News
As part of the celebration, the Lutheran Church Council in Finland has published the book Nicaea 325. The Legacy of the Undivided Church in the Twenty-first Century (in English), by Tomi Karttunen, executive secretary for ecumenical relations and theology with the Lutheran Church Council.
“The Council of Nicaea went down in history because it succeeded in condensing the Christian faith in the Triune God and the miracle of the incarnation of Jesus Christ into a common creed,” said Karttunen. “In the form of the year 381, the Nicene Creed is still used in Christian churches throughout the world. It is read or sung together in church services and, for example, at baptisms.
“Moreover, it is the only creed used in both Western and Eastern churches. It has been said to provide a preliminary basis for a common understanding of the church,” Karttunen added.
The Episcopal Conference of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland has issued its recommendation on the use of the Nicene Creed during the jubilee year. A website now contains information on the use of the creed in ecumenical contexts. During the spring, the Episcopal Conference of the Evangelical Lutheran Church will also publish a wide range of material on the site for use by parishes.
In honor of the centenary of Nicaea, a variety of events will be organized all over Finland: seminars, publications, ecumenical services, and an art competition of the Finnish Ecumenical Council for the youth and for young adults.
The main event of the anniversary year in Finland will be the Nicaea 1700 years jubilee seminar in Turku on 9 May. The seminar is organized by the Evangelical Lutheran Church Council, the Åbo Akademi University, University of Turku, and Finnish Ecumenical Council.
