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The '''Nicene Creed''' is the ancient [[Christian]] Creed formulated by the [[Council of Nicaea]] in 325 A.D., expanded by the [[First Council of Constantinople]] in 381 A.D., and affirmed by the [[Council of Chalcedon]] in 451 A.D..  It states the nature of the divine [[Trinity]] of [[God the Father]], [[Jesus]], and the [[Holy Spirit]], and is often regarded as the core statement of the Christian faith. Many Christian denominations use [[Catechesis|catechisms]] that require students to memorize the Nicene Creed.  Among Protestant denominations that do not accept creeds as authoritative, it is still considered an accurate summation of Christian doctrine in this area.

The '''Nicene Creed''' is the ancient [[Christian]] Creed formulated by the [[Council of Nicaea]] in 325 A.D., expanded by the [[First Council of Constantinople]] in 381 A.D., and affirmed by the [[Council of Chalcedon]] in 451 A.D..  It states the nature of the divine [[Trinity]] of [[God the Father]], [[Jesus]], and the [[Holy Spirit]], and is often regarded as the core statement of the Christian faith. Many Christian denominations use [[Catechesis|catechisms]] that require students to memorize the Nicene Creed.  Among Protestant denominations that do not accept creeds as authoritative, it is still considered an accurate summation of Christian doctrine in this area.

The Western ([[Roman Catholic]]) and [[Eastern Orthodox]] branches of Christianity have different versions of the creed, the Western church including the much-disputed ''filioque clause.'' The Eastern version states that the Holy Spirit "proceeds from the Father," while the Western church added at the [[Synod of Toledo]] that the Spirit proceeds "from the Father ''and the Son''" (''filioque'' in [[Latin]]). The filioque clause was the nominal reason for the [[Great Schism]] between the two branches of the Church in 1054, although political factors played a role as well. Protestant churches usually follow the Roman Catholic practice of including the ''filioque clause.'' However, the [[Episcopal Church]] is transitioning to dropping the ''filioque'', and it will not appear in any future  [[Book of Common Prayer]] issued by the Episcopal Church in the United States.  

The Western ([[Roman Catholic]]) and [[Eastern Orthodox]] branches of Christianity have different versions of the creed, the Western church including the much-disputed ''filioque clause.'' The Eastern version states that the Holy Spirit "proceeds from the Father," while the Western church added at the Third Council of Toledo in 589 A.D. that the Spirit proceeds "from the Father ''and the Son''" (''filioque'' in [[Latin]]). The filioque clause was the nominal reason for the [[Great Schism]] between the two branches of the Church in 1054, although political factors played a role as well. Protestant churches usually follow the Roman Catholic practice of including the ''filioque clause.'' However, the [[Episcopal Church]] is transitioning to dropping the ''filioque'', and it will not appear in any future  [[Book of Common Prayer]] issued by the Episcopal Church in the United States.  

The Eastern Orthodox Church maintains that the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father only (John 15:26) and firmly denies the teaching that He proceeds also from the Son. Orthodoxy states that the "filioque" phrase denies the unity of the Godhead by saying that the Holy Spirit has two origins, which is not found in the [[Holy Scripture|Scripture]]. Western theologians counter by pointing to Christ promising his disciples that, upon his prayer to the Father, the Holy Spirit would be sent to them (John 14:16), thereby indicating that both the Father and Son are involved as a single divine principle of origin in their unity of being<ref>"unity of being"—circumincession. The Father in the Son and the Son in the Father undivided in unity of being as one wholly simple principle point of origin. See articles:

The Eastern Orthodox Church maintains that the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father only (John 15:26) and firmly denies the teaching that He proceeds also from the Son. Orthodoxy states that the "filioque" phrase denies the unity of the Godhead by saying that the Holy Spirit has two origins, which is not found in the [[Holy Scripture|Scripture]]. Western theologians counter by pointing to Christ promising his disciples that, upon his prayer to the Father, the Holy Spirit would be sent to them (John 14:16), thereby indicating that both the Father and Son are involved as a single divine principle of origin in their unity of being<ref>"unity of being"—circumincession. The Father in the Son and the Son in the Father undivided in unity of being as one wholly simple principle point of origin. See articles: