Summary of Issues, Heresies and Beliefs at the Council of Nicaea

The First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea in 325 AD was arranged and affirmed the following statements of faith based on the canons and statements:

The Nicene Creed (The Trinity)

Eunuchs be permitted as clergy, except for those who castrate themselves

Converts from Heathen faiths cannot immediately become priests

Clergy cannot have a woman living with them except a "mother, and sister, and persons altogether beyond suspicion"

A bishop should be appointed by all the bishops of the province or just three

The excommunicated individual of several provinces cannot be restored except on cases of timidity or strife

Bishop of Alexandria has jurisdiction over Egypt, Libya and Pentapolis and Rome has jurisdiction over Rome

The Bishop not made bishop without the consent or awareness of the Metropolitan is not considered truly a bishop unless three bishops in unity with the majority canons approve of the bishop

The Bishop of Jerusalem is to be honored

Observe the dogmas of the universal and apostolic Church

If a priest is is made one without examination or if the examination finds a confession of sin or violation of the canon law, then that person cannot be considered a priest

Non practicing Christian clergy are to be deposed

Willing apostates, as opposed to apostates from compulsion, are to be forgiven and granted penance if they repent

Those who serve in the military and obey the order to worship or honor false gods shall be excommunicated for 10 years, yet their penance shall be observed carefully and accept them when they return

The dying are to be allowed to receive Holy Communion

Christians preparing for baptism/confirmation who have sinned are not to partake in the Holy Eucharist for three years

Clergy cannot move from city to city to teach at other churches. If found to do so, they must be restored to their ordained church

A priest or deacon who abandons their own church should not be permitted to teach at another, but sent back to their own diocese

If a bishop ordains a clergy member who belongs to another church, unless that person's bishop approves, the ordination is nullified

Anybody who charges interest from someone, shall be deposed

Deacons must not administer Holy Eucharist to the priest or bishop as well as to avoid touching the elements before the priest or bishop. They are also not to sit among the priests and bishop

Heretics baptized in an apostate church must be rebaptized and allowed to be ordained if found blameless. Deaconesses led astray are to be considered among the laity

On the Lord's Day and Pentecost, you must pray standing and not kneeling

The Church Condemned

Arianism: The heresy which denied that Jesus was the second person of the Triune God, but affirmed that Jesus was a lesser god.