What do Orthodox Christians believe? “Orthodox” means “right glory” (as in “right way to glorify God and reflect his glory”). The fundamental confession of faith used by Orthodox Christians every Sunday is the original Creed (from the Latin “credo” which means “I believe”) composed at Nicea (Asia Minor, modern-day Turkey) in 325 AD. The end of the Creed was composed in the year 381 AD, but the entire text comes from a confession of faith used at baptism long before 325 AD. The amazing thing about this confession of faith is that it was composed before the contents of the New Testament were settled (that was in 367 AD)!
I believe in one God, Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.
And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all ages;
Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not created,
same-in-essence with the Father,
through Whom all things were made.
Who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven
and was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and became man.
He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered and was buried;
And He rose on the third day, according to the Scriptures.
He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father;
And He will come again with glory to judge the living and dead. His kingdom shall have no end.
And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Creator of life, Who proceeds from the Father,
Who together with the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified,
Who spoke through the prophets.
In one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church.
I confess one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the age to come.
Amen.
For more information, the book series The Orthodox Faith by Fr. Thomas Hopko is available in print or for free on the Orthodox Church in America website.
