Narga Sellase Monastery. Council of Nicea.

ETHIOPIAN 2ND GONDARINE STYLE Anonymous (c. 1730 - 19th c): The ecumenical Council of Nicea was called in 325 by Constantine to settle the debates between the Arians and the Monophysites over the nature of Christ. The Monophysites held that Christ had only one nature which was divine, while the Arians held that his one nature was human. The Orthodox decided that he had two nature in one, and the Arian position was declared heretical. The following statement was issued by the Council: " We believe in one God the Father Almighty, Maker of all things visible and invisible; and in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten of the Father, that is, of the substance [ek tes ousias] of the Father, God of God, light of light, true God of true God, begotten not made, of the same substance with the Father [homoousion to patri], through whom all things were made both in heaven and on earth; who for us men and our salvation descended, was incarnate, and was made man, suffered and rose again the third day, ascended into heaven and cometh to judge the living and the dead. And in the Holy Ghost. Those who say: There was a time when He was not, and He was not before He was begotten; and that He was made our of nothing (ex ouk onton); or who maintain that He is of another hypostasis or another substance [than the Father], or that the Son of God is created, or mutable, or subject to change, [them] the Catholic Church anathematizes" (from Catholic Encyclopedia).