Written by: Dr. Jürgen Bühler
Article source: Supplied
Dear friends and prayer partners,
This summer we will mark 1700 years since the Council of Nicaea, a pivotal moment in Church history that both safeguarded foundational truths — such as the divine nature of Christ — and inadvertently initiated a painful rupture between the Church and the Jewish people. Unlike the first Apostolic Council in Acts 15, where Jewish believers opened wide the doors for Gentiles to join the faith, Nicaea began to close off the Church from its Jewish roots. This shift was not grounded in apostolic authority but in imperial intervention, as Emperor Constantine sought political unity within his realm through a break with Jewish customs and influence. A new Church calendar was established, deliberately severing ties with Passover and other key biblical festivals.
The resulting legacy of Nicaea laid the groundwork for centuries of anti-Jewish attitudes within Christianity. Constantine’s own words, calling for separation from “the detestable company of the Jews,” introduced a theological bias that would echo down through the ages. This rift widened through later councils, writings and rulings that banned Jewish-Christian fellowship, culminating in tragedies from the Crusades to the Holocaust. In contrast to Paul’s clear teaching that the Jewish people remain “beloved for the sake of the fathers” (Romans 11:28), the Church adopted a spirit of rejection and contempt for the Jews, even though we owe them for both our Messiah and our Scriptures.
Therefore, the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem is calling believers worldwide to join with us for 100 days of prayer and fasting, from May 18 to August 24 — the approximate anniversary dates for the Council of Nicaea. During this season, we invite you to give thanks for the good fruits of Nicaea, while also interceding for the healing of the historic wounds it caused with the Jewish people. You are not asked to fast for the entire period, but to choose days when you can stand in the gap through prayer and fasting. Every Monday during this timeframe, our Global Prayer Gathering will feature noted Christian scholars providing information and insights into Nicaea to help guide our prayers. Join the prayer here: on.icej.org/ICEJGlobalPrayer. We will focus on the themes of Repentance, Remembrance, Reconciliation and Restoration, trusting that God will bring fresh revival and healing.
Like Daniel of old, let us repent for the sins of our forebearers in the faith. Let us remember both the triumphs and the tragedies of Nicaea. Let us intercede for deeper reconciliation between Christians and Jews. And let us pray for the restoration of hearts between the fathers and the children, as promised in Malachi 4:6. May this call to prayer stir a renewed love for Israel, a clearer understanding of our shared spiritual heritage, and a Church that fully embraces its Jewish roots while standing firm in the truth of Christ.
Blessings from Jerusalem!
Dr. Jürgen Bühler
ICEJ President
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Date published: 18/05/2025
Feature image: Image for illustrative purposes only.
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