Fight the good fight of the faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. In the presence of God who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus Who in His testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession.
I Timothy 6:12-13
The Creed is said at every Divine Liturgy. Why? Because the most basic requirement in order to receive the Body and Blood of Christ is faith in Jesus Christ. And the most basic way to confess our faith in Jesus Christ is by reciting the Creed. There are, of course, other pre-requisites to receiving Holy Communion, such as being baptized and Chrismated into the Church, reconciliation with God, a relationship with Jesus Christ through prayer, moral living, worship at the Divine Liturgy at which one will receive, and fasting. But none of those things really matter if we do not believe in Christ.
At the Divine Liturgy, the Creed is introduced with three specific lines. The priest says “Let us love one another so that with one mind we may confess.” The response of the people is very theological in nature, a precursor to the Creed that is about to be recited: “Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, the Trinity, one in essence and inseparable.” The people are prompted to come together with oneness of mind and unity of thought to collectively confess a shared belief. The priest then says “Guard the doors. Wisdom. Let us be attentive.” The guarding of the door is a vestige to the time in history when all the non-believers, even those studying the faith (catechumens) would be dismissed from the service, leaving only the believers, who would confess the same Creed and then partake all together of the Eucharist. While this line is still said, we no longer ask the non-Orthodox to leave (though they are not allowed to commune).
During Great Lent, at the Pre-Sanctified Liturgy, the Creed is not part of the service. The Creed is part of the service of the Ninth Hour, which often precedes Pre-Sanctified Liturgy, and this is done so that we can recite the Creed before receiving Holy Communion.
The Creed is heard at the Sacrament of Baptism. Before one is baptized, he or she confesses the Creed as a prerequisite for entering into the life of the Church. Most baptisms are still of infants, who are too young to recite the Creed. This job is done by the Godparent. The reciting of the Creed is preceded by several questions, also answered by the Godparent when it is an infant baptism. These questions include:
Do you renounce Satan, and all his works, and all his worship, and all his angels and all his pride? (I do).
Have you renounced Satan? (I have)
Do you unite yourself to Christ? (I do)
Have you united yourself to Christ? (I have)
And do you believe in Christ? (I believe in Him as King and as God)
And having answered these questions, the person being baptized (or the Godparent) then recites the Creed, making a confession not only of Christ but of the Holy Trinity.
The Creed is also heard at the sacrament of Chrismation. The person who is entering into the Church through Chrismation is generally able to recite the Creed themselves, since it is usually an adult who is joining the Orthodox Church. They read a statement that they are joining the church of their own free will, having received proper instruction, and “confess before God and man” and recite the Creed. They also confess and accept the Seven Ecumenical Council and Traditions of the church.
I often recite the Creed in the hospital when I visit someone who is sick, before giving them Holy Communion, so that the confession of faith is part of the visit. When I think, or know, it will be the last time I visit someone because they are about to pass away, I always offer the Creed with them, so that they can confess their faith before they pass.
One of my most vivid memories of ministry, which I have shared with the Prayer Team, is the story of Fr. Basil, a Russian priest who I ministered to before he passed away in December 2006. Fr. Basil had served as a priest for over fifty years. He was in the hospital and clinging to life and he asked to see me. Going to the hospital on a Saturday evening at sunset, when I entered into his room, he asked me if I would hear his confession. Everyone else in the room left, and I looked out the window at the sunset, wondering what he would say as the sun was setting on his life. He told me that he had been confessing his sins all his life, but for his last confession, he wanted to confess his faith one more time, and slowly, with tears in his eyes, he recited the Creed with great conviction, given the little strength he had left. When he finished, saying “I look to the Resurrection of the dead and the life of the age to come. Amen,” he looked at me and said “I’m good to go. See you in Paradise.” Confession of sin is important and necessary as we go through life. It is important that we not only repent of sin, but through this sacrament we receive guidance, encouragement, even some validation. When one does this their whole life, the last confession really lines up to be not an unburdening of things they have done wrong, but a joyful confession of what they believe and what they anticipate.
The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? When evildoers assail me, uttering slanders against me, my adversaries and foes, they shall stumble and fall. Though a host encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though wars arise against me, yet I will be confident. One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I see after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the day of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in His temple. For He will hide me in His shelter in the day of trouble; He will conceal me under the cover of His tent, He will set me high upon a rock. And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies round about me; and I will offer in His tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing and make melody to the Lord. Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud, be gracious to me and answer me! Thou has said, “Seek ye My face.” My heart says to Thee, “Thy face, Lord, do I seek.” Hide not Thy face from me. Turn not Thy servant away in anger, Thou who hast been my help. Case me not off, forsake me not, O God of my salvation! For my father and my mother have forsaken me, but the Lord will take me up. Teach me Thy way, O Lord; and lead me on a level path because of my enemies. Give me not up to the will of my adversaries; for false witnesses have risen against me, and they breathe out violence. I believe that I shall see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living! Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; yea, wait for the Lord! Psalm 27
We have the opportunity to confess the Creed regularly. It is up to us to study and understand what it is we believe so that we aren’t merely checking a box but offering a statement of faith with conviction each time we say it, so that the last time we confess, “I look to the Resurrection of the dead and the life of the age to come” on our deathbed, we offer it not only with conviction but with joyful anticipation that what we believe is about to become reality.
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