Bishop calls for spiritual rebirth in challenging times

Bishop calls for spiritual rebirth in challenging times

On July 6, 2025, a moving final service took place in the diocese of Passau as part of Mariahilfwoche. The bishop gave impressive insights into the creed of the Council of Nicaea, which was convened in 325 by Emperor Constantine I to resolve disputes about the divinity of Jesus. This historic gathering in Nicaea, now İznik in Turkey, is considered one of the most significant events in the history of the Christian Church.

The bishop particularly emphasized that Jesus was not made, but was “born and begotten of God before all time”. He emphasized that faith in Christ enables a kind of new birth to be experienced and invites people to find stability and peace in an often cruel world. “Trust in Christ,” he urged those gathered, wishing that believers would pray from the heart and trust the Lord.

Key points of the creed

The Nicene Creed, which established some of the central dogmas of Christianity, emphasized the unity of Christ and the Father and vehemently opposed Arianism, which questioned the equality of Jesus with God. This teaching, spread intensively by the presbyter Arius, led to one of the greatest theological conflicts of the early church. Around 350, the church father Athanasius interpreted the creed in an anti-Arian sense and emphasized the need for a unified faith. 318 bishops attended the council - a symbolic number reminiscent of the number of Abraham's servants in the Bible.

One of the most difficult questions that the Council had to resolve was the determination of a uniform date for the celebration of Easter. Eusebius describes that there were serious differences within the Christian community: some believers fasted before Easter, while others were already celebrating the festival. This made unity in faith necessary to avoid future conflict.

Impact and anniversary

In the anniversary year of 2025, churches worldwide have agreed on a common Easter date that is intended to eliminate the old disunity. This event proves to be a long-overdue step in the history of the Christian community, in the spirit of a united faith. Despite the challenges and conflicts that arose in the wake of the Nicene Creed, the document remains central to Christian faith today and is repeated in many baptismal creeds.

The meaning of faith in a complex world, the pursuit of stability and peace through Christ, and the common celebration of Easter are topics that are currently relevant. The celebrations of Mary Help Week and the return to historical foundations of faith show that faith is still deeply rooted in everyday life.

More information about the Nicene Creed and its historical significance can be found at Diocese of Passau, Wikipedia and Diocese of Trier be read.