The Creed of Faith

Also known as the Nicene Creed

We believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible;

And in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Only-begotten, Begotten of the Father before all ages, Light of Light, True God of True God, Begotten, not made, of one essence with the Father, by Whom all things were made:

Who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven, and was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and was made man;

And was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered and was buried;

And the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures;

And ascended into heaven, and sit at the right hand of the Father;

And He shall come again with glory to judge the living and the dead, Whose kingdom shall have no end.

And we believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, and Giver of Life, Who proceed from the Father, Who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified, Who spoke by the Prophets;

And we believe in One, Holy, (Orthodox) Catholic and Apostolic Church.

We acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins.

We look for the Resurrection of the dead,

And the Life of the age to come. Amen.

Where did we get this creed and what does it mean?

Latin “credo” which means "I believe”

For Orthodox, it is called “The Symbol of Faith” which means literally the "bringing together" and the "expression" or "confession" of the faith.

In the fourth century a great controversy developed in Christendom about the nature of the Son of God. Some said that the Son of God is a creature like everything else made by God. Others contended that the Son of God is eternal, divine, and uncreated.

The Emperor Constantine called the 1st Ecumenical Council in the city of Nicaea (325) to bring unity to the Church by writing what was ultimately accepted at the second Ecumenical Council (381) in Constantinople by the Orthodox Church as the proper “Symbol of Faith”.

“The Doctrine of the Trinity”: In the 4th Century, Arias, who taught that the Son of God was inferior to the Father, was called before the 1st Ecumenical Council. It was held in Nicaea, and the Fathers of the Church began writing the Nicene Creed to unify the Church and to firmly solidify the Trinitarian Doctrine. Only if Christ is truly God, can He unite us to God, for none but God Himself can open to man the way of union. Christ is "one in essence ( “Homoousios” ) with the Father. He is no demigod or superior creature, but God in the same sense that the Father is God: "true God from true God," "begotten not made, one in essence with the Father" Consubstantial with the Father. The Holy Spirit is also addressed as God who is worshiped with the Father and the Son, three persons; one God.; the Holy Trinity

“Historical acts of Christ confirmed” The creed next lists major doctrines lived out in history.: Christ came down from heaven born of the Holy Spirit and Virgin Mary. This is the incarnation. It was for our salvation that He was made man, was crucified by Pilate,. Buried, He rose from the dead, ascended to heaven and with the Father awaits the second and Glorious coming as Judge of the living and the dead. His Kingdom will have no end.

“The visible organization of the Church” Just as the Scripture says there is "One Lord, one Faith, one baptism", so too is there One Holy catholic and Apostolic Church whose doctrine and practices have been passed down unchanged through two thousand years of history. This Church today is the Orthodox Church which represents the fullest and most correct expression of the original Faith taught by our Lord Jesus Christ and inaugurated by the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.

“Hope and Promise of Life Everlasting” As Christ rose from the dead, so we believe and are promised this same Resurrection. A life of a new age to come, worshiping the God of the ages.