The Story Behind the Nicene Creed
Presentation Overview:
This year, Christians around the world are commemorating the 1,700th anniversary of the great Council of Nicaea, held in 325 A.D. We are celebrating this council for several reasons. It was the first ecumenical council of bishops held by the Church, and it is first not just chronologically, but also for its importance. That’s because the Council of Nicaea gave us the Nicene Creed, the great statement of faith professed by Christians for 1,700 years.
As a Church, we recite the Nicene Creed after the homily at Mass. This Creed, also called the Profession of Faith, is THE definitive statement about what we believe as Christians. But have you ever wondered about the story behind the Creed? Why and how was it created? And what is the meaning behind those unusual words (e.g., “begotten, not made”, “consubstantial”)?
This multimedia presentation explores the amazing rise of Christianity in the 4th century Roman Empire, and how the Arian Crisis led to the Council of Nicaea and influenced the words we say in the Nicene Creed, as well as the profound meaning of these important words.
Saying the Nicene Creed at Mass transforms a dogmatic statement into a personal commitment; we make an implicit promise to live by the truth we’re proclaiming. Prayer has been defined to be the raising up of the mind and heart to God; but it would be more accurate to say that it is the raising up of the heart through the mind to God. We need our minds to better know who God is, which helps us to love Him more.
Although the Council of Nicaea was called by a secular ruler, Emperor Constantine, it was a wholly religious council led by the Holy Spirit to guide the Church. As such, the results were not political convictions that change with the wind, but Truths of the faith that have endured for 1,700 years and will continue to do so until the end of time. This is very worthy of remembering and celebrating.
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- PRESENTATION SUMMARY: The Story Behind the Nicene Creed
Video on The Council of Nicaea in 5 Minutes:
Video of Bishop Robert Barron discussing a recent survey showing that most Christians believe “Jesus is the first and greatest being created by God” and how the bishops at the great Council of Nicaea developed the Nicene Creed in 325 A.D. to address this ongoing misunderstanding about Jesus Christ: