... call a world council of the Church, the act of which highlighted the Emperor's developing role in the councils themselves.2 The first ecumenical council opened in Nicaea on May 20 325. The majority of bishops attending came from the east, the traditional number of which, according to Hilary of Poitiers was 318, with only five from the west. The acts of the council, however, are only known from later and unofficial sources such as Eusebius of Ceasarea's 'Life of Constantine'. In his recount Eusebius describes the senatorial character of the council, for example, the bishops were summoned as the senators were and travelled by imperial expense. The problems at hand were also first discussed in private by the most conspicuous bishops with the Emperor. The latter, therefore, played a major role in the convocation and the procedure of the council. The Churches autonomy was preserved for Eusebius does not indicate the ...

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