The Nicene CreedThe Nicene Creed
• What is the Nicene Creed for Orthodox Christians?What is the Nicene Creed for Orthodox Christians?
• Created by Dr. Maria AngeliadisCreated by Dr. Maria Angeliadis
In the Orthodox Faith, the Nicene Creed stands for the In the Orthodox Faith, the Nicene Creed stands for the
Symbol of Faith. This means the statement of belief Symbol of Faith. This means the statement of belief
and the expression or confession of the faith. It is the and the expression or confession of the faith. It is the
traditional summary statement of the chief truths which traditional summary statement of the chief truths which
our Church teaches and which all Orthodox Christians our Church teaches and which all Orthodox Christians
are required to believe.are required to believe.
• I believe in one
God, Father
Almighty, Creator
of heaven and
earth and of all
things visible and
invisible.
In the Orthodox church, we believe that God is three divineIn the Orthodox church, we believe that God is three divine
Persons equal in all things, and share one and the same Persons equal in all things, and share one and the same
Divine nature and essence. (John 14:23) The origin of each Divine nature and essence. (John 14:23) The origin of each
of the three divine Persons of the Most Holy Trinity exists of the three divine Persons of the Most Holy Trinity exists
from all eternity and is uncreated: God the Father neither from all eternity and is uncreated: God the Father neither
comes not proceeds from any other person; God the Son comes not proceeds from any other person; God the Son
come from the Father; God the Holy Spirit proceeds from come from the Father; God the Holy Spirit proceeds from
the Father. All have no beginning nor end and are one God. the Father. All have no beginning nor end and are one God.
(John 1:1, 1:14, 15:26. 1 John 4:9)(John 1:1, 1:14, 15:26. 1 John 4:9)
We believe that God made all things and that nothing We believe that God made all things and that nothing
can exist without God. The visible things, the material world can exist without God. The visible things, the material world
and all the invisible things, those things which are not visible and all the invisible things, those things which are not visible
by the human eye but are the spiritual world that are hidden by the human eye but are the spiritual world that are hidden
from our eyes. from our eyes.
• And in one Lord, Jesus And in one Lord, Jesus
Christ, the only-Christ, the only-
begotten Son of God, begotten Son of God,
begotten of the begotten of the
Father before all ages.Father before all ages.
• Jesus Christ is truly God. Jesus means Savior, salvation, Jesus Christ is truly God. Jesus means Savior, salvation,
deliverance, and as God, He came into the world to save men. deliverance, and as God, He came into the world to save men.
• Jesus is called “Lord” because He is truly Lord and rules all. He Jesus is called “Lord” because He is truly Lord and rules all. He
is the only Son of God and comes from the Father. There was is the only Son of God and comes from the Father. There was
never a time that He did not exist, just as God the Father has never a time that He did not exist, just as God the Father has
always existed. always existed.
Light of Light, true Light of Light, true
God of true God, God of true God,
begotten not created, begotten not created,
of one essence with of one essence with
the Father through the Father through
Whom all things were Whom all things were
made. made. Matthew 17:1-9Matthew 17:1-9, , Mark 9:2-8Mark 9:2-8, and , and Luke 9:28-36Luke 9:28-36
"The One Who is"
God the Father is the everlasting light and from God comes the God the Father is the everlasting light and from God comes the
Son of God (Jesus Christ), who is also the everlasting light. Son of God (Jesus Christ), who is also the everlasting light.
God the Father and God the Son are one and the same God the Father and God the Son are one and the same
everlasting light, unable to be divided and of one divine nature. everlasting light, unable to be divided and of one divine nature.
Therefore the Son of God is referred to as “God” in the same Therefore the Son of God is referred to as “God” in the same
sense as God the Father is called God. He is the Son of God, sense as God the Father is called God. He is the Son of God,
coming from God and not a creation of God.coming from God and not a creation of God.
• 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.
• God created man in order for man to know, love, serve and
glorify God. (Matthew 22:37) Man was to have been faithful
and obedient to God, but he was easily tempted and disobeyed
(Adam and Eve).
