Nicene Creed
Ancient faith statement
The Nicene Creed is a formal statement of Christian belief adopted at the Council of Nicaea in 325 CE and expanded at Constantinople in 381.
It affirms core doctrines—the Trinity, Christ's divinity, and the resurrection—and remains central to Catholic, Orthodox, and many Protestant liturgies.
The congregation stood to recite the Nicene Creed.
Godhead as three persons
- consubstantialSharing the same being
- incarnationQuality given bodily presence
- begottenFathered, procreated
- divinitySacred nature or nougat-like sweet
Christology · monotheism · resurrection · ascension · omnipotence · omniscience · eternity · atonement
Belief opposing official doctrine
- orthodoxyAdherence to accepted beliefs
- anathemaIntensely detested thing
- schismFormal organizational fracture
- dogmaUnchallengeable official beliefs
canon · creedal · Monophysitism · excommunication · disputation · polemics · apologetics · heterodoxy
Early church doctrinal assembly
- ConstantinopleHistoric Turkish metropolis
- ConstantineEmperor who embraced Christianity
- schismFormal organizational fracture
- patristicOf church fathers
Athanasius · Byzantine · Roman Empire · state religion · persecution · martyrdom · imperial · edict
Oral delivery from memory
- MassCatholic worship service
- EucharistSacramental bread and wine
- baptismRitual water purification ceremony
- worshipReligious reverence and praise
Sunday · congregation · chant · sung · profession · catechism · sacrament · rite
Wholeness through cohesion
- interdenominationalInvolving multiple faith traditions
- CatholicismPapal Christian denomination
- ProtestantismReformation-era Christian movement
- AnglicanChurch of England member
Lutheran · convergence · dialogue · reconciliation · apostolic · universal · catholicity · fellowship
Trinity
Godhead as three persons
- consubstantialSharing the same being
- incarnationQuality given bodily presence
- begottenFathered, procreated
divinity · Christology · monotheism · resurrection · ascension · omnipotence · omniscience · eternity · atonement · salvation
heresy
Belief opposing official doctrine
- orthodoxyAdherence to accepted beliefs
- anathemaIntensely detested thing
- schismFormal organizational fracture
dogma · canon · creedal · Monophysitism · excommunication · disputation · polemics · apologetics · heterodoxy · Great Schism
Council of Nicaea
Early church doctrinal assembly
- ConstantinopleHistoric Turkish metropolis
- ConstantineEmperor who embraced Christianity
- schismFormal organizational fracture
Athanasius · patristic · Byzantine · Roman Empire · state religion · persecution · martyrdom · imperial · edict
recitation
Oral delivery from memory
- MassCatholic worship service
- EucharistSacramental bread and wine
- baptismRitual water purification ceremony
worship · Sunday · congregation · chant · sung · profession · catechism · sacrament · rite · altar
unity
Wholeness through cohesion
- interdenominationalInvolving multiple faith traditions
- CatholicismPapal Christian denomination
- ProtestantismReformation-era Christian movement
Anglican · Lutheran · convergence · dialogue · reconciliation · apostolic · universal · catholicity · fellowship · accord
credo
Guiding personal doctrine
only-begotten · suffered · crucified · buried · seated · right hand · judge · living · dead · Holy Spirit
Nicene Creedprayer
Address to deity
Lord's Prayer · petition · hymn · psalm · doxology
Nicene Creedsecular humanism
Nonreligious ethical philosophy
atheism · agnosticism · apostasy · blasphemy · unbelief