for that interpretation does not harmonize with the Latin Symbol placed alongside it; so that even the Latin inscription differs significantly from the Gallic one, and the former is said to be Boniface’s, while the latter is said to be Athanasius’s. To these we add an explanation of the Symbol, composed in Latin, transcribed from a manuscript of this Saint-Germain abbey over five hundred years old, which we deem not unworthy of being brought to light. The procession is closed by a Greek confession of faith, transcribed from a Royal manuscript. Which also bears the name of Athanasius, and was, in our estimation, published many centuries after Athanasius.
THE CREED OF SAINT ATHANASIUS
THE CREED OF ST. ATHANASIUS ON THE CATHOLIC FAITH, COMMONLY RECEIVED IN THE CHURCH.
FIRST FORMULA.
Whosoever wishes to be saved, before all things it is necessary that he should hold the Catholic faith: which faith except everyone shall keep whole and inviolate, without doubt he shall perish eternally. But this is the Catholic faith, that we should worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in unity: neither confounding the persons, nor separating the substance. For there is one person of the Father, another of the Son, and another of the Holy Spirit: but the Godhead of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit is one, the glory equal, the majesty coeternal. Such as the Father is, such is the Son, and such is the Holy Spirit. The Father is uncreated, the Son is uncreated, and the Holy Spirit is uncreated. The Father is infinite, the Son is infinite, and the Holy Spirit is infinite. The Father is eternal, the Son is eternal, and the Holy Spirit is eternal. And yet there are not three eternals, but one eternal: as there are not three uncreated, nor three infinites, but one uncreated, and one infinite. Similarly, the Father is omnipotent, the Son is omnipotent, the Holy Spirit is omnipotent; and yet there are not three omnipotents, but one omnipotent. Thus the Father is God, the Son is God, the Holy Spirit is God: and yet there are not three gods, but one God. Thus the Father is Lord, the Son is Lord, the Holy Spirit is Lord; and yet there are not three lords, but one Lord. For as we are compelled by the Christian truth to confess each person singly as God and Lord, so we are forbidden by the Catholic religion to say that there are three gods or three lords. The Father is made by none, nor created, nor begotten. The Son is from the Father alone, not made, nor created, but begotten: the Holy Spirit is from the Father and the Son, not made, nor created, nor
A begotten, but proceeding. There is therefore one Father, not three fathers; one Son, not three sons; one Holy Spirit, not three holy spirits. And in this Trinity there is nothing before or after, nothing greater or less, but all three persons are coeternal with each other and coequal. So that in all things, as has already been said, both the unity in the Trinity and the Trinity in the unity is to be worshipped. Whoever wishes therefore to be saved, let him thus think concerning the Holy Trinity. But it is necessary for eternal salvation that one should also faithfully believe in the incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ. The true faith B is therefore that we should believe and confess that our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is God and man. He is God, begotten of the substance of the Father before the ages; and He is man, born of the substance of His mother in time. Perfect God and perfect man, subsisting from a rational soul and human flesh. Equal to the Father according to His divinity, less than the Father according to His humanity. Who, although He is God and man, is yet not two, but one Christ. One, however, not by the conversion of divinity into flesh, but by the assumption of humanity into God. One altogether, not by confusion of substance, but by unity of person: for as the rational soul and flesh is one man, so God and man is one Christ. Who suffered for our salvation, descended to the dead, and on the third day rose from the dead. He ascended into heaven, sits at the right hand of the Father C Almighty, whence He will come to judge the living and the dead. At whose coming all men must rise again with their own bodies and will render an account of their own deeds. And those who have done good will go into eternal life; but those who have done evil, into eternal fire. This is the catholic faith, which unless everyone believes faithfully and firmly, he cannot be saved.
QUICUNQUE CREED. SECOND FORMULA.
The confession of the Catholic faith of our Father among the saints, Athanasius the Great, which he gave to Julius, Pope of Rome.
