Latest news with #CouncilofNicaea
Euronews
2 days ago
- Politics
- Euronews
Ukraine says it has hit more than 40 Russian strategic bombers
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I led a liturgy in Istanbul on Sunday, marking the 1,700th anniversary of Christianity's first ecumenical council. The first Council of Nicaea (located in modern-day Turkey, in the ciy of İznik) took place in 325 AD and the date remains important to Orthodox-Catholic relations. It saw Roman Emperor Constantine I bring together some 300 bishops, according to the Catholic Almanac. Among the outcomes was the Nicene Creed, a profession of faith that is still recited by Christians today and required of those undertaking important functions within the Orthodox, as well as the Catholic and Lutheran Churches. As Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew I is "primus inter pares" (first among equals) among the patriarchs of the Eastern Orthodox Church and is its spiritual leader. Bartholomew, who is known for his ecumenical as well as humanitarian and ecological efforts, had met with Pope Leo XIV earlier this week for the first time. An operation by Ukraine's Security Service on Sunday hit 41 strategic bombers that were lined up at four airfields inside Russia. An official with the security service (SBU) said: 'enemy strategic bombers are burning en masse in Russia', adding that Ukraine is conducting 'a large scale special operation aimed at destroying enemy bomber aircraft.' The operation, dubbed "Spiderweb" (Pavutyna), targeted four airfields: Dyagilevo in Riazan region, Ivanovo in Ivanovo region, Belaya air base in Russia's Irkutsk region, which is located in south-eastern Siberia over 4,000km east of the frontline, and Olenya air base in Russia's Murmansk region, around 2,000km away from Ukraine's border. The operation included the clandestine smuggling of drones deep into Russian territory, hiding them and finally launching them remotely. In March, Ukraine announced it had developed a new type of drone that can reach a range of up to 3,000 kilometres, but gave no details about its type or the size of its warhead. Recent satellite images show various Russian strategic bombers at the four bases that were allegedly hit during the operation, including Tu-95, Tu-22M3, Tu-160 and A-50. Tu-95, Tu-22 and Tu-160 are Russian heavy bombers regularly used by Moscow to launch missiles at Ukraine. The Tu-22M3 is capable of carrying Kh-22 and Kh-32 cruise missiles, travelling at a speed of 4,000 km/h, exceeding Mach 4. Tu-95 - the oldest among them - it is a Soviet-era plane, originally used to carry nuclear bombs but since modified to launch cruise missiles. A-50 is radar detection aircraft, which can detect air defense systems, guided missiles, and coordinate targets for Russian fighter jets. Volodymyr Zelenskyy earlier said he was meeting with the Ministries of Defence and Foreign Affairs, as well as the General Staff and SBU. "We are doing everything to protect our independence, our state, and our people," Zelenskyy said, adding that would be outlining "tasks for the near term" and "define our positions ahead of the meeting in Istanbul on Monday." Ukrainian and Russian officials are schedule to meet in Istanbul on Monday 2 June for the second round of talks between the two sides. Zelenskyy said Kyiv's utmost priority is unconditional ceasefire, followed by the release of prisoners and the return of Ukrainian children that were forcefully deported by Russia. Violence has struck again on the Costa del Sol. Two men died on Saturday night in the seaside town of Fuengirola, a popular tourist destination, after being shot by several hooded individuals who got out of a vehicle and opened fire on a group of people in a beachfront bar. The incident took place near number 106 of the Rey de España promenade, close to the Martín Playa beach bar. Police sources suggest that the attack could be related to a possible settling of scores linked to drug trafficking, although other lines of investigation have not been ruled out, according to local newspaper 'Málaga Hoy'. This new episode adds to a worrying string of violent incidents on the Costa del Sol so far this year. Although the authorities have pointed out that there is no direct connection between the incidents, the frequency of shootings and murders in the area has caused alarm among locals and visitors alike. In early May, three men were arrested following the sixth shooting in Malaga in just three weeks. Just a few days later, another shooting occurred in the province, bringing the total to seven shootings in just 45 days.
Euronews
2 days ago
- General
- Euronews
Patriarch Bartholomew I marks 1,700th anniversary of Council of Nicaea
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I led a liturgy in Istanbul on Sunday, marking the 1,700th anniversary of Christianity's first ecumenical council. The first Council of Nicaea (located in modern-day Turkey, in the ciy of İznik) took place in 325 AD and the date remains important to Orthodox-Catholic relations. It saw Roman Emperor Constantine I bring together some 300 bishops, according to the Catholic Almanac. Among the outcomes was the Nicene Creed, a profession of faith that is still recited by Christians today and required of those undertaking important functions within the Orthodox, as well as the Catholic and Lutheran Churches. As Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew I is "primus inter pares" (first among equals) among the patriarchs of the Eastern Orthodox Church and is its spiritual leader. Bartholomew, who is known for his ecumenical as well as humanitarian and ecological efforts, had met with Pope Leo XIV earlier this week for the first time.
