What We Confess
Stated without ambiguity, so nobody has to guess.
The Creed
We confess the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed of 325 and 381, entire and unaltered, without the later Western addition to the article on the Holy Spirit.
On the Holy Trinity
One God in three Persons, one in essence and undivided. The Son begotten of the Father before all ages, not made. The Holy Spirit proceeding from the Father, worshipped and glorified with the Father and the Son.
Scripture: Matthew 28:19; John 1:1-3; John 10:30; John 14:26; John 15:26; 2 Corinthians 13:14.
First Church: The Creed of Nicaea (325) and Constantinople (381); St Athanasius, On the Incarnation; St Basil, On the Holy Spirit; St Gregory the Theologian, Theological Orations.
On Jesus Christ
Perfect in divinity and perfect in humanity; consubstantial with the Father according to His divinity and consubstantial with us according to His humanity; one Christ, one Person, one hypostasis; His divinity never separated from His humanity for a moment or the twinkling of an eye. In the union there is no confusion, no mixture, no alteration, no division and no separation. We reject the error of Nestorius, who divided Christ, and the error of Eutyches, who dissolved His humanity, as both our Churches reject them.
The Oriental Orthodox confess this with St Cyril: one incarnate nature of God the Word. The Eastern Orthodox confess it with Chalcedon: made known in two natures without confusion or division. We hold, with the theological commissions of both families, that these are two grammars of one faith.
Scripture: John 1:14; Philippians 2:5-8; Colossians 2:9; Hebrews 2:14-17; Hebrews 4:15; 1 John 4:2-3.
First Church: Council of Ephesus (431); St Cyril of Alexandria, Letters to Nestorius and to John of Antioch; the Formula of Reunion (433).
On the Theotokos
The Ever-Virgin Mary is truly Theotokos, Mother of God, according to Ephesus (431), which both families receive. We honor her above all creation and ask her prayers.
Scripture: Luke 1:28; Luke 1:42-43; Luke 1:48.
On the Church and the Mysteries
One, holy, catholic and apostolic Church. Baptism, Chrismation, the Eucharist, Repentance and Confession, Anointing of the Sick, Marriage and Priesthood. We confess the true presence of the Body and Blood of Christ in the Eucharist.
Scripture: Matthew 16:18; John 3:5; John 6:53-56; John 20:22-23; Acts 8:17; James 5:14-15; Ephesians 5:31-32.
First Church: The Didache (7, 9, 14); St Ignatius, Smyrnaeans 6-8; St Justin Martyr, First Apology 65-67; St Irenaeus, Against Heresies IV.
On Scripture and Tradition
The Holy Scriptures are the word of God, read inside the living Tradition of the Church, Councils, Fathers, liturgy, canons, icons, never in isolation from it.
Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Thessalonians 2:15; 2 Peter 1:20-21.
On the Councils
We receive without reservation the three Councils held in common: Nicaea (325), Constantinople (381), Ephesus (431). On the reception of Chalcedon and the Councils after it we hold that the Christological faith they defended is the faith both families already confess, and we submit the canonical questions to the Churches, which alone can settle them.
On our own authority
We have none. This is a lay initiative. Nothing here binds any conscience or any Church.