On 9 May 2025, an ecumenical celebration service was held in Turku Cathedral to mark the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea and the Nicene Creed. The service was led by Archbishop Tapio Luoma (Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland), Archbishop Elia (Orthodox Church of Finland), Bishop Raimo Goyarrola (Catholic Church in Finland), Rev. Kauko Uusila, Chair of the Free Church Council of Finland (Pentecostal Church of Finland), Assistant Chaplain Mika KT Pajunen (St Nicholas’ Anglican Church), Secretary General Mayvor Wärn-Rancken (Finnish Ecumenical Council), Vicar Mia Bäck (Åbo Swedish Parish), and Chaplain Miika Ahola (Turku Cathedral Parish, Evangelical Lutheran).
Thanks to the collaboration of musicians from different churches, the service offered a musical journey through various Christian traditions. Byzantine chant was performed by Panagiotis Panagiotakopoulos, the choir of the Orthodox Church of Turku led by Pasi Torhamo, Schola Gregoriana Aboensis led by Robert Paul, the Silta choir of the Turku Pentecostal Church led by Lauri Rautiainen, and organist Markku Hietaharju. The sermon was given by Bishop Goyarrola.
In 2025, Christian churches commemorate the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, convened by Emperor Constantine in 325. The central outcome of the council was the formulation of a common creed, expressing belief in the Trinity and the mystery of the Incarnation. The Fathers of Nicaea sought words that could embrace the whole mystery of Christ’s birth, suffering, death, and resurrection. As Christians await his return, they are called to bear witness together to this faith in the resurrection – a source of hope and joy, meant to be shared with all peoples.
An ecumenical seminar was also held in connection with the celebration. In the first session, Docent Anni Maria Laato addressed the significance of the 325 council for church unity. The creed adopted at the council rejected Arianism and defined Christ’s divinity in a manner binding on the whole Church. In the second session, Professor Olli-Pekka Vainio explored the theological content of the creed, emphasizing its enduring importance as the foundation of Christology and as a basis for interchurch unity. In the third session, Professor Kati Tervo-Niemelä examined the creed from the perspective of young people, highlighting gender differences in religiosity and stressing the need for the creed to speak also to today’s youth. Among the panelists were also Bishop Raimo, Alpo Penttinen, and Emil Anton.
SEN / KATT
– The recording of the service can be viewed on Virtuaalikirkko: https://www.virtuaalikirkko.fi/ (Visit an external site. The link opens in a new tab.), search term: ekumeeninen
– The seminar presentations are available at evl.fi, search term: Nikea 1700 vuotta –seminaari