Nicene Creed

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One of the fundamental creeds of Christianity, drawn up by the Council of Nicaea, a meeting of bishops in AD 325.

The Council of Nicaea was the first ecumenical (worldwide) council. The church leaders met to discuss teachings about Jesus. The words of the Nicene Creed were formulated by the bishops and were a statement of the most important beliefs of Christianity.

The Nicene Creed is much longer than the Apostles' Creed and is usually said by Christians during the celebration of the Eucharist (Mass or Holy Communion). Its three sections state beliefs about God, Jesus, and other aspects of Christianity. The middle section, which states Christian belief about Jesus, is the longest. It affirms that Jesus is God ‘of one being with the Father’, which stresses the Oneness of God. The Alternative Service Book, published in 1980, contains the most commonly used form of the text today.

The Pillars of Hercules represent the promontories of Gibraltar and Ceuta. The shield represents the regions of Castile, Léon, Aragón, Navarre, and Granada. Effective date: 18 December 1981. >>