A Simple Catechism Based on the Nicene Creed
Understanding the Core of Orthodox Christianity as We Celebrate 1700 Years Since the Nicene Council
A Nicene Catechism: Instruction for Orthodox Believers and Their Children
Click here for text of the Nicene Creed.
By Jamey Bennett
Who made you?
God made me.What else did God make?
God made all things in heaven and on earth, both visible and invisible.How many gods are there?
There is only one God.How has God revealed himself?
God has revealed himself in three Persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.Who is the Father?
The Father is the Almighty, the fountainhead of all Divinity.Who is the Son of God?
Our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ is the only-begotten Son of God.How is he begotten?
Jesus was begotten of the Father before all ages; he is Light of Light, true God of true God.Was Jesus created?
No, Jesus was eternally begotten, not created, and is of one essence with the Father.What did Jesus do at creation?
All things were created through our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ.Why was Jesus revealed to us?
Jesus was revealed to us for our salvation.How did we come to know Jesus?
Jesus came down from heaven, and was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and became man.What did Jesus do for us?
Jesus was crucified for us, suffered, died, and was buried; on the third day, he rose from the dead, as it is taught in the Scriptures.Why did Jesus die for us?
Jesus died for us to trample down the tyranny of death by his own death; he conquered sin, death, the devil, and hell to unite us to God forever.How do we know Jesus died and rose again for us?
Because God promised in the Scriptures to deliver us, many witnesses died for this belief, and the Church has taught us that his death is the undoing of the evil of death.Where is Jesus now?
Jesus ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father; he will come again with glory to judge the living and dead.How long will he sit at the right hand of the Father?
Christ will reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet, and the last enemy to be destroyed is death.Will his kingdom end?
Christ’s kingdom is eternal and shall have no end.How else has God revealed himself?
God has revealed himself in the person of the Holy Spirit, who is also the Lord, and the Creator of life.How does the Holy Spirit relate to God the Father?
The Holy Spirit eternally proceeds from the Father.How do we think of the Holy Spirit?
We worship and glorify the Holy Spirit as God, together with the Father and the Son.How was the Holy Spirit revealed?
The Holy Spirit spoke through the prophets in times of old, until Jesus sent him to be with us until the end of time.How do we learn about God’s revelation?
We know God through the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Orthodox Church.Why do we say the church is “one”?
The Church is united mystically throughout the world through the power of the Holy Spirit in faith, prayer, communion, and wholeness.What does it mean to be holy?
To be holy means to be set apart and dedicated to God's purposes, striving for righteousness and purity of heart.Why do we call the Church “Catholic”?
The Church is called Catholic because the Church is complete and contains the fullness of God’s purposes for humanity.How is the Church “Apostolic”?
The Church is called Apostolic because it traces its spiritual lineage back to the Apostles, who were chosen by Christ and entrusted with the mission of spreading the Gospel.How do we know the Church is Apostolic?
The Church continues to uphold the Apostolic teachings, succession, authority, and fellowship.How do we become part of the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church?
We become part of the Church by becoming Christians.How do we become Christians?
We become Christians when we receive one baptism for the forgiveness of sins in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.What else must occur to be Christians?
At our baptism we are given the gift of the Holy Spirit through the mystery of Chrismation, and then we receive Christ faithfully with our mouths in the Holy Eucharist.What has God given us to do until he comes?
We are to believe God; glorify him through fasting, prayer, and obedience; and tell others how to know him.How do we have fellowship with God?
We have fellowship with God by trusting in him and receiving the body and blood of Jesus in communion.What do we confidently wait for when Christ comes again?
We wait in confidence for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the age to come.