Pusey House, Oxford hosted the Receiving Nicaea conference on 12–13 November 2025 in memory of Betsy Livingstone. Marking the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea (AD 325), the gathering brought together scholars and clergy to examine the Council as a pivotal moment in the Christianisation of the Roman Empire and a major stage in the development of orthodox Christian doctrine.
A central figure among the presenters was Rev. Prof. Khaled Anatolios, Senior Ecumenical Fellow and John A. O’Brien Professor of Theology and Chair of the Department of Theology at the University of Notre Dame. The conference featured a distinguished group of speakers, including the Rt. Revd. and Rt. Honorable Rowan Williams, Emeritus Archbishop of Canterbury. The conference also included the celebration of Evensong, at which Fr. Anatolios was the preacher and incorporated a performance of the Symbolum Nicenum (Credo) from Bach’s Mass in B Minor BWV 232.
The event explored the reception of Nicaea throughout the Church’s history and considered the continuing significance of the Council’s doctrinal formulae in both theological study and the spiritual life of the Church. Focus was given to how saying and praying the Creed shapes the life of the Church, informs the Christian’s experience of God, and equips the Church to meet present-day challenges.