The international conference “Nicaea and Beyond: Implications for Contemporary Christianity” brought together scholars from around Europe for three days of discussion on theology, Church history, contemporary society, and the enduring legacy of the Council of Nicaea.
Held from 28 February to 1 March 2025 at the historic of the University of Malta, the event was organised by the within the at UM, with special coordination by the Head of Department, and in collaboration with the European Society of Catholic Theology.
The conference marked the 1700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea and featured a keynote address by Professor Alister McGrath (University of Oxford). Academics from diverse disciplines and Christian traditions presented a rich variety of papers exploring the Council’s historical context and its relevance for the Church and society today around six thematic areas:
- 1. Historical Context: The Council in Its Time
A Christological Classic: The Historical Roots and Contemporary Significance of the Council of Nicaea – Prof. Alister McGrath (University of Oxford)
The Concepts of ‘Godhead’ in the 4th Century: Tracing the Development of Christian Thought from Pre-Orthodoxy to Defined Orthodoxy and Heterodoxy – Rev. Dr Jonathan Farrugia (University of Malta)
The Practice of Discernment at the Council of Nicaea: Lessons for Today’s Church – Dr Petr Jandejsek (Charles University, Prague)
- 2. Theological Foundations and Implications
“The Communicating and Free God”: The Ecumenical Confession of Nicaea and its Intercultural-Theological Relevance for a World Church – Prof. Dr Dr Margit Eckholt (University of Osnabrück)
The Arian Heresy and the Council of Nicaea in the Letters of Gregory the Great – (University of Malta)
- 3. Philosophical Underpinnings of Nicaea
Homoousion: An Extremely Fertile Philosophical Oasis – (University of Malta)
Philosophy Behind the First Council of Nicaea – Prof. Gusztav Kovacs (Theological College of Pécs, Hungary)
- 4. Contemporary Debates and Trinitarian Controversies
Nicaea and the Digital Age: Can Creedal Orthodoxy Survive Postmodernity? – (University of Malta)
Nicaea and Beyond: Implications for Contemporary Humanity under Post-Humanist Tendencies – Prof. João Duque (Catholic University of Portugal, Braga)
Wholly God, Wholly Human? A New Interpretation of “Homoousios” for the 21st Century – Prof. Karlheinz Ruhstorfer (Albert Ludwig University of Freiburg, Germany)
- 5 Ecclesiological and Canonical Considerations
The Church Between Universality and Particularity: Insights from the Council of Nicaea and Contemporary Ecclesial Reality – (University of Malta)
Fostering Order: Church Laws, Abuse, and the Council of Nicaea – (University of Malta)
- 6. Teaching Nicaea Today and Its Cultural Legacy
Gnostic and Oriental Christian Communities in Pre-Islamic Arabia – (University of Malta)
We Believe...?! The Nicene Creed and Religious Education in the “Oikoumene” from an Orthodox Perspective – Dr Marina Kiroudi (University of Bonn, Germany)
The Basilica Church in Lake Iznik: A Journey to Discover the Council Meeting Place – Prof. Mustafa Şahin (Uludağ University, Turkey)