National Geographic
4 days ago
- General
- National Geographic
How the Council of Nicaea changed Christianity forever
Icon depicting the Emperor Constantine and the fathers of the Council of Nicaea of 325 with the Greek text of the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed of 381 in its liturgical form. Artist unknown. Photograph by Signal Photos/Alamy Stock Photo This May marks 1,700 years since the convening of what is arguably the most important and influential council in Christian history. For three months in 325 CE, Emperor Constantine gathered hundreds of bishops from across the empire in Nicaea, on the northern coast of what is now Turkey. The resulting statement of belief—the Nicene Creed—was the first official declaration of Christian faith and remains foundational for Christians around the world to this day. Attend Sunday school or a Christian church of nearly any denomination, and you will encounter principles derived from the Nicene Creed. The debate The task of the council was enormous: to establish correct Christian doctrine, fix the date of Easter, define episcopal jurisdictions, and devise protocols for addressing local schisms and dissent. But the most urgent matter under discussion at the council concerned the teachings of Arius, a prominent presbyter from Alexandria who had come into conflict with his bishop, Alexander of Alexandria. Despite common misrepresentations, both Arius and Alexander affirmed that Jesus was the Son of God and divine. Both agreed—following the opening of the Gospel of John—that Jesus was present at the creation of the universe. Their disagreement did not concern whether Jesus was divine, but rather the manner of that divinity and his relationship to God the Father. Arius contended that 'there was a time when [Jesus] was not'—a brief, primordial moment in which the Son did not yet exist. This view implied that Jesus was subordinate to the Father, or at least that the Son's divinity was contingent on that of the Father. Alexander, by contrast, asserted that Jesus had eternally coexisted with God the Father and was fully equal to him. The First Council of Nicaea as depicted by Italian painter Cesare Nebbia (1536-1614), on display at the Vatican Museums, Rome. Photograph by Album/Alamy Stock Photo Underlying this theological dispute were key philosophical concepts drawn from Greek thinkers such as Plato. If the Father and the Son were too unified, as Alexander and his successor Athanasius argued, then the suffering experienced by the Son during the crucifixion would also have been experienced by God—an impossibility according to Platonic philosophy. On the other hand, if they were too separate, as Arius proposed, then Christianity appeared to abandon its monotheistic roots and embrace multiple deities. Each side emphasized a different concern about the nature of God. At the council, representatives of each faction proposed a different term to express the relationship between the Father and the Son. Arius and his supporters favored homoiousios—meaning 'of a similar substance'—while Alexander's camp insisted on homoousios, or 'of the same substance.' Remarkably, the entire controversy hinged on the inclusion of a single Greek letter, iota—giving rise to the expressions 'an iota of difference' or 'a jot of difference.' (What archaeology can tell us about Jesus' crucifixion) The Emperor weighs in Constantine himself had a fairly tenuous grasp of the philosophical and theological nuances of the debate. At one point, according to his biographer Eusebius of Caesarea, he complained that the dispute was a fight 'over small and quite minute points.' Why, then, did he bother to convene such an expensive and time-consuming meeting? Roman emperors had long maintained that concord and uniform religious practices were essential to the success and stability of the empire. Constantine spent much of his career using force to reunify a divided realm; he could not tolerate discord within the Church. As renowned historian of early Christianity Paula Fredriksen puts it in her recently published book Ancient Christianities, Constantine and church leaders agreed that 'proper religion should be unanimous, the identity of and unity of the true church unambiguous.' Division in the church, Constantine said, was worse than war. (Why Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas in January) The outcome The deliberations at the Council of Nicaea were marked by intense conflict. According to a14th-century legend, Saint Nicholas—the figure later associated with Santa Claus—became so enraged during the proceedings that he struck Arius across the face. While the historical accuracy of this episode is doubtful, it accurately reflects the fierceness of the debate. Ultimately, the council ruled against Arius and produced a formal theological declaration: the Nicene Creed. The vote was overwhelmingly in favor. Only about 20 bishops initially refrained from supporting the creed, and just three—Arius and his two closest allies—refused to sign it. The remaining dissenters were later compelled to endorse the statement under pressure from Emperor Constantine. Although Constantine did not vote himself, he did intervene in the drafting, insisting on the inclusion of the term homoousios ('of one substance') in the final creed. The oldest surviving copy of the Nicene Creed, dating to the 6th century. Photograph by Pictorial Press Ltd/Alamy Stock Photo For supporters of Arius, as Fredriksen notes, there were significant financial and political incentives to break ranks: Constantine transferred wealth to orthodox bishops, allowed them to travel at public expense, granted them legal authority as magistrates, and provided grain distributions for their churches. Arius himself was exiled from Egypt and branded a heretic. Even after his death, orthodox Christians continued to attack him. They spread rumors of an undignified death—alleging that he died of explosive diarrhea in a public toilet. According to the legend, the force of his bowel movements caused his intestines to be expelled from his body. The story feels far-fetched. As Ellen Muehlberger, a professor at the University of Michigan, has written, this is one of a slew of early Christian fictions in which heretics and schismatics die in dramatic bathroom incidents. It had the effect of smearing Arius's teachings with excrement and bolstering the reputation of Nicaea and its decisions. (Where is Santa buried? The resting place of the real St. Nick.) The lost church For all its influence, the actual location for the meeting of the Council of Nicaea was, until very recently, completely unknown. Then, in 2018, after a century of fruitless efforts, scientists announced the discovery of ancient Roman ruins beneath the surface of the lake in Iznik, Turkey. Mustafa Şahin, the current head of archaeology at Bursa Uludağ University, had been searching the shores for years before he was shown some government survey pictures in 2014 that clearly revealed the outline of a large church beneath the water. The structure, which is located 165 feet off the coast of Iznik, is submerged 6-10 feet beneath the surface of the lake. Şahin and his collaborator biblical scholar Mark Fairchild believe that this is the place where the Council of Nicaea met. Archeological investigation revealed that the underwater basilica collapsed during an earthquake in 740 CE and was never rebuilt. Over time changes in the water level of the lake submerged the ruins entirely. For intrepid travelers there are plans to make the ruins accessible to visitors. In 2018 the mayor of Iznik, Alinur Aktas, said that professional diving classes would be available to tourists who want to visit the site. For Christians today, Nicaea remains a symbol of a time when the Church was less divided. Though the attendees were anything but unified and civil at the time, religious leaders now see the Nicene Creed as a symbol of shared agreement and belief among the denominations that make up modern Christianity. It predates the schisms that eventually separated the various branches of Orthodox Christianity from Roman Catholicism. Prior to his death, Pope Francis had hoped to join the Eastern Orthodox Patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew I, in Nicaea for the anniversary. Pope Leo XIV will make the trip in November, expressing a desire to 'continue the dialogue between East and West [Orthodox Christianity and Roman Catholicism].' All of which shows that even when submerged under water, Nicaea still stands as a beacon of hope for Christians around the world.
Herald Malaysia
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Herald Malaysia
Cardinal Parolin: We hope talks in Istanbul open paths to peace
On the sidelines of an event on Ukraine at the Pontifical Gregorian University, Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin speaks about the direct negotiations starting Thursday in Türkiye, saying, 'We hope this is a serious starting point to end the war." May 15, 2025 Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State, speaking to journalists outside the Pontifical Gregorian University By Salvatore CernuzioAll eyes are on Türkiye, a possible destination for Pope Leo XIV's first journey, marking 1,700 years since the Council of Nicaea, as well as the setting beginning on Thursday 15 May of the Istanbul summit, which hopes to bring together the presidents of Russia and Ukraine for direct negotiations aimed at achieving a ceasefire. Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican Secretary of State, answered journalists' questions on the sidelines of the event titled 'Toward a Theology of Hope for and from Ukraine,' held at the Pontifical Gregorian University and organized under the patronage of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church. He shares hopes for these U.S.-mediated direct talks, which could, for the first time, see Presidents Zelensky and Putin meet in person. 'We always hope there are openings for peace,' the Cardinal told various media outlets. 'We are pleased that there is finally the possibility of a direct meeting. We hope that the existing issues can be resolved there and that a genuine peace process can begin.' According to the Secretary of State, it is 'premature' to predict what will happen, but the hope is that the meeting in Istanbul will mark 'a serious starting point' to end the war. Too early to consider a papal visit to Kyiv Cardinal Parolin also said it is 'premature' to consider a possible visit by Pope Leo XIV to Ukraine, touching on President Zelensky's invitation during a phone call on Monday morning. The Pope made impassioned appeals for the regions scarred by war during the Regina Caeli on Sunday and again in a speech earlier that day at the Jubilee of the Eastern Churches. 'He will continue, as he has done numerous times since the start of his pontificate, to call for an end to the war,' the Cardinal assured. 'We remain ready to offer spaces as well. Talking about mediation might be excessive, but at the least we are willing to offer good offices to facilitate meetings.' At the same time, the Vatican does not want 'to interfere with other ongoing initiatives.' Repatriation mechanism for children remains active The Holy See's position, said the Secretary of State, is one that 'seeks to bring the parties closer rather than create further divisions.' He confirmed that the mechanism, initiated and supported by Cardinal Matteo Zuppi's mission which has led to the repatriation of some Ukrainian children forcibly taken to Russia, remains 'active.' This mainly involves 'exchanging names via the Nunciatures, then local verification and responses.' The number of these children remains 'highly disputed,' but the key, he says, is that 'they are gradually being reunited with their families, homes, and loved ones.' Ending the conflict in Gaza Regarding the Middle East, the Pope and the Holy See will continue along the path set by Pope Francis: persistent appeals 'to end the conflict in Gaza, achieve the release of hostages,' and 'provide humanitarian aid to Gaza.' On these issues, there was 'a strong call for serious intervention' during the pre-Conclave general congregations, along with 'concern about the dwindling Christian presence in the Middle East.' 'We will need to find responses to this serious problem,' Cardinal Parolin said. Pope Leo XIV's peace efforts Avoiding questions about the content of discussions before and during the Conclave (saying with a smile, 'don't ask us questions we can't answer'), Cardinal Parolin focused instead on the newly elected Pope, who has received 'very positive' comments and reactions. 'He presented himself in a very calm manner. He is a man of peace, who desires peace, and who will build peace through the bridges he mentioned from the very first words of his greeting to the faithful.' Possible trip to Nicaea Finally, in response to a question about the Pope's first journey, the Cardinal said: 'I'm thinking of Nicaea. It's an important moment for the Catholic Church and for ecumenism. It was definitely planned that Pope Francis would go. I imagine Pope Leo will follow the same path.'--
eNCA
09-05-2025
- Politics
- eNCA
Next steps for Pope Leo XIV
VATICAN CITY - The Catholic world is closely watching the first words and actions of Pope Leo XIV, the first US pope. Here is what we know about his schedule in the coming days: First mass The US-born Robert Francis Prevost celebrated his first mass as Pope Leo XIV on Friday morning in the Sistine Chapel, where he was elected by fellow cardinals on Thursday evening. The mass was private, attended by red-hatted cardinals of all ages -- not just those under 80 who were eligible to vote in the conclave. In his homily, broadcast live by the Vatican, the 69-year-old said the Church could be a "beacon" to reach areas suffering a lack of faith, which focus on "technology, money, success, power or pleasure". First public prayer Leo will make his second public appearance on Sunday at noon (1000 GMT), delivering a prayer in front of St Peter's Basilica. This weekly event is generally an opportunity for the pope, after a prayer, to make a few comments on world events. Leo made his first public appearance on Thursday evening from the balcony of St Peter's, shortly after his election, addressing tens of thousands of people in the square below. First meeting with media The pope will receive the world's press in an audience on Monday at 10 am (0800 GMT) in the vast Paul VI hall at the Vatican. Inauguration Leo XIV's inauguration mass will take place on Sunday, May 18, in St Peter's Square, and is expected to be attended by world leaders. During the mass he will receive the papal ring, known as the Fisherman's Ring, and the pallium, a circular band of finely woven white wool worn around the neck. The pallium is a symbol of the mission to uphold Church unity, while the Fisherman's Ring is a signet which was historically used to seal official documents signed by the pope. Now given ceremoniously as a symbol of the papacy, the ring is traditionally destroyed or defaced after a pope's death. The pope is expected to visit the other papal basilicas in Rome in the following days, including Santa Maria Maggiore -- where Leo's predecessor Francis is buried. General audience The pope will hold his first weekly general audience on May 21. First meeting with Curia He will then meet with the Roman Curia -- the Church's governing body -- and Vatican City State employees on May 24. First trip? The pope's choice of destination for his first trip will be closely watched for further insight into the direction in which he intends to take his papacy. Francis had planned to visit Turkey at the end of May for the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea -- an important ecumenical event -- so Leo XIV could opt to go there. On his election in 2013, the Argentine Francis surprised everyone by choosing as his first trip the small Italian island of Lampedusa, a gateway for African migrants to Europe. Defending migrants became one of the pillars of his pontificate. Where will he live? Francis shocked part of the Church in 2013 by deciding not to move into the papal apartments in the gilded Apostolic Palace but live instead in a modest apartment in the Santa Marta guesthouse in the Vatican. He remained there until his death last month. The gesture was acclaimed by supporters of a humble pope but attracted criticism from conservatives who accused him of divesting the papacy of a sacred element.
