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.