God, the World, and the Constant Quest for Participation: Modern Eastern Orthodox Readings of Nicaea I

2025 marks the 1700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea (325), which was recognized as ecumenical by the early church. Nicaea I was a pivotal moment for the early undivided church, as it sought to articulate a comprehensive theology in response to the challenges presented by a predominantly pagan world. Based on the Eastern Orthodox tradition, this article offers a brief overview of the basic historical narrative of Nicaea I. It then discusses two of the most representative Orthodox readings of Nicene theology by contemporary theologians Georges Florovsky and John Zizioulas. In conclusion, it evaluates their contributions to divine metaphysics on the God- world relationship and creation’s participation in divine life. To this end, it makes further reference to the prolific theologian of the younger generation, Nikolaos Loudovikos, who provides essential tools for a more thorough assessment of Nicene theology from the participation point of view.