Summary
Pope Leo XIII celebrated the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea in Iznik, Turkey on November 28. The event was marked by a stark contrast between its importance and the limited participation from Christian churches across Europe. Only representatives from Alexandria, Antioch, and Jerusalem were invited to participate. This small gathering took place amidst efforts by Turkish authorities to prevent large numbers of believers from attending in a country where Christians had almost disappeared over the last century. The Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew sent invitations only to these three historic patriarchates—Alexandria, Antioch, and Jerusalem—which together with Rome and Constantinople formed part of the “pentarchy” during the first millennium. Notably, the Patriarchate of Moscow and its associated churches did not respond or participate. The presence at the ceremony included figures such as the Archbishop Nektarios of Anthedona for Jerusalem’s representative role, Metropolitan Basil of Arcadia and Mount Lebanon representing Antioch, and the patriarch of the Syriac Orthodox Church of Antioch. Additionally, representatives from other Christian denominations such as the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, Coptic Orthodox Church, Assyrian Church of the East, Armenian Apostolic Church, Anglicans, Lutherans, Methodists, Baptists, Pentecostals, and Old Catholics were also present. Pope Leo emphasized that the unity of the church in faith in Christ was at the heart of his mission as pope, akin to the goal established by Nicaea.
Key Topics
Vatican City, Patriarchates, Antioch
