The NICENE CREED

Icon depicting the

Church Fathers

of the First

Council of Nicaea

holding the

Nicene Creed

Background

The Nicene Creed is a most wonderful summary of our Christian Faith.

It outlines the theological, dogmatic, and historical building blocks

upon which our Faith is built. Sadly it has also been a major cause of

division within the Church.

The formulation of the Nicene Creed began during the First Council of Nicea

in 325AD. It was revised and expanded by the Bishops who attended the

First Council of Constantinople in 381AD and it was here a final version

was agreed upon.

The two main centres of the Church at this time where Rome in the

West and Constantinople (modern day Istanbul) in the East. Sadly a split

[schism] took place between these Churches in the 11th century. This was

partly due to the “filioque” clause being added to Creed by the Western Church some time prior to this split taking place. More on this later.

Even so, to this day, the Nicene Creed, in it's various forms, is revered and

recited by Roman Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, and a large number of

the Protestant Churches.

Background, cont.

The aim of this presentation is to give an insight into the Nicene Creed, also called the

Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed, due to the fact it was formulated over the course of

two Church Councils.

We will explore the Roman Catholic version of the Creed which includes the “filioque”

clause.

You will notice from the icon at the start of this presentation that the the original

creed was written in Greek. This was the language of the eastern Mediterranean

where both of the Councils [Nicea + Constantinople] took place.

For the text of this presentation I have borrowed heavily, with permission, from a fine

primer on the Creed written by David Bennett. This primer examines the Creed

section by section.

David's work is located at - http://www.ancient-future.net/nicene.html. It forms part

of a wonderful website - http://www.ancient-future.net which I would recommend to

you .

Introduction

The Creed is very important in the RCIA process. The Creed is a wonderful

framework around which the Period of the Catechumenate [Instruction]

can be based.

During the Period of Purification and Enlightenment [Preparation] the Elect

are presented with the Creed during the week after the first Scrutiny,

preferably in the presence of the community i.e. in public.

After the homily a Deacon or other assisting minister says:

“Let the elect now come forward to receive the Creed from the Church.”

Before beginning the Creed the Celebrant addresses the Elect with these

beautiful words: “My dear friends, listen carefully to the words of that faith

by which you will be justified. The words are few but the mysteries they

contain are great. Receive them with a sincere heart and be faithful to

them.” RCIA 147

We Believe in One Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church

We believe in the Holy Catholic (which means Universal) Church, whose origins are ancient and historical. The Church is built upon the faith and witness of the Apostles. This witness survives through Apostolic Succession, wherein Apostles appointed leaders, who appointed leaders, who appointed leaders, etc, to the present day. This line survives today primarily in the Catholic and Orthodox Churches. In the Catholic Church present day Bishops are the successors of the Apostles. The Pope is the successor of the person Jesus first appointed as the leader of the Church – St Peter.

We Acknowledge One Baptism For the Forgiveness of Sins

We believe that sacramentally through the waters of Baptism, God forgives our sin, and that there is only one baptism necessary. This belief in Baptism's power is ancient and practically universally acknowledged in the early Christian writings. If someone has been Baptised in the name of the Trinity, generally re-Baptism is a scandal, no matter in what Church the Baptism took place.

We Look for the Resurrection of the Dead, and the Life of the World to

Come

As Christians we believe our life here on Earth is just part of a journey. When our mortal body dies our immortal soul lives on. If we have led a good life we hope that our soul might be granted eternal access to the presence of God, namely Heaven.

It is also our belief that at the end of time God will come to Earth again in glory. When this happens the Universe will be fully reconciled to God, and our souls will be re-united with our former mortal bodies which will take on a glorified, immortal form.

The Resurrection of the Dead,

Luca Signorelli,Orvieto Cathedral

Amen

The word Amen is a declaration of affirmation found in the Hebrew Bible and in the

Qur'an. It has always been in use within Judaism and Islam. It has been generally adopted

in Christian worship as a concluding formula for prayers and hymns. In Islam, it is the

standard ending to suras. Common English translations of the word Amen include:

"Verily", "Truly", "So be it", and "Let it be".

Historically the language of the

Eastern Christian Church was

Greek and

for the Western Christian

Church it was Latin.

In St Peter's Basilica, Rome,

behind the Chair of St Peter,

there is a frieze on the top of

the walls. To the left the words

are in Latin and to the right the

words are in Greek.

They both say the same thing:

O pastor of the Church, you

feed all Christ's lambs and

sheep.

The words meet directly behind

the Chair of St Peter.

A Final Thought

The Creed should be seen as a prayer of unity

not of division.

Pope John Paul the Great made great efforts to

engage with the Eastern Orthodox Church. Pope Benedict XVI has continued in the same

vein and made it one of his top priorities.

Let us pray for the full and total reconciliation of

these two great arms of the Christian Church.

Conclusion

Reconciliation,Stephen Broadbent,

Liverpool

We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty

Maker of heaven and earth, of all that is seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,

the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father,

God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God,

begotten, not made, one in Being with the Father.

Through him all things were made.

For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven:

by the power of the Holy Spirit he was born of the Virgin Mary, and became man.

For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered, died, and was buried.

On the third day he rose again in fulfilment of the Scriptures

he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,

And his kingdom will have no end

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Giver of Life,

Who proceeds from the Father and the Son

With the Father and the Son he is worshipped and glorified

He has spoken through the Prophets.

We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church

We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.

We look for the resurrection of the dead,

and the life of the world to come. Amen.

The NICENE CREED