Happy 1700th birthday to the Nicene Creed!

This year marks a significant milestone in the life of the worldwide church: the 1700th anniversary of the Nicene Creed. Originally formulated at the Council of Nicaea in 325 AD (20 May to 25 July),¹ this creed has stood for seventeen centuries as the cornerstone of Christian orthodoxy ('correct teaching').

Born out of a time of theological conflict and confusion, the creed was written to unify the church’s understanding of who Jesus is — fully God and fully human — and how the persons of the Trinity relate together: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, all equal and all eternal. It arose from a theological dispute between Bishop Alexander and Arius, whose teaching denied Jesus' full divinity. The controversy spread, threatening church unity. Emperor Constantine, seeking peace in the empire, convened the Council of Nicaea. Over 200 bishops debated whether Jesus was of the same substance ('homoousios') or a similar substance ('homoiousios') as God the Father. The resulting creed, championed by Athanasius, affirmed Jesus’ full divinity and therefore rejected Arianism.

The creed’s enduring strength lies in both in its theological clarity and its theological depth. Especially in our Anglican liturgy, it has become a living, breathing affirmation of our faith. As we say these words together every Sunday across the Holy Trinity churches, we remind each other of the biblical truths we believe as Christians. Even 1700 years later, the Nicene Creed continues to teach us, correct us, encourage us, and unite us, in the worship of the one, true God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

So, next time you say these words, remember you’re not just saying them with believers across the pews, but across the globe and across the centuries too.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, what do you believe?

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 men and for our salvation
he came down from heaven:
by the power of the Holy Spirit
he was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became 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 worshipped and glorified.
He has spoken through the Prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic² 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.

Yours in Christ,
Mark Barry

Assistant Minister
Outreach & Community Connections

7 July 2025

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[1] The creed was later revised and adopted with additions at the Council of Constantinople in AD 381. 
[2] In the context of this creed, ‘catholic’ simply means ‘universal’, rather than being a reference to the Roman Catholic Church.