Nice

Nice, or NICÆA, a city of ancient Bithynia, in Asia Minor, situated on the eastern shore of Lake Ascania. It was built by Antigonus, the son of Philip (316 B.C.), and received the name of Antigoneia, which Lysimachus changed to Nicæa, in honour of his wife. It was a handsome town, and of great importance in the time of the Roman and Byzantine emperors. It is famous in ecclesiastical history for two Councils held in it, the First and Seventh Ecumenical Councils. The First Council of Nice was held 325 A.D., and was convened by the Emperor Constantine, for the purpose of defining the questions raised in the Arian controversy (see ARIUS, ATHANASIUS); the Nicene Creed adopted is discussed at CREED. The Council also deliberated on the Meletian Schism; and its decree on the celebration of Easter met with universal acceptance. See Stanley’s History of the Eastern Church.—The Second Council assembled under the Empress Irene (787), for the purpose of reconsidering the subject of Images (see IMAGE-WORSHIP).