In part 2 of our series on the 21 Ecumenical Church Councils, Justin Hibbard discusses some of the challenges in the early church particularly in the third to early fourth centuries that led to the Council of Nicaea. Why was an ecumenical church council really only possible in the early fourth century? What were some of the key places, people, and events that led to the church desperately needing to meet in order to keep the Church (and the Roman Empire) from splitting apart?

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SOURCES:

* The Ecumenical Councils of the Catholic Church: A History by Joseph Kelly

* History of the Popes Podcast (Beginning with Episode 27)

* First Council of Nicaea | Church Councils Explained (Part 1)

* Episode 146: Introduction to the 21 Ecumenical Councils

* Church History by Eusebius

* Timeline of the Roman Emperors

* Chi Rho Symbol

* Constantine the Great

* Roman Empire Under Constantine

* Thalia by Arius

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