Church Marks 1,700 Years Since First Council of Nicaea with Renewed Commitment to Christian Unity

Celebrations in New Delhi honour 1,700 years since the First Council of Nicaea and strengthen ecumenical ties across India

NEW DELHI (Indian Catholic News) — The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) marked a milestone in Christian history, celebrating the Ecumenical Jubilee 2025 and the 1,700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea and the proclamation of the Nicene Creed. The solemn observance aimed to highlight “a historic moment of faith and unity for the Church in India and across the world,” the CBCI said in a statement.

The Sept. 11-12 commemoration opened with an ecumenical gathering at St. Columba’s School, New Delhi, bringing together leaders from “different Christian traditions, religious men and women, lay leaders, and faithful from across the country.” According to the bishops, the event “highlight[ed] the enduring significance of the Nicene Creed in strengthening Christian unity and bearing common witness in the modern world.”

As part of the celebrations, the CBCI Standing Committee convened in the capital under the leadership of Archbishop Andrews Thazhath, CBCI president. Around 50 Church leaders, including cardinals, archbishops and bishops, are “reflecting on the life and mission of the Church in India” and addressing “the contemporary challenges and issues facing the Christian community and society at large.”

A solemn Eucharistic celebration followed at the Sacred Heart Cathedral, presided over by Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli, Apostolic Nuncio to India and Nepal, alongside senior Indian prelates. The liturgy, the CBCI said, was “a profound expression of thanksgiving, faith, and communion,” with thousands of faithful joining from Delhi, Faridabad and Gurgaon.

The dual events, according to the bishops, “serve as a visible witness to the unity of the Catholic Church in its rich diversity of rites, while also reaffirming the Christian community’s mission to be instruments of peace, reconciliation, and nation-building.”

Church leaders at the gathering underscored the continued importance of the Nicene Creed, which “continues to unite Christians across centuries and cultures in the one faith of the Church.”

The CBCI expressed “deep gratitude to all who are contributing to the success of these historic celebrations,” acknowledging the commitment of clergy, religious, lay leaders, benefactors and volunteers whose “dedicated service will make the events memorable.”

The First Council of Nicaea, convened in 325 AD by Emperor Constantine, was the first ecumenical council of the Christian Church. It produced the Nicene Creed, affirming the divinity of Christ and establishing a foundation for Christian orthodoxy. The Catholic Church recognises the 1,700th anniversary as a moment to renew commitment to unity and shared faith.