The Nicene Creed is the Church's concise confession of faith in the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit, the Church, Baptism, the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the age to come.
Where did the Creed come from?
Its core was formulated by the First Ecumenical Council at Nicaea in 325 and completed in the form received by the Orthodox Church at the First Council of Constantinople in 381.
Why was it necessary?
The Creed helped the Church express clearly who Jesus Christ is and defend the apostolic faith against teachings that denied His full divinity or misunderstood the Holy Trinity.
Why is it recited during the Divine Liturgy?
The Creed is not only a historical document. Orthodox Christians proclaim it together before the Eucharistic portion of the Divine Liturgy, confessing the faith of the Church in which they worship.
Does the Creed contain everything Christians believe?
No short text can contain the whole life and teaching of the Church. The Creed functions as a fundamental summary within the wider life of Holy Tradition.
|
Established with the blessing of V. Rev. Fr. Wiaczeslaw, Rector of Orthodox Christian Cathedral of the Transfiguration of Our Lord (NY). |
