One God in three co-equal persons; full Nicene Trinitarian faith
The Coptic Orthodox Church fully affirms the doctrine of the Holy Trinity as defined by the Councils of Nicaea I (325) and Constantinople I (381). God is one divine being eternally existing in three co-equal, co-eternal, and consubstantial persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This is the foundation of Coptic Christian faith and is confessed at every celebration of the Divine Liturgy and in the Agpeya (Book of Hours) prayed seven times daily by observant Copts.
The Coptic Church is historically the church of St. Athanasius of Alexandria, whose uncompromising defense of Nicene Trinitarian orthodoxy against Arianism ('Athanasius contra mundum') is one of the greatest chapters in the history of Christian doctrine. St. Athanasius's theology of the Son as homoousios (of the same substance) with the Father remains the bedrock of Coptic Trinitarian faith. The Filioque is not used in the Coptic recitation of the Creed.
Key Distinctions
- Persons ontology:
- three coequal persons, one divine substance (homoousios)
- Spirit procession:
- from Father alone (no filioque)
- Creed stance:
- Nicene Creed (325); three pre-Chalcedonian councils authoritative
Scripture References
Sources
- Council of Nicaea I (325)
- Council of Constantinople I (381)
- St. Athanasius of Alexandria, Defense of the Nicene Definition
- Common Declaration of Pope Paul VI and Pope Shenouda III (1973)