The Creed, sung during the Divine
Liturgy, is one of the most ancient prayers of the Orthodox Church. It was
composed, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, by the Fathers of the
First and Second Ecumenical Councils (Nicea (325) and Constantinople (381),
respectively), at a time when various heretical doctrines attempted to
overthrow the true faith in the Trinity.
The main reason for the convening of
the First Ecumenical Council was the appearance and growing strength of the
false teaching of the Alexandrian priest, Arius. The basic theory of the
Arians' false teaching was that the Son of God was created — that His existence
had a beginning.
The Second Ecumenical Council condemned
the false teaching of the Pneumatomachi (Adversaries of the Spirit), whose
chief representative was Macedonius, Archbishop of Constantinople. The
Pneumatomachi called the Holy Spirit “the servant and fulfiller of God's
wishes” as well as other names that were fitting only for the angels, and they
did not recognize Him as a Hypostasis (Person) of the Holy Trinity.
The Holy Orthodox Church made a
decisive stand to protect the purity of the Orthodox teaching of the faith,
setting out the basic saving truths of Christian teaching in the Creed, which
is a constant guide for all Orthodox Christians in their spiritual life.
The Creed itself is divided into
twelve parts, seven of which were formulated at the First Ecumenical Council,
the other five at the Second.
(1)
I believe in one God, the
Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and
invisible.
(2)
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;
(3)
Who for us men and for our
salvation came down from heaven, and was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the
Virgin Mary, and became man.
(4)
And He was crucified for us
under Pontius Pilate, and suffered, and was buried.
(5)
And the third day He rose
again, according to the Scriptures;
(6)
And ascended into heaven, and
sits at the right hand of the Father;
(7)
And He shall come again with
glory to judge the living and the dead; Whose Kingdom shall have no end.
(8)
And in the Holy Spirit, the
Lord, the Giver of Life, Who proceeds from the Father; Who with the Father and
the Son together is worshipped and glorified; Who spoke by the prophets.
(9)
In one Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church.
(10)
I acknowledge one Baptism for
the remission of sins.
(11)
I look for the resurrection of
the dead;
(12)
And the life of the world to
come. Amen.