• God then “took on flesh” to become man, total humanity,
without sin, but did not cease to be God. Jesus has two natures,
the Son of God and the nature of God. He has a human and
divine will.
• Mary became the “Mother of God” and she was ever-
virgin: she remained a virgin before, during and after the birth
of Jesus.
• He was crucified He was crucified
for us under for us under
Pontius Pilate, Pontius Pilate,
and suffered and suffered
and was buried.and was buried.
• The Church teaches us that Jesus suffered a physical suffering and The Church teaches us that Jesus suffered a physical suffering and
death, not just a symbol of suffering and death. He did this to take death, not just a symbol of suffering and death. He did this to take
on our own sinful nature and heal our sins through His voluntary on our own sinful nature and heal our sins through His voluntary
death. He suffered and died in His human nature, and not in His death. He suffered and died in His human nature, and not in His
Holy Divinity, for Divinity cannot die. God died in His human Holy Divinity, for Divinity cannot die. God died in His human
flesh. He did this to “deliver us from sin and to give us life. He flesh. He did this to “deliver us from sin and to give us life. He
did this of His own free will. (1 Peter 2:24)did this of His own free will. (1 Peter 2:24)
And He rose on And He rose on
the third day, the third day,
according to the according to the
Scriptures.Scriptures.
Jesus died and rose from the dead. His suffering and death has Jesus died and rose from the dead. His suffering and death has
brought us salvation and that we may share in His resurrection. He brought us salvation and that we may share in His resurrection. He
has given us a way to enter into Paradise. Jesus died and His has given us a way to enter into Paradise. Jesus died and His
earthly body was in the tomb, but His soul was in hell and in earthly body was in the tomb, but His soul was in hell and in
Paradise with the thief (remember me when You comest into Your Paradise with the thief (remember me when You comest into Your
Kingdom). He was on the throne of Heaven with His Father and Kingdom). He was on the throne of Heaven with His Father and
the Holy Spirit.the Holy Spirit.
• He ascended
into heaven and
is seated at the
right hand of the
Father.
• Jesus ascended to Heaven on the fortieth day after His
resurrection. This is called Ascension Day. Jesus ascended to
Heaven in His humanity, because His divinity always was and is
in Heaven. Jesus, as God, is equal to the Father in all things.
Jesus, in His Humanity has brought human nature into Heaven.
– And He will come And He will come
again with glory again with glory
to judge the living to judge the living
and the dead; His and the dead; His
kingdom shall kingdom shall
have no end.have no end.
• When Jesus came to us the first time, He came in great humility When Jesus came to us the first time, He came in great humility
and suffered for us to bring us entry into the Kingdom of Heaven. and suffered for us to bring us entry into the Kingdom of Heaven.
The second time Jesus comes to us, it will be in glory to judge all The second time Jesus comes to us, it will be in glory to judge all
our deeds. Not only those of us who will be living, but those of us our deeds. Not only those of us who will be living, but those of us
who have died. God will judge us through every word, deed or who have died. God will judge us through every word, deed or
thought we’ve ever done or had. If we are truly repentant, God will thought we’ve ever done or had. If we are truly repentant, God will
grant us His forgiveness. grant us His forgiveness.
And in the Holy Spirit, And in the Holy Spirit,
the Lord, the Creator the Lord, the Creator
of life, Who proceeds of life, Who proceeds
from the Father, Who from the Father, Who
together with the together with the
Father and the Son is Father and the Son is
worshipped and worshipped and
glorified, Who spoke glorified, Who spoke
through the prophets.through the prophets.
• The Holy Spirit is one of the natures of the Most Holy Trinity. The Holy Spirit is one of the natures of the Most Holy Trinity.
