Dr. Dafydd Daniel

Yeah, it's striking because we don't really. I suppose that's the interesting thing because I think now we'd, certainly I would think of something like a church council of any kind would have all sorts of minutes taken and there'd be all these records and everything else. But that's not the case here. I mean, it goes on for decades. a couple of months, it seems.

Maybe it starts on the 20th of May, ends in July in Nicaea 325. Even that's not that clear. Our main sources for it are Eusebius of Caesarea, who was there, and also Athanasius of Alexandria. Obviously, they have their own particular point of view and perspective, which may well interfere with their account and recognition of what's gone on. But it's in their book's

Maybe it starts on the 20th of May, ends in July in Nicaea 325. Even that's not that clear. Our main sources for it are Eusebius of Caesarea, who was there, and also Athanasius of Alexandria. Obviously, they have their own particular point of view and perspective, which may well interfere with their account and recognition of what's gone on. But it's in their book's

Maybe it starts on the 20th of May, ends in July in Nicaea 325. Even that's not that clear. Our main sources for it are Eusebius of Caesarea, who was there, and also Athanasius of Alexandria. Obviously, they have their own particular point of view and perspective, which may well interfere with their account and recognition of what's gone on. But it's in their book's

that we have their account of what went on, but also extracts from some of Constantine's letters, which follow the council, which go out to the church to tell them, tell the church what the decisions that have been made. And of course, other records of, for example, the writings of Arius.

that we have their account of what went on, but also extracts from some of Constantine's letters, which follow the council, which go out to the church to tell them, tell the church what the decisions that have been made. And of course, other records of, for example, the writings of Arius.

that we have their account of what went on, but also extracts from some of Constantine's letters, which follow the council, which go out to the church to tell them, tell the church what the decisions that have been made. And of course, other records of, for example, the writings of Arius.

And, you know, part of the build up to the controversy is sort of hundreds of letters being exchanged all over the place between these various bishops, theologians, and versions of those recorded in those historic accounts, as well as others later on. So there's Theodoret of Cyrus,

And, you know, part of the build up to the controversy is sort of hundreds of letters being exchanged all over the place between these various bishops, theologians, and versions of those recorded in those historic accounts, as well as others later on. So there's Theodoret of Cyrus,

And, you know, part of the build up to the controversy is sort of hundreds of letters being exchanged all over the place between these various bishops, theologians, and versions of those recorded in those historic accounts, as well as others later on. So there's Theodoret of Cyrus,

and a couple of other sort of historians more in the fifth century who also had some sort of access to documents that don't seem to survive and only survive in those histories. Constantine also wrote other letters to try and prevent the council happening, to try and stop everyone arguing and everyone to calm down.

and a couple of other sort of historians more in the fifth century who also had some sort of access to documents that don't seem to survive and only survive in those histories. Constantine also wrote other letters to try and prevent the council happening, to try and stop everyone arguing and everyone to calm down.

and a couple of other sort of historians more in the fifth century who also had some sort of access to documents that don't seem to survive and only survive in those histories. Constantine also wrote other letters to try and prevent the council happening, to try and stop everyone arguing and everyone to calm down.

Again, we've got sort of versions of those letters, whether how accurate they are is open to debate.

Again, we've got sort of versions of those letters, whether how accurate they are is open to debate.

Again, we've got sort of versions of those letters, whether how accurate they are is open to debate.

In the empire itself, so we're coming out of the so-called crisis of the third century, sort of unsettled period in Roman history, right? So, you know, we've had the plagues, like Plague of Cyprian, which has wiped out 50% of Alexandria and things like that. And all these barbarian tribes attacking in the third century lead to unsettled situation.

In the empire itself, so we're coming out of the so-called crisis of the third century, sort of unsettled period in Roman history, right? So, you know, we've had the plagues, like Plague of Cyprian, which has wiped out 50% of Alexandria and things like that. And all these barbarian tribes attacking in the third century lead to unsettled situation.

In the empire itself, so we're coming out of the so-called crisis of the third century, sort of unsettled period in Roman history, right? So, you know, we've had the plagues, like Plague of Cyprian, which has wiped out 50% of Alexandria and things like that. And all these barbarian tribes attacking in the third century lead to unsettled situation.

Various people declaring themselves Caesar all the time, right? You know, they win a battle and they're the new emperor. So the crisis of the third century has led to, at the end of that period, the Tetrarchy. The Tetrarchy system of government has been established by Diocletian, which has seemed to work fairly well.