An Examination of the Symbol of Faith, a.k.a The Creed

 We are beginning a new series on the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed, the central confession of faith for Orthodox Christians and the summary of what we believe and proclaim at every Divine Liturgy. This Creed, formed in the Councils of Nicaea (325) and Constantinople (381), is not a human invention but the Church’s Spirit-guided proclamation of the truth revealed by Christ and handed down through the Apostles.

Part I introduces the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed by tracing its origins in the early Ecumenical Councils and explaining why it remains the universal confession of faith for Orthodox Christians. Here we explore how the Creed emerged as a safeguard of truth, uniting the Church against heresy and preserving the apostolic proclamation of Christ.

In Part II of this series, we will move line by line through the Creed, exploring its biblical foundations, its historical context, and its theological depth. Each phrase carries centuries of meaning, shaped by the struggles of the Church against heresy and clarified by the witness of the Fathers. From “I believe in one God, the Father Almighty” to “I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the age to come,” we will see how the Creed anchors us in the living faith of the Church.

In the final Part III of our series on the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed, we explore the theological coherence of the entire confession—how each article reveals the unity of the Holy Trinity and the fullness of our salvation in Christ. Together, these affirmations form the unbroken faith of the Church, proclaimed in every age as the true expression of Orthodox belief.

Our goal is not only to understand the Creed with our minds but also to confess it with our hearts. To say “I believe” is to commit ourselves to Christ, His Body, and the truth that sets us free. May this journey deepen our faith and prepare us to live more fully in the light of the Holy Trinity.

Part I. Introduction to the Creed; It's History and Necessity 

Part II.  The Credal Statements as Safeguards of Doctrine

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;
3. Light from Light, true God from true God,
4. Begotten, not made; of one substance with the Father; through whom all things were made.
5. Who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and became man.
6. Crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, suffered, and was buried.
7. And risen on the third day, according to the Scriptures.
8. And ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
9. And He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, whose kingdom will have no end.
10. And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Giver of life, who proceeds from the Father,
11. Who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified, who spoke by the prophets.
12. In one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church.
13. I confess one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
14. I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

Part III . Theological Conclusions