The Preparation
Liturgy of the Word
The Antimens
Great Entrance
Kiss of Peace
The Creed
Eucharistic Prayer
Hymn to Theotokos
The Our Father
The Communion
Thanksgiving

The Creed

“The Doors, The Doors, Wisdom! Let us be attentive!”

Before the recitation of the Creed we hear this command from the deacon. It should remind us of those days, for some not so long ago, when serving The Divine Liturgy meant great personal risk and sacrifice. Now we are ready to make our confession of faith.

I believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the only-begotten, begotten of the Father before all ages: light from light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one essence with the Father, through whom all things were made; Who, for us men and for our salvation, came down from heaven and was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and became man. And He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered and was buried. And on the third day He rose again according to the Scriptures; and He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. And He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and His kingdom will have no end.

And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father, who with the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. In one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church. I confess one baptism for the remission of sins. I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

Recitation of the Creed is required for Baptism and entry into the Christian life. It also introduces the Eucharistic prayer. This is because right confession of faith is fundamental and constitutes the essence of the Church as a unity of faith and love which comes from above. There is a natural link between unity of the Church in Christ and unity of faith. Communion presupposes unity of faith. This is why Orthodox Christians do not take part in sacraments performed by non-Orthodox and only baptized Orthodox Christians in communion with the Church and who profess the true faith partake of the Eucharist. It is our prayer and our hope that the painful divisions of our day within the greater Christian community will be healed soon.