Nicaea, Councils of

views updated May 17 2018

Nicaea, Councils of Two important ecumenical councils of the Christian Church held in Nicaea (modern Iznik, Turkey). The first was convoked in ad 325 to resolve the problems caused by the emergence of Arianism. It promulgated a creed, affirming belief in the divinity of Christ. The second, held in 787, was summoned by the patriarch Tarasius to deal with the problem of the worship of icons.