Reclaiming Sophia

The First Council of Nicaea (325 CE) was convened primarily to address the Christological dispute concerning the nature of Jesus: his origin, divinity, and relationship to God the Father. The controversy, which arose within the Christian clergy of Alexandria, particularly between Arius and his opponents, formed the central agenda of the council. The resulting Nicene Creed affirmed Jesus as “begotten, not made, of one being with the Father” (homoousios), establishing a unified doctrinal position within the church. However, while women had held notable roles in the early church, they were not intentionally involved in the deliberations. The council's decisions not only established doctrinal norms but also dictated the parameters of influence, leadership, and historical recognition. Thus, the council represents a missed opportunity. By not recognizing the importance of women in its critical deliberations, the council laid the groundwork for systemic patterns of exclusion that would persist for centuries.