Interview with Senior Priest Drtad Uzunyan of the Armenian Apostolic Church

The Council of Nicaea and the Armenian Church

Approximately three hundred bishops attended the Council of Nicaea in 325. The most debated issue was the relationship of Jesus Christ with God. After long and heated discussions, the following statement of faith was adopted:

“Jesus Christ is God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God. He is uncreated and of the same essence as the Father.”

According to Armenian tradition, Saint Aristakes participated in the Council of Nicaea and represented the Armenian Church.

Avak Kahana (Senior Priest) Drtad Uzunyan of the Turkish Armenian Patriarchate wrote for AGOS about the Armenian Church’s connection with the council:

“There are meetings in Christian history whose impact endures for centuries. Undoubtedly, the most significant of these is the Council of Nicaea, convened in 325. This monumental event clearly defined the fundamental principles of the Christian faith and laid the foundations for a bond among different churches that would last for centuries. For the Armenian Church, the Council of Nicaea is not only a historical milestone but also the symbolic beginning of unity in faith.”

The Historical Context

In the early 4th century, the Roman Empire was undergoing a period of profound change. Emperor Constantine, through the Edict of Milan in 313, granted Christians the freedom to practice their faith openly. This marked the end of a long period of persecution, allowing Christians to live their beliefs openly.

However, this newfound freedom also brought theological debates. Different interpretations of the foundations of Christianity began to emerge, with the central issue being the identity of Jesus Christ and His relationship with God.

The Confusion Caused by Arius’ Teachings

The Alexandrian priest Arius claimed:

“Jesus is not God; He was created by God.”

This teaching caused great confusion among Christian communities. Arius’ doctrine spread widely and led to deep divisions within the Church.

In response, Alexander, Bishop of Alexandria, and his young assistant Athanasius defended Christ’s divine unity with God. According to them, Jesus Christ is the Son of God, of the same essence as the Father, uncreated and eternal.

The dispute between these two views became not only a theological disagreement but also a serious crisis threatening the unity of the Church.

Emperor Constantine’s Call

To address the growing division and ensure unity among Christians, Emperor Constantine called all bishops to a meeting in the city of Nicaea. Thus convened the first great ecumenical council of Christianity—the Council of Nicaea.

At the time, Nicaea (modern-day İznik, in the province of Bursa) was strategically positioned between the eastern and western parts of the empire.

Approximately three hundred bishops attended the council. After extensive and passionate debate, the following creed was adopted:

“Jesus Christ is God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God. He is uncreated and of the same essence as the Father.”

This statement clearly rejected Arius’ teachings and affirmed Christ’s divine identity in Christian belief. It later became known as the Nicene Creed, forming the foundation of shared Christian faith.

The council also established a common date for celebrating Easter and determined certain rules regarding church governance.

Decisions Forming the Foundation of the Church

The decisions made at Nicaea shaped the Church for centuries. The Second Ecumenical Council (Constantinople, 381) reaffirmed and expanded the creed adopted at Nicaea. The Third Ecumenical Council (Ephesus, 431) maintained this line of belief and definitively confirmed the unity of Christian faith.

Thus, the unity in belief initiated at Nicaea was reinforced through the first three great councils of the Church.

Armenia and the Christian Faith

When the Council of Nicaea convened, Armenia had already become the first country to adopt Christianity as its official religion. In 301, under the leadership of Saint Gregory the Illuminator (Surp Krikor Lusavorich), the entire nation embraced Christianity, and most of the population was baptized.

Saint Gregory was not only a religious leader but also a pioneer in renewing the nation’s spiritual life. By establishing the first church structures and organizing worship, he laid the foundation for Armenia’s Christian identity.

In his later years, he passed his responsibilities to his son, Saint Aristakes.

Saint Aristakes at the Council of Nicaea

According to Armenian tradition, Saint Aristakes attended the Council of Nicaea in 325 as the representative of the Armenian Church.

Early Armenian historians such as Agathangelos and Movses Khorenatsi clearly record this participation. Tradition holds that Saint Gregory the Illuminator, being advanced in age, sent his son in his place.

Saint Aristakes supported the adoption of the creed at Nicaea, demonstrating the Armenian people’s commitment to Christian unity.

Some Western scholars note that this participation cannot be fully verified by surviving historical documents. However, within the Armenian Church tradition it is widely accepted as an established fact. For Armenian spiritual tradition, Aristakes’ presence at Nicaea represents one of the earliest universal testimonies of faith.

The Church sees this event as “a symbol of the Armenian people’s inclusion in the universal unity of the Church from the earliest days of Christianity.”

Not Just a Bishop, but a “Mardiros”

Armenian sources describe Aristakes not only as a bishop but also as a Mardiros, meaning “witness for the faith.”

His presence at Nicaea symbolizes the Armenian people’s devotion to God and their spiritual connection with the wider Christian world. Today, the Armenian Church honors Saint Aristakes as a holy bishop who bore witness to the faith.

For the Armenian Church, Aristakes’ participation carries two important meanings. First, it demonstrates that the Armenian Church played an active role in the universal unity of Christian belief. Second, it symbolizes the Armenian people’s dedication to preserving and transmitting their faith across generations.

The Armenian Church preserved Christianity through its language, culture, and way of life, keeping the faith alive throughout the centuries. In this way, it did not merely accept the creed adopted at Nicaea—it made it central to its spiritual life.

The “Havadamk” and Its Significance

The “Հավատամք / Havadamk” (Statement of Faith) recited in Armenian churches today is the Armenian version of the creed adopted at the Councils of Nicaea and Constantinople.

This demonstrates that the decisions of Nicaea were not only accepted but deeply integrated into Armenian spiritual life. The Havadamk became an inseparable part of Armenian religious identity.

It is not merely a statement of doctrine; it is a spoken expression of spiritual devotion preserved for centuries.

Although later councils introduced different interpretations, the Armenian Church remained faithful to the core doctrinal line established at Nicaea, including during the debates surrounding the Council of Chalcedon in 451.

In Armenian theology, Nicaea continues to be regarded as the firmest foundation of Christian belief and a source of unity in faith.

The Legacy of Saint Aristakes

According to Armenian tradition, after returning from Nicaea, Saint Aristakes served as Catholicos for a time and was later martyred. He was succeeded by his elder brother, Saint Vırtanes.

The Lusavorich family, therefore, not only brought Christianity to Armenia but also contributed actively to the early universal unity of the Christian faith.

The Beginning of a Journey of Faith

The Armenian Apostolic Church still recognizes the first three ecumenical councils as foundational: Nicaea (325), Constantinople (381), and Ephesus (431).

The decisions of these councils remain fundamental to Armenian belief and teaching.

The Council of Nicaea was the first great gathering that established the unity of Christian belief and set the theological and spiritual course for Christianity. For the Armenian Church, Nicaea is not only a historical milestone—it marks the beginning of a journey of faith.

Saint Aristakes’ presence there, whether understood historically or through tradition, symbolizes the Armenian people’s spiritual connection and loyalty to the universal Christian community. It shows that the Council of Nicaea is not merely a past event but a living legacy of faith.

The words proclaimed at Nicaea have echoed through centuries of prayer and continue to live in the hearts of generations. Today, the Armenian Church still upholds this faith with the same devotion, following the witness of Saint Gregory the Illuminator and Saint Aristakes.

May the unity of faith established in their footsteps inspire love, hope, and fraternity for the people of our time. The light of Nicaea continues to illuminate not only the past but also the future.

Published in: AGOS