Because of this the Holy Spirit is called the Lord, just as God the Because of this the Holy Spirit is called the Lord, just as God the
Father and God the Son. They are all one and the same. The Holy Father and God the Son. They are all one and the same. The Holy
Spirit proceeds from God the Father.(2 Corinthians 3:17; Acts Spirit proceeds from God the Father.(2 Corinthians 3:17; Acts
4:26, 2:36)4:26, 2:36)
• The Holy Spirit inspired the prophets of the Old Testament and The Holy Spirit inspired the prophets of the Old Testament and
also Christ’s disciples. The Holy Spirit came to them in the form of also Christ’s disciples. The Holy Spirit came to them in the form of
tongues of fire on the Pentecost, which is fifty days after Pascha tongues of fire on the Pentecost, which is fifty days after Pascha
(Passover). (1 Peter 1:10-12; Acts 2:1-4)(Passover). (1 Peter 1:10-12; Acts 2:1-4)
In one, holy, In one, holy,
catholic,catholic,
and apostolic and apostolic
Church.Church.
• When we speak of “one Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church”, we When we speak of “one Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church”, we
refer to the Church as the Body of Christ. Our Church believes in refer to the Church as the Body of Christ. Our Church believes in
the same teachings, holy sacraments and the following of all that the same teachings, holy sacraments and the following of all that
Jesus taught and that these beliefs came to us from Apostolic Jesus taught and that these beliefs came to us from Apostolic
succession. The Apostles brought these teachings straight from the succession. The Apostles brought these teachings straight from the
lessons that Jesus taught them during His time on Earth. Our lessons that Jesus taught them during His time on Earth. Our
Church is One; it is Holy; it is Catholic (whole, pure, complete, Church is One; it is Holy; it is Catholic (whole, pure, complete,
universal, and truth); it is Apostolic, faithful to the teachings of universal, and truth); it is Apostolic, faithful to the teachings of
Christ coming to us right from the Apostles. Christ coming to us right from the Apostles.
• I confess one I confess one baptism for the baptism for the forgiveness of forgiveness of sins.sins.
• Our Church teaches that our baptism into the Orthodox Faith is the Our Church teaches that our baptism into the Orthodox Faith is the
seal of faith in the New Testament and that we come into complete seal of faith in the New Testament and that we come into complete
communion with God. Our baptism cleanses us from sin so that we communion with God. Our baptism cleanses us from sin so that we
may become Christians and therefore, able to have eternal salvation may become Christians and therefore, able to have eternal salvation
and be joined to Christ. Our baptism in the name of the Father, and and be joined to Christ. Our baptism in the name of the Father, and
of the Son and of the Holy Spirit is necessary for our salvation. of the Son and of the Holy Spirit is necessary for our salvation.
Immersion in water three times, in the name of the Father, Son and Immersion in water three times, in the name of the Father, Son and
Holy Spirit is essential to the administration of baptism in the Holy Spirit is essential to the administration of baptism in the
Orthodox Faith. Orthodox Faith.
• I look for the I look for the
resurrection of the resurrection of the
dead and the life of dead and the life of
the age to come. the age to come.
Amen. Amen.
• This refers to the time when the Lord comes again, when the dead This refers to the time when the Lord comes again, when the dead
will resurrect, which can only be done through the almighty power will resurrect, which can only be done through the almighty power
of God. It is written that the bodies of the dead shall rise and be of God. It is written that the bodies of the dead shall rise and be
clothed in bodies glorified and immortal. The bodies of the living clothed in bodies glorified and immortal. The bodies of the living
will be changed and become pure and sinless at this time. The will be changed and become pure and sinless at this time. The
bodies of those who are righteous will be in light and rest and the bodies of those who are righteous will be in light and rest and the
bodies of the evil will be in torment. bodies of the evil will be in torment.
• The life of the world to come refers to the everlasting life we shall The life of the world to come refers to the everlasting life we shall
see when we are deemed worthy during the second coming of the see when we are deemed worthy during the second coming of the
Lord. We will see God face to face and be glorified in His light. Lord. We will see God face to face and be glorified in His light.
This will brings us to eternal happiness and togetherness with our This will brings us to eternal happiness and togetherness with our
Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.