digging a bit.

Such a meeting would be primarily symbolic but is interesting to think about. Uniting the eastern and western branches of the Catholic church is, I fear, unlikely at any point but there can at least be more dialog.

Christian Leaders May Return to Nicaea: What Does It Mean?
I also remember a dialogue between the RCC and the Anglican church that was at the time (a few years ago) imagined as a first step to reunite the churches.
 

Teritos

Active Member
Indeed, according to the Bible, Turkey is the throne of Satan.(Revelation 2:13) However, there will be no rebirth of the "Holy" Roman Empire. The time for the Romans is over. Turkey is a Muslim country and will belong to the future Islamic Caliphate.
 

Left Coast

This Is Water
Staff member
Premium Member
Indeed, according to the Bible, Turkey is the throne of Satan.(Revelation 2:13) However, there will be no rebirth of the "Holy" Roman Empire. The time for the Romans is over. Turkey is a Muslim country and will belong to the future Islamic Caliphate.

Pergamos and Nicaea are different places.
 

sun rise

The world is on fire
Premium Member
The First Council of Nicea is celebrated and sometimes a bit castigated depending on whether you agree or disagree with their decisions since Arianism has never really died out or perhaps we should say "has been revived".
 

Marcion

gopa of humanity's controversial Taraka Brahma
In 325, early followers of Jesus ;
I suppose how early is a question of personal perception.
The early followers of Jesus lived in the first and second century and their movements were proto-Christian and much more diverse than present-day Christians will likely be able to imagine.

By 325 the present day type of followers of Jesus had managed to get the upperhand and the other types of followers had become tiny minorities.
 
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Regiomontanus

Ματαιοδοξία ματαιοδοξιών! Όλα είναι ματαιοδοξία.
I suppose how early is a question of personal perception.
The early followers of Jesus lived in the first and second century and their movements were proto-Christian and much more diverse than present-day Christians will likely be able to imagine.

By 325 the present day type of followers of Jesus had managed to get the upperhand and the other types of followers had become tiny minorities.

Yes I agree completely and I expected someone to mention the emperor Constantine too :)
 

metis

aged ecumenical anthropologist
I suppose how early is a question of personal perception.
The early followers of Jesus lived in the first and second century and their movements were proto-Christian and much more diverse than present-day Christians will likely be able to imagine.

By 325 the present day type of followers of Jesus had managed to get the upperhand and the other types of followers had become tiny minorities.

Yes I agree completely and I expected someone to mention the emperor Constantine too :)
I think what's missing here is the fact that Jesus created an organization that we call the "Church", and that organization didn't disappear. Paul referred to it as being of "one body", plus Jesus and the Apostles "taught with authority" according to the Gospels, thus this Church they created wasn't meant to be just some sort of loosey-goosey theological free-for-all.

See here: Apostolic succession - Wikipedia
 

Vouthon

Dominus Deus tuus ignis consumens est
Staff member
Premium Member
Such a meeting would be primarily symbolic but is interesting to think about. Uniting the eastern and western branches of the Catholic church is, I fear, unlikely at any point but there can at least be more dialog.

That would be an absolutely historic milestone if it actually transpired, even if purely for its symbolic import.

However, I personally struggle to see the likes of the Russian Orthodox making too many overtures to 'Rome/Latin West' (not least given the geopolitical tensions between Russia and the West over Ukraine at present, which sadly filter down into ecclesiastical relations).
 

Regiomontanus

Ματαιοδοξία ματαιοδοξιών! Όλα είναι ματαιοδοξία.
I think what's missing here is the fact that Jesus created an organization that we call the "Church", and that organization didn't disappear. Paul referred to it as being of "one body", plus Jesus and the Apostles "taught with authority" according to the Gospels, thus this Church they created wasn't meant to be just some sort of loosey-goosey theological free-for-all.

See here: Apostolic succession - Wikipedia

Yes, thanks, I think I heard of that before ;)
 

Regiomontanus

Ματαιοδοξία ματαιοδοξιών! Όλα είναι ματαιοδοξία.
That would be an absolutely historic milestone if it actually transpired, even if purely for its symbolic import.

However, I personally struggle to see the likes of the Russian Orthodox making too many overtures to 'Rome/Latin West' (not least given the geopolitical tensions between Russia and the West over Ukraine at present, which sadly filter down into ecclesiastical relations).

Yeah my expectations are not high but definitely a symbolic event that could lead to further dialog.
 
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