Nicene Creed

The Nicene Creed was formulated at the Council of Nicaea in 325 AD, and revised at the Second Ecumenical Council in 381 AD. It states the nature of the divine Trinity of God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, and is often regarded as the core doctrine of Christianity. Many Christian denominations use catechisms that require students to memorize the Nicene Creed.

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 version states that it procedes "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.

One familiar English translation, that used by the Episcopal Church, reads:

We believe in one God,

the Father, the Almighty,

maker of heaven and earth,

of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,

the only Son of God,

eternally begotten of the Father,

God from God, Light from Light,

true God from true God,

begotten, not made,

of one Being with the Father.

Through him all things were made.

For us and for our salvation

he came down from heaven:

by the power of the Holy Spirit

he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary,

and was made man.

For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;

he suffered death and was buried.

On the third day he rose again

in accordance with the Scriptures;

he ascended into heaven

and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,

and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,

who proceeds from the Father and the Son.

With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified.

He has spoken through the Prophets.

We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.

We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.

We look for the resurrection of the dead,

and the life of the world to come. Amen.