Nicene Christianity

Icon depicting Emperor Constantine (center) and the Fathers of the First Council of Nicaea of 325 as holding the Niceno–Constantinopolitan Creed of 381

Nicene Christianity refers to Christian doctrinal traditions that adhere to the Nicene Creed (credo being Latin for "I believe") which was originally formulated at the First Council of Nicaea in AD 325 and finished at the First Council of Constantinople in AD 381.

The main rival doctrine of Nicene Christianity was Arian Christianity, which would be completely crushed by the 7th century AD. The main points of dissent were Christology. Other non-Nicene currents have been considered heresies since the medieval period.

Mainstream Christian churches, including all of Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, the Anglican Communion and most Protestant denominations, adhere to the creed and are thus examples of "Nicene Christianity". Chalcedonian Christianity is a large subset of Nicene Christianity, which extends doctrinal adherence through the Councils of Ephesus in AD 430 and Chalcedon in AD 451. Some portions of the Eastern Christianity, such as the Oriental Orthodoxy, adhere to the Nicene Creed, but not the Chalcedonian Definition. There are some examples of revived Nontrinitarianism such as The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Unitarian Church of Transylvania, or the Oneness Pentecostals.

See also