In commemoration of the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea (325–2025), ISAC convened an online roundtable on May 20, 2025, to explore the continuing relevance of this landmark council within the Asian context.
The event brought together four distinguished scholars from across Asia—two from Catholic traditions (Philippines and Malaysia) and two from Protestant backgrounds (India and China). Together, they reflected on how the Council’s historical decisions—including its convocation, theological debates, formulation of the Nicene Creed, and early canon law—continue to speak to contemporary issues in Asia, particularly those surrounding ecclesial division, the role of state power, and religious identity.
While reaffirming the foundational significance of the Council of Nicaea, the panel emphasized the need to reinterpret its legacy in light of Asia’s diverse religious landscapes, colonial histories, and emerging digital cultures. Rather than viewing the Nicene Creed as a fixed doctrinal relic, speakers argued for its continued potential to spark meaningful and locally grounded theological dialogue.
The roundtable concluded with a strong call to recognize that theology in Asia must develop from within Asian realities—its languages, social tensions, and plural traditions—rather than being constrained by inherited Western frameworks.