Sts. Peter & Paul Greek Orthodox Church, Boulder, CO ~ The Nicene Creed

Sts. Peter and Paul Greek Orthodox Church, Boulder, CO 80301. Metropolis of Denver.

OUR FAITH

THE NICENE CREED - OUR SYMBOL OF FAITH

The Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed is the most authoritative and concise expression of the fundamental dogmas of The Orthodox Church. It consists of 12 articles, 7 of which were written at the first Ecumenical Council (Nicea, 325AD) and the remaining 5 at the second Ecumenical Council (Constantinople, 381AD.)
The Creed has remained unchanged since this time, as all subsequent Ecumenical Council's forbade any changes or additions.

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

And in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father, before all ages; Light of Light, true God of true God, begotten not created, of one essence with the Father through Whom all things were made;

Who for us men and for our salvation came down from the heavens and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and became man;

Crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, He suffered and was buried;

Rising on the third day according to the Scriptures;

And ascending into the heavens, He is seated at the right hand of the Father;

And coming again in glory to judge the living and dead, His kingdom shall have no end;

And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Creator of life, who proceeds from the Father, Who together with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who spoke through the prophets;

In one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church;

I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins;

I expect the resurrection of the dead;

And the life of the ages to come. Amen.

In the preceding Creed, The Church is described as the "one, holy catholic and apostolic Church":

ONE: The Church is the Body of Christ and as Christ cannot be divided, neither can his body. There can only be one true Church with one head, Who is Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

HOLY: The Church seeks to sanctify and transfigure its members through the Sacraments and bring them into union with God.

CATHOLIC: Calling the Church catholic is to define Her quality: Ie. She is full and complete, perfect and all-embracing and lacking absolutely nothing. This follows from the Church being the Body of Christ, Who is also perfectly complete. Today, the term "universal" is mistakenly used interchangably with catholicity; however, this was not the meaning in the early Church.

APOSTOLIC: The Church's teachings are based on the foundations laid by the Apostles from whom The Church derives its teachings and authority without break or change. The Father sent the Son into the world; the Son sent the Apostles into the world to spread the Gospel.