The Nicene Creed (/ˈnaɪsiːn/ , Greek: Σύμβολον τῆς Νικαίας, Latin: Symbolum Nicaenum) is a Christian statement of belief widely used in liturgy. It is the defining creed of Nicene Christianity.
It is named for the city of Nicaea (present day İznik, Turkey) where it was originally adopted by the First Ecumenical Council, in 325.[1] In 381, it was amended at the Second Ecumenical Council, at Constantinople. The amended form is also referred to as the Nicene Creed, or the Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed for disambiguation.
In the Western Christianity, the Nicene Creed is in use alongside the shorter Apostles’ Creed.[2][3][4] On Sundays and solemnities, one of these two creeds is recited in the Roman Rite Mass after the homily. The Nicene Creed is also part of the profession of faith required of those undertaking important functions within the Catholic Church.[5][6]
In the Byzantine Rite, the Nicene Creed is sung or recited at the Divine Liturgy, immediately preceding the Anaphora (Eucharistic Prayer), and is also recited daily at compline.[7][8]
In musical settings, particularly when sung in Latin, this Creed is usually referred to by its first word, Credo.