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wiser and better sort, but always took care to intrude themselves among the ignorant and uncultured, rambling around to play tricks at fairs and markets ... they lard their lean books with the fat of old fables ... and still the less do they understand ... and they write nonsense on vellum ... and still be doing, never done." (Contra Celsum ["Against Celsus"], Origen of Alexandria, c. 251, Bk I, p. Ixvii, Bk IIL, p. xliv, passim) Thus, the first ecclesiastical gathering in history was summoned and is today known as the Council of Nicaea. It was a bizarre event that provided many details of early clerical thinking and presents a clear picture of the intellectual climate prevailing at the time. It was at this gathering that Christianity was born, and the ramifications of decisions made at the time are difficult to calculate. About four years prior to chairing the Council, Constantine had been initiated into the religious order of Sol Invictus, one of the two thriving cults that regarded the Sun as the one and only Supreme God (the other was Mithraism). Because of his Sun worship, he instructed Eusebius to convene the first of three sittings on the summer solstice, 21 June 325 ( Catholic Encyclopedia, New Edition, vol. i, p. 792), and it was "held in a hall in Osius's palace" (Ecclesiastical History, Bishop Louis Dupin, Paris, 1686, vol. i, p. 598). In an account of the proceedings of the conclave of presbyters gathered at Nicaea, Sabinius, Bishop of Hereclea, who was in attendance, said, "Excepting Constantine himself and Eusebius Pamphilius, they were a set of illiterate, simple creatures who understood nothing" (Secrets of the Christian Fathers, Bishop J. W. Sergerus, 1685, 1897 reprint). Clusters of presbyters had developed "many gods and many Constantine had been initiated into the religious order of Sol lords" (1 Cor. 8:5) and numerous religious sects existed, each wit Invictus, one of the two thriving cults that regarded the Sun as the differing doctrines (Gal. 1:6). Presbyterial groups clashed over one and only Supreme God (the other was Mithraism). Because attributes of their various gods and "altar was set against altar" in of his Sun worship, he instructed Eusebius to convene the first of competing for an audience (Optatus of Milevis, 1:15, 19, early three sittings on the summer solstice, 21 June 325 ( Catholic fourth century). From Constantine's point of view, there were Encyclopedia, New Edition, vol. i, p. 792), and it was "held in a several factions that needed satisfying, and he set out to develo hall in Osius's palace" (Ecclesiastical History, Bishop Louis an all-embracing religion during a period of irreverent confusion. Dupin, Paris, 1686, vol. i, p. 598). In an account of the In an age of crass ignorance, with nine-tenths of the peoples of proceedings of the conclave of presbyters gathered at Nicaea, Europe illiterate, stabilising religious splinter groups was only one Sabinius, Bishop of Hereclea, who was in attendance, said, of Constantine's problems. The smooth generalisation, which so "Excepting Constantine himself and Eusebius Pamphilius, they many historians are content to repeat, that Constantine "embraced were a set of illiterate, simple creatures who understood nothing" the Christian religion" and subsequently granted "officia (Secrets of the Christian Fathers, Bishop J. W. Sergerus, 1685, toleration", is "contrary to historical fact" and should be erased 1897 reprint). from our literature forever (Catholic This is another luminous confession Encyclopedia, Pecci ed., vol. iii, p. of the ignorance and uncritical 299, passim). Simply put, there was credulity of early churchmen. Dr no Christian religion at Constantine's Richard Watson (1737-1816), a time, and the Church acknowledges disillusioned Christian historian and that the tale of his "conversion" and The Church admits that vital one-time Bishop of Llandaff in Wales "baptism" are "entirely legendary" . (1782), referred to them as "a set of (Catholic Encyclopedia, Farley ed., elements of the proceedings gibbering idiots" (An Apology for vol. xiv, pp. 370-1). ned at Nicaea are "strangely Christianity, 1776 1796 reprint: also, onstantine "never acquired a " eologica racts, Dr Richar solid theological knowledge" and absent from the canons. Watson, "On Councils" entry, vol. 2, "depended heavily on his advisers in religious questions" (Catholic Encyclopedia, New Edition, vol. xii, p. 576, passim). According to concluded that "the clergy at the Eusebeius (260-339), Constantine Council of Nicaea were all under the noted that among the presbyterian factions "strife had grown so power of the devil, and the convention was composed of the lowest serious, vigorous action was necessary to establish a more rabble and patronised the vilest abominations" (An Apology for religious state", but he could not bring about a settlement between Christianity, op. cit.). It was that infantile body of men who were rival god factions (Life of Constantine, op. cit., pp. 26-8). His responsible for the commencement of a new religion and the advisers warned him that the presbyters’ religions were "destitute theological creation of Jesus Christ. London, 1786, revised reprint 1791). From his extensive research into Church councils, Dr Watson of foundation" and needed official stabilisation (ibid.). The Church admits that vital elements of the proceedings at Constantine saw in this confused system of fragmented dogmas Nicaea are "strangely absent from the canons" ( Catholic the opportunity to create a new and combined State religion, Encyclopedia, Farley ed., vol. iii, p. 160). We shall see shortly neutral in concept, and to protect it by law. When he conquered what happened to them. However, according to records that the East in 324 he sent his Spanish religious adviser, Osius of endured, Eusebius "occupied the first seat on the right of the Cérdoba, to Alexandria with letters to several bishops exhorting emperor and delivered the inaugural address on the emperor's them to make peace among themselves. The mission failed and behalf" (Catholic Encyclopedia, Farley ed., vol. v, pp. 619-620). Constantine, probably at the suggestion of Osius, then issued a There were no British presbyters at the council but many Greek decree commanding all presbyters and their subordinates "be delegates. "Seventy Eastern bishops" represented Asiatic mounted on asses, mules and horses belonging to the public, and factions, and small numbers came from other areas (Ecclesiastical travel to the city of Nicaea" in the Roman province of Bithynia in History, ibid.). Caecilian of Carthage travelled from Africa, Asia Minor. They were instructed to bring with them the Paphnutius of Thebes from Egypt, Nicasius of Die (Dijon) from testimonies they orated to the rabble, "bound in leather" for Gaul, and Donnus of Stridon made the journey from Pannonia. protection during the long journey, and surrender them to It was at that puerile assembly, and with so many cults Constantine upon arrival in Nicaea (The Catholic Dictionary, represented, that a total of 318 "bishops, priests, deacons, Addis and Arnold, 1917, "Council of Nicaea" entry). Their subdeacons, acolytes and exorcists" gathered to debate and decide writings totalled "in all, two thousand two hundred and thirty-one upon a unified belief system that encompassed only one god (An scrolls and legendary tales of gods and saviours, together with a Apology for Christianity, op. cit.). By this time, a huge record of the doctrines orated by them" (Life of Constantine, op. assortment of "wild texts" (Catholic Encyclopedia, New Edition, cit., vol. ii, p. 73; N&PNF, op. cit., vol. i, p. 518). "Gospel and Gospels") circulated amongst presbyters and they elements of the proceedings at Nicaea are "strangely absent from the canons". 54 * NEXUS JUNE — JULY 2007 The First Council of Nicaea and the "missing records" The Church admits that vital www.nexusmagazine.com