Adjective
ante-Nicene
(Christianity, historical) Of or relating to those early Christians who lived before the council of Nicea in 325 AD.
Irenaeus remarks (Haer., I., xxvlii. 1, Ante-Nicene Fathers, i. 353) that after the death of Justin, he was expelled from the church for his Encratitic ( ascetic ) views. Source: Internet