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Greek Orthodox Catechism
Constantine Callinicos, London, 1926
Part I. Dogmatical, 1. The Creed
Recite the Creed.
I. I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of Heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.
II. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of His Father before all worlds, Light of Light, Very God of Very God, Begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father; by Whom all things were made.
III. Who for us men, and for our salvation, came down from Heaven; and was incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary, and was made man.
IV. And was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; He suffered and was buried.
V. And the third day He rose again according to the Scriptures.
VI. And ascended into Heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of the Father.
VII. And He shall come again with glory to judge both the quick and the dead; Whose kingdom shall have no end.
VIII. And I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Lord, the Giver of Life, Who proceedeth from the Father; Who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified; Who spake by the Prophets.
IX. I believe in one Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church.
X. I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins.
XI. I look for the resurrection of the dead.
XII. And the life of the world to come. Amen.
Tell me all you know about the Creed.
The Creed is the shortest summary of the Christian dogmas, which the Church of old gleaned from the Divine Revelation entrusted to her. In its twelve Articles it contains in a few words all that is necessary for a Christian to accept and believe for his salvation. Taught secretly to the Catechumens of ancient times, it became, so to speak, the sign, by which they were distinguished from the followers of other religions; for which reason it was called “the Symbol.” During the first centuries of Christianity its length and phraseology varied in the various local churches; but at last it became stereotyped into the form known to us to-day at the first Oecumenical Council of Nicæa (325 A.D.) and at the second Oecumenical Council at Constantinople (381 A.D.). Hence its name of Nicæo-constantinopolitan, or simply, Nicene Creed. The Roman and Protestant Churches make use of two other Creeds in addition to this; but our Orthodox Church prefers to use the Nicene Creed only, for the reason that, not only is it a genuine work of the august Councils, whose name it bears, but also because a single Creed symbolises more successfully the singleness of the Faith.
What are briefly the great dogmatic truths which the Creed handles in its twelve Articles?
In its first article the Creed speaks of God the Father and His creative work; the second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh about our Lord Jesus Christ and His Incarnation for our salvation; and in the eighth about the Holy Ghost. The rest of the Creed, dealing in the ninth Article with the Church, in the tenth with the Sacraments, and in the eleventh and twelfth with the After Life, can well be considered as an appendage to the eighth Article. So, although the Articles of the Creed are twelve in number, we should not be wrong in saying that under these twelve Articles as a corner-stone stands the inexpressible mystery of the Holy Trinity, which is the outstanding characteristic of the Christian Faith.