Speir's Controversial Historical Novel Examines the Politics and Intrigue Surrounding the Council of Nicaea in 325 AD

    ALEDO, TX, February 15, 2017 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Progressive Rising Phoenix Press is proud to announce the release of Nicaea - The Rise of the Imperial Church by Award-Winning Author William Speir. The novel is Speir's twelfth published novel and third historical novel. The story follows the men who became the focus of the council meeting held in Nicaea: Arias (the priest who led the opposition to the new doctrine being presented to the churches), Alexander (the bishop who championed the new doctrine), Hosius (the boyhood friend of the Emperor and the force behind the creation of the Imperial Church), Athanasius (Alexander's successor and Hosius' ally), and Emperor Constantine (who wanted a church that he could use to control the people of his Empire).

Early in the 4th century, a new religious doctrine threatened to split the Christian churches apart. The Roman Emperor grew tired of the debate. He needed a unified church to control his empire in ways that his legions couldn't. In 325 AD, he summoned all Christian bishops throughout the empire to meet at Nicaea and end the debate once and for all. The Council of Nicaea created the blueprint for the Christian churches going forward, but was it the blueprint for an institution dedicated to the salvation of mankind, or for a tool of statecraft to benefit the Emperor?

Emperor Constantine I ended the persecution of Christians throughout the Roman Empire, but there was a price: Constantine needed a church to help him control the citizens of his empire. His closest friend, Hosius, was tasked with delivering a unified church to Constantine, but endless disagreements over theology threatened to make that task impossible.

Alexander, the Bishop of Alexandria, was the champion of a new religious doctrine - one that had little in common with the doctrine practiced for nearly 300 years. Arias, one of his priests, championed the old doctrine. The two men could not find common ground, and their debates were tearing the churches apart.

Hosius convinced Constantine to call a council of bishops to resolve the theological issues. But was the council meeting intended to truly and openly debate the issues of theology, or was it all for show as Constantine and Hosius pushed their own agenda on the churches of the empire?

About the author:

William Speir is a retired management consultant from Central Florida and full-time author. He has published a seven-book Action-Adventure series, three historical novels, a fantasy novel, a science fiction novel, and a non-fiction textbook on muzzle-loading artillery for reenactors and living historians. He has written one more historical novel that will be published in early 2017.

Nicaea - The Rise of the Imperial Church is available in softcover, hardcover, and ebook from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, the publisher, online retailers and select stores. The title is available for wholesale discounts to schools, libraries, non-profits, retailers, and vendors through Progressive Rising Phoenix Press or Ingram/LSI.

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