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The “San Gregorio Agrigentino” Theological Institute kicks off the 2025–2026 academic year with an event dedicated to the Nicene Creed, focusing on the theme: “LIGHT FROM LIGHT: HUMANITY ILLUMINATED BY THE LIGHT OF THE WORD.”
Agrigento, December 11, 2025 – An event of significant ecclesiastical and academic importance awaits the community of Agrigento. The “San Gregorio Agrigentino” Theological Institute, affiliated with the Pontifical Theological Faculty of Sicily “San Giovanni Evangelista” in Palermo, has organized a special conference that will serve as the Solemn Opening Ceremony for the 2025–2026 academic year.
The event will take place on Thursday, December 11, 2025, beginning at 5:00 p.m., in the Aula Magna of the Archdiocesan Seminary in Agrigento.
The conference is dedicated to commemorating the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, the seminal ecumenical synod of 325 A.D. that shaped the Church’s Creed. The chosen theme, “LIGHT FROM LIGHT: HUMANITY ILLUMINATED BY THE LIGHT OF THE WORD,” draws on one of the central and most evocative theological expressions defined at Nicaea, placing the relationship between Revelation and the human condition at its core.
The program will begin with opening remarks by Don Rino Lauricella Ninotta, Director of the Theological Institute. The official opening address will be delivered by Prof. Rossanna Virgili, Professor of Sacred Scripture at the Istituto Teologico Superiore Marchigiano and a leading figure in the field of biblical studies.
At the conclusion of the academic event, there will be a deeply spiritual moment featuring a pilgrimage and a solemn Lenten Vigil to be held at the historic Church of Santa Maria dei Greci. The celebration will be presided over by Archbishop Alessandro Damiano of Agrigento, thus uniting theological reflection with an act of communal faith.
This initiative offers a valuable opportunity for the local Church and for scholars to reflect on the theological legacy of Nicaea and its relevance today.
A Commentary on the Council of Nicaea 🕊️
The 1,700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea (325 A.D.) is not merely a historical commemoration, but an opportunity to reaffirm the cornerstone of the Christian faith.
The Council of Nicaea was convened by Emperor Constantine to resolve the doctrinal crisis sparked by Arianism, which denied the full divinity of Jesus Christ. Its greatest legacy is the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed (although completed in 381), which established the essential tenets of the faith: in particular, the definition of the Son as “begotten, not made, of the same substance as the Father” (homoousios).
The Relevance of “Luce da Luce”
The theme of the conference, “LIGHT FROM LIGHT” (Photós ek Photós), is deeply relevant today. This expression encapsulates the truth that in Christ, the Son of God, the divinity is neither diminished nor inferior. Reflecting on Nicaea today means:
Rediscovering Identity: The Council compels us to return to the fundamental question: Who is Jesus Christ? Answering this question correctly is the foundation of theology and the spiritual life.
Ecumenical Unity: The Nicene Creed is one of the very few statements of faith recognized and recited in nearly all Christian churches (Catholic, Orthodox, and most Protestant denominations). Commemorating Nicaea is therefore a powerful call for unity and ecumenical dialogue.
The Relationship Between Faith and Reason: The Fathers of the Council of Nicaea used philosophical language (such as the term ousía) to explain a mystery of faith, demonstrating that reason (enlightened human reason) is an essential tool for understanding Revelation (the Light of the Word).
In short, celebrating Nicaea in 2025/2026 means honoring the doctrinal clarity that has preserved the integrity of the Christian message and renewing our commitment to unity, drawing on the light that radiates from the Incarnate Word.
