Religion
In reply to the discussion: I visit this group quite a bit- [View all]Leontius
(2,270 posts)Held between 20 May and 19 June 325 was called for by Constantine to settle the dispute of the nature and relation of the Son to the Father. Attended by some 300 eastern bishops but less than 10 western bishops and observers since the controversy was of little concern in the West. Arius and his teaching was condemned with only two bishops refusing to agree with the final conclusion of the council. Constantine had little interest in the doctrinal dispute as his letter to Alexander and Arius in 323 clearly shows. His interest was to end the dispute and restore unity and harmony in the Church so it would not destabilize the Empire. Under the guidance of his adviser Hosius Bishop of Cordova he did propose the insertion of 'homoousios' in the draft of the creed. This was the only point of doctrine considered by the council, the date of Easter was also formalized but no 'organizational structure" was addressed. As to Constantine "having nothing to do with shaping the formal doctrinal and organizational structure" I never stated that, I said only that his influence on doctrine was neither great nor lasting as he in all probability had no idea what the dispute was really about and eventually recalled Arius form his exile in Illyricum.