1
How long did the Council of Nicea last?
Who was the emperor who called for the Council of Nicea to convene?
Emperor Constantine
True or False: All of the bishops that attended the Council of Nicea signed the Nicean Creed.
False - only 300 signed it (Arius and 17 others were the ones who refused to sign it)
What was the name of the bishop that Arius asked for help to spread his false teachings?
Eusebius, the bishop of Nicomedia
What rank was Athanasius in the church when he attended the council of Nicea?
A deacon; he was also Pope Alexander's personal secretary
In what year did the Council of Nicea convene?
325 AD
Who was the patriarch who forgave Arius despite the warnings of Pope Peter?
Pope Achillas
How many bishops attended the Council of Nicea?
318 bishops
What is the name of the songs that Arius used to use to teach his heresy to his followers?
Thalia
What did Emperor Constantine order to happen following the Council of Nicea regarding Arius?
He ordered for Arius to be exiled and for all of his books to be burned (this is in addition to the council calling for Arius and all of his followers to be excommunicated from the church)
What is the name of one of the books that St. Athanasius wrote to explain the Orthodox faith?
"On the Incarnation of the Word"
What was Arius's heresy?
That our Lord Jesus Christ was created, not eternal, and not equal in essence to God the Father
"I and My Father are _________" (John __:__)
One; 10; 30
What was the decision of the local council that convened in Alexandria in 321 AD, called by Pope Alexander?
That Arius would be removed from his position as a priest
What was the nickname given to St. Athanasius by Emperor Constantine?
The Hero of the Church of God
What are the four attributes (characteristics) of an ecumenical council?
2. It must be called by the emperor
3. Representatives from all the churches in the world must be given a chance to attend it
4. The council will have to decide on important issues never discussed previously
What part of our Orthodox creed was written following the end of the Council of Nicea?
Starting from "Truly, we believe in one God" until "Yes we believe in the Holy Spirit"
What was the decision made after the Council of Nicea in terms of the Feast of the Resurrection?
All of the Christians in the world would celebrate the Feast of the Resurrection on the same day (the Sunday after the Jewish passover) and the Pope of Alexandria would be the one to determine this date and announce it to all of the bishops in the world
"In the ________________ was the Word, and the Word was with __________, and the ____________ was God." (_________ 1:1)
beginning; God; Word; John
Describe the dream that Pope Peter had regarding Arius.
Pope Peter saw the Lord Jesus Christ standing in a torn garment. The Pope asked, “Who tore Your garment, my Lord?” Christ answered, “Arius.” In light of this dream, Pope Peter warned his disciples (Achillas and Alexander) to not accept Arius or lift his excommunication, no matter how much he pretended to repent.
Name the four patriarchs mentioned in the lesson in the order in which they held the throne of the see of St. Mark.
Pope Peter - 17th
Pope Achillas - 18th
Pope Alexander - 19th
Pope Athanasius - 20th
What was the phrase that St. Athanasius suggested be added to the Nicean creed?
"... of one essence with the Father"
"He who has ___________ Me has seen the _______________; so how can you say, '___________ us the Father?" (John ___:9)
seen; Father; Show; 14
Explain the example of the sun in as much detail as possible that St. Athanasius used to prove Arius's heresy wrong and explain the Holy Trinity.
The sun is one but has a shape, light, and heat. All three are different but belong to the same sun. The shape is the source and out of it comes light and heat. The light shines from the shape and brightens the world. The heat comes from the shape and gives warmth. The shape of the sun, its light and heat are all one sun; this shows that God is one God with three hypostases.
The shape of the sun is different than the light and the heat. But they are all one sun. This helps us understand that the Father is different than the Son and the Holy Spirit, but they are all One God.
The sun never existed without its light or its heat. The shape, light, and heat always existed together and were never separated. This means that the Father never existed without the Son or the Holy Spirit. All three hypostases existed together.
How did St. Athanasius correctly explain the meaning of the verse "For My Father is greater than I" from John 14:28, which Arius incorrectly interpreted?
This verse refers to the comparison between the state of before the incarnation and the state of the incarnation -- Christ was not speaking about His divine nature but rather His incarnation (meaning He became a human). God the Father and God the Son are equal in essence (the divine nature)