One God in three co-equal persons; Nicene faith fully affirmed
All Oriental Orthodox churches fully and unequivocally affirm the doctrine of the Holy Trinity as defined by the first two Ecumenical Councils: the Council of Nicaea I (325) and the Council of Constantinople I (381). God is one divine being in three co-equal, co-eternal persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—each fully God, none greater or lesser than another. This is expressed in every celebration of the Divine Liturgy across all Oriental Orthodox traditions.
The Oriental Orthodox churches are among the most ancient champions of Trinitarian orthodoxy, having stood firm against both Arianism (which denied the full divinity of the Son) and Apollinarianism (which denied the full humanity of Christ). The Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed is the common confession of all member churches, though each liturgy recites it in its own ancient language—Armenian, Syriac, Coptic, Ge'ez, or Malayalam. The Filioque ('and from the Son') addition is not used in any Oriental Orthodox tradition.
Key Distinctions
- Persons ontology:
- three coequal persons, one divine substance (homoousios)
- Spirit procession:
- from Father alone (no filioque)
- Creed stance:
- Nicene Creed (325); rejects Council of Chalcedon (451) on Christology
Scripture References
Sources
- Council of Nicaea I (325)
- Council of Constantinople I (381)
- St. Cyril of Alexandria, Third Letter to Nestorius (430)
- Common Declaration of Pope Paul VI and Pope Shenouda III (1973)