Library › Metropolitan Platon of Moscow › Orthodox Doctrine (Summary of Christian Divinity)

Orthodox Doctrine (Summary of Christian Divinity)

Metropolitan Platon of Moscow, tr. Pinkerton, 1814

7. Part 2, Section 7: What is the Symbol of Faith?

The following abridgment is called the symbol of faith:

1. I believe in one God, Father Almighty,¹ Creator of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.

2. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all ages: Light of Light, true God of true God, begotten, not created, co-essential with the Father, by whom all things were made.

3. Who, for the sake of men, and for the sake of our salvation, descended from heaven, and became incarnate by the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and became man.

4. Also was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered, and was buried.

5. And rose again the third day, according to the Scriptures.

6. And ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of the Father.

7. And will come again with glory to judge the quick and the dead; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

8. And in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and giver of life, who proceedeth from the Father, and with the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified, who spoke by the prophets.

9. In one holy Catholic and apostolical church.

10. I confess one baptism for the remission of sins.

11. I expect the resurrection of the dead.

12. And the life of the world to come. Amen.

The symbol of faith was drawn up at the first general council of Nice, which was against Arius, composed of three hundred and eighteen holy fathers assembled there. It was enlarged in the 8th article at the second general council of Constantinople, and afterwards powerfully confirmed by all the other general councils, and recommended to all Christians, as a most precious treasure of faith. This symbol ought, on this account, the more particularly to be explained, and to be held by every one with faith unfeigned, seeing that in it are contained the chief tenets of the faith and hope of Christians; and should any one of them obstinately reject it, he thereby loses the hope of salvation.

Previous · Contents · Next