Nicaea, 1700 Years Later: Pope Leo and Patriarch Bartholomew Seek to Heal the Schism
One thousand seven hundred years after the Church was first united by a common Creed and nearly a millennium after it fractured in the Great Schism of 1054, Pope Leo XIV and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I convened in Nicaea (modern-day İznik, Turkey) for an unprecedented joint celebration.
The event, marking the 1,700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea (325 AD), was the spiritual centerpiece of the Pope’s trip to Turkey, signaling a powerful renewal of the Catholic and Orthodox Churches’ commitment to unity.
By coming together at the ancient site, the two leaders strived to “revive the spirit of Nicaea,” leveraging the Church’s shared past to bridge the Christian divide. The move demonstrates the Pope’s focus on unity, a choice that contrasts sharply with his diplomatic decision to omit a visit to Hagia Sophia.
The significance of the shared foundation between Patriarch Bartholomew and Leo XIV in Nicaea
The choice of Nicaea is not simply historical, but profoundly theological. The First Council of Nicaea (325 AD) is revered by both East and West as the definitive event that established the fundamental truths of Christianity.
The main purpose of the original council was to resolve the Arian controversy—the heated debate over the divinity of Jesus Christ. The Council definitively rejected the doctrine that Christ was a created being and formulated the original Nicene Creed. By affirming that Christ was co-eternal and consubstantial (homoousios) with the Father, the Council established the essential Christian doctrine of the Trinity.
By celebrating here, the Pope and the Patriarch affirm that both traditions are unified in the foundational truths of the faith set forth seventeen centuries ago.
The pilgrimage of unity by Pope Leo and Patriarch Bartholomew
The event is designed as a “living icon” of the unity that existed before the Schism, with the two leaders setting aside centuries of doctrinal differences to focus on their common origin.
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew has stressed that the churches are “more powerful and more credible when we are united.”
The Ecumenical prayer service
The service was held near the archaeological excavations of the ancient Basilica of Saint Neophytos, on the shore of Lake İznik, the presumed location of the original council. The ceremony featured:
- Joint prayer: The leaders joined together for an Ecumenical Prayer Service, a mutual plea for reconciliation.
- Affirmation of faith: They collectively affirmed the Nicene Creed, recalling the moment of shared faith.
- Symbolic conclusion: The service concluded with the lighting of a candle, representing the shared light of Christ and the ongoing hope for restored communion.
The Nicaea celebration is intended to advance theological dialogue toward tangible results, including momentum for finding a common date for the celebration of Easter (Pascha), one of the most visible signs of the current Christian fragmentation.
A formal Joint Declaration affirming their shared spiritual authority and commitment to unity is expected to be signed the following day in Istanbul. The powerful joint celebration signals that the Catholic and Orthodox Churches are determined to use their shared history to actively pursue healing for the Schism that has divided them for almost a thousand years.
Related: Pope Leo Calls for Common Catholic-Orthodox Easter at Nicaea Symposium
No comments:
Post a Comment