The problems created in the eastern provinces of the empire due to the heresy of Arius were the reason that led to the convening, by decision of Emperor Constantine I, of a synod in Bithynia (today’s Iznik, Turkey), which was located near Nicomedia, the capital of the empire until 330, when New Rome/Constantinople was inaugurated.
The synod began on May 20, 325. After the address of the Emperor, who remembers that he had not yet been baptized a Christian, the presidents of the Synod were Eustathius of Antioch and Alexander of Alexandria, perhaps also Corduis Osios.
the issuance of twenty rules concerning the administration of the Church, the drafting of the first articles of “Symbol of Faith” and the definition of the Easter celebration day, the well-known “Easter Rule».
Apparently the members of the council, which, among many versions, prevailed, probably for symbolic reasons, to be 318, had not then imagined that they would form the First Ecumenical Council and take decisions that would be considered so important, even today.
For the beggars it has been known for a long time that 2025 marks 1700 years since the First Ecumenical Council.
The happy coincidence was that in 2025, on April 20, the celebration of Easter coincided in the Eastern and Western Churches, which, despite the fact that both accept the “Paschal Canon”, had been differentiated after the introduction by the Western Church of the new calendar, the so-called Gregorian (1582), which was not accepted in terms of the celebration of Easter by the Eastern Church.
This one in the place where this decision was taken by the then united Christian Church, namely in Nicaea. He discussed this idea with Pope Francis when they met in Jerusalem in 2014. The Pope readily accepted the idea, adding, during the Patriarch’s own account, “if the Lord does not permit it, our successors.”
Patriarch Bartholomew, prudent and methodical, already on February 10, visited Nicaea, where he was received by the Mayor, they toured together the ruins of the Byzantine Palace and the Basilica of Saint Neophytos and discussed the importance of the anniversary events for the city.
Unfortunately, Pope Francis proved to be prophetic. He ended his life on earth on Easter Monday 2025. Thus the commemoration did not take place.
On May 8, 2025, the first North American Pope to choose the name Leo (the 14th) is elected. The Ecumenical Patriarch is also present at his enthronement and the topic of celebrating the jubilee of the First Ecumenical Synod comes up again. The Pope is positive, even though the momentum of the Easter celebration has been lost. The leap year, thankfully, continues.
The Pope of Rome, however, is also the head of state of the Vatican, a member of the United Nations, and is therefore invited in that capacity. For this reason, his visit to Turkey begins in Ankara with the laying of a wreath at the Kemal monument, a meeting with the President Erdogan and then transfer to Istanbul. And there a visit to the Sultan Ahmed Mosque is planned, even though the Hagia Sophia and the Chora Monastery look like mosques… It is, I think, the price for the events that follow.
of Rome and New Rome, ended up in a meeting in Nicaea, in order to take place there an Ecumenical Prayer (28.11) in the area of the Basilica of Agios Neophytos and the following new meeting in the Patriarchate in Fanari and signing of a joint declaration.
The other Christian churches (Protestants, Anglican, Pre-Chalcedonian, etc.) and the most important ecclesiastical organizations were also invited to this celebration. The Patriarchs of Alexandria, Antioch and Jerusalem were also invited, so that, along with those of Rome and Constantinople, the heads of thrones recognized by Ecumenical Synods could meet (Pentarchy of the Patriarchs) in order to destroy pan-Christian unity.
Despite this, I consider the presence of the Pope of Rome at the enthronement feast of the martyred Church of Constantinople, on the feast of its founder Apostle Andrew (30.11), to be much more important. His presence at the service in the Patriarchal Church and the speech he will give during it can give important messages, literally urbi et orbi.
It is a fact that lately the Ecumenical Patriarchate has been tested, with the Church of Russia trying in every way to become the Third Rome. by the Patriarchate of the Church of Ukraine as Autocephalous (2019), which led to resentment and opposition between the Orthodox Churches.
On the other hand, the Patriarchate continues to live as a prisoner, within a state in appearance mundanewhich considers that it can delete from the candidate Patriarchs anyone who is not to its liking. It took long legal battles in the European courts to secure his ownership rights and the Halki School is still waiting for its re-opening. Moreover, as the Turkish President recently informed Chancellor Mertz, there are “the Ankara criteria”…!
The gentleman Ioannis M. Konidaris is an emeritus professor of Ecclesiastical Law at the Law School of the University of Athens.
