Công Giáo posted an update in the group
3 days ago
Dio Wheeling-CharlestonThe 1700th Anniversary of The Nicaea Council
(authors of the Nicene Creed)The Nicene Creed is a bold affirmation of our Christian identity – Jesus Christ is “true God from true God.”
Seventeen hundred years ago, 300 bishops from all over the world were called to the first ecumenical council held in a Byzantine palace in Nicea (the year 325). Maybe for your mind’s eye, imagine the recent papal conclave with cardinals from all over the universe gathering for the conclave.
The meeting in Nicea, however, was dedicated to produce the first universal creed, proclaiming salvation in Jesus Christ and affirming the Trinity – God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. It was created to serve as testimony for our love of God.
The creed we recited together at Mass is relatively the same as it was originally with a few modifications mainly through the year 381. It was essentially one of the Catholic Church’s foundational professions of faith, declaring in black and white belief in the greatest mysteries and the Holy Trinity.
In April the Vatican released, “Jesus Christ, Son of God, Saviour – the 1700th anniversary of the Ecumenical Council of Nicaea (325-2025)” – an extensive document to further understand this proclamation of faith and the Christian community. (Read it at: https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/cti_documents/rc_cti_doc_20250403_1700-nicea_en.html)
The bishops that gathered in 1700 years ago was significant for it marked the first time that the Church’s unity and mission were expressed at a universal level (hence the title “ecumenical” or “universal”) in a synodal form.
Pope Francis praised the intense work of the 1700th anniversary document committee, because it has resulted in a tool “intended to shed light on the timeliness of the faith professed at Nicea” and “to nourish and deepen the faith of believers and, based on the figure of Jesus, to offer insights and reflections useful for a new cultural and social paradigm inspired by the humanity of Christ.”The Nicene Creed:
I believe in one God,
the Father almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all things visible and invisible.I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ,
the Only Begotten Son of God,
born of the Father before all ages.
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father;
through him all things were made.
For us men and for our salvation
he came down from heaven,
and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary,
and became man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate,
he suffered death and was buried,
and rose again on the third day
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.I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church.
I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins
and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead
and the life of the world to come.Amen.
