This past Sunday, on Trinity Sunday, we dusted off the Athanasian Creed for its annual liturgical cameo. Today, we spotlight a more familiar and regularly used confession—the Nicene Creed—on a special occasion: the 1,700th anniversary of its original adoption.

On this day in 325 AD, many historical sources mark the conclusion of the First Council of Nicaea, convened by Emperor Constantine the Great—the first Roman emperor to convert to Christianity. The council met in the city of Nicaea (present-day İznik, Turkey) between May and June, intending to achieve unity on key matters of Christian doctrine. Around 200–300 bishops, along with other church leaders, participated. Their work produced the original version of the Nicene Creed, established a unified date for celebrating Easter, and issued the first formal canons (church laws) for the wider Christian community.

Although the Athanasian Creed bears the name of Athanasius of Alexandria, most scholars agree he did not write it. It was likely composed in the 5th or 6th century in the Western church. However, Athanasius was a key defender of Trinitarian doctrine at Nicaea and is credited with helping articulate the belief that Jesus is “begotten of the Father”—a direct rebuttal to Arianism, which denied the full divinity of Christ.

The Nicene Creed remains a central part of Christian worship, especially during the major festivals of Christmas and Easter. For Lutherans, it is one of the three ecumenical creeds included in the Book of Concord, the foundational collection of confessional writings from the Reformation. The other two creeds are the Apostles’ Creed and the Athanasian Creed. The Apostles’ Creed—an early baptismal confession—is typically recited during baptisms and on Sundays outside the festival seasons.

While we celebrate the Nicene Creed today on its anniversary, this coming Sunday we will affirm our baptisms by reciting the Apostles’ Creed during worship. Please join us on Sunday, June 22, at 9:30 AM as we confess our faith in the spirit of the creeds. During the service, we will also install the newly elected members of our congregation council. The worship bulletin is attached.

Blessings,

Pastor Marc