Whosoever desires to be saved, before all things it is necessary that he hold the Catholic faith; which except every one shall keep whole and undefiled, without doubt he shall perish everlastingly. But this is the Catholic faith, that we worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity, neither confounding the persons, nor dividing the substance. For there is one person of the Father, another of the Son, and another of the Holy Spirit. But the Godhead of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit is all one, the glory equal, the majesty coeternal. Such as the Father is, such is the Son, and such is the Holy Spirit. The Father is uncreated, the Son is uncreated, the Holy Spirit is uncreated. The Father is infinite, the Son is infinite, the Holy Spirit is infinite. The Father is eternal, the Son is eternal, the Holy Spirit is eternal. And yet there are not three eternals, but one eternal. As also there are not three uncreated, nor three infinites, but one uncreated, and one infinite. So likewise the Father is almighty, the Son is almighty, the Holy Spirit is almighty; and yet there are not three almighties, but one almighty. So the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Spirit is God; and yet there are not three Gods, but one God. So the Father is Lord, the Son is Lord, and the Holy Spirit is Lord; and yet there are not three Lords, but one Lord; for like as we are compelled by the Christian verity to acknowledge every person by himself to be God and Lord, so are we forbidden by the Catholic religion to say there be three Gods, or three Lords. The Father is made of none, neither created, nor begotten. The Son is of the Father alone, not made, nor created, but begotten. The Holy Spirit is of the Father and of the Son, not made, nor created, nor begotten, but proceeding. There is therefore one Father, not three fathers; one Son, not three sons; one Holy Spirit, not three spirits. A And in this Trinity there is nothing before or after, nothing greater or less; but all three persons are coeternal together, and coequal. So that in all things, as it has already been said, we must worship the Trinity in Unity, and the Unity in Trinity. He therefore that wishes to be saved, let him thus think concerning the Trinity.
Furthermore, it is necessary to salvation that one also faithfully hold the incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is therefore a firm faith that we believe and confess that our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is God and man: God, of the substance of the Father, begotten before the worlds; and perfect man, subsisting of a rational soul and human flesh; equal to the Father as touching his Godhead, and inferior to the Father as touching his manhood. Who, although he is God and man, yet he is not two, but one Christ; one, not by conversion of the Godhead into flesh, but by taking of the manhood into God; one altogether, not by confusion of substance, but by unity of person. For as the rational soul and flesh is one man, so God and man is one Christ; who suffered for our salvation, descended into hell, rose again the third day from the dead, and ascended into the heavens, and sitteth on the right hand of the almighty God and Father; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. At whose coming B all men shall rise again with their own bodies, and shall give account for their own deeds. And they that have done good shall go into life everlasting; but they that have done evil, into everlasting fire. This is the Catholic faith, which except a man believe faithfully and firmly, he cannot be saved.
THIRD FORMULA.
Exposition of the confession of the Catholic faith of the great Athanasius, Patriarch of Alexandria.
Whosoever desires D to be saved, before all things it is necessary to hold the Catholic faith; which except every one shall keep whole and undefiled, without doubt he shall perish everlastingly.
But this is the Catholic faith, that we worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity, neither confounding the subsistences, nor separating the substance. For one is the subsistence of the Father, another of the Son, another of the Holy Spirit.
But of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, one is the Godhead, one is the glory, coeternal is the majesty.
Such as the Father is, such is the Son, such is the Holy Spirit.
The Father is uncreated, the Son is uncreated, the Holy Spirit is uncreated.
The Father is incomprehensible, the Son is incomprehensible, and the Holy Spirit is incomprehensible.
incomprehensible, and the Holy Spirit is incomprehensible. The Father is eternal, the Son is eternal, and the Holy Spirit is eternal. Yet there are not three eternals, but one eternal; nor three uncreated, nor three incomprehensible, but one uncreated, one incomprehensible. Similarly, the Father is almighty, the Son is almighty, and the Holy Spirit is almighty; yet there are not three almighties, but one almighty. Thus the Father is God, the Son is God, the Holy Spirit is God; yet there are not three A gods, but one God. Similarly, the Father is Lord, the Son is Lord, the Holy Spirit is Lord; yet there are not three Lords, but one Lord. Because, as we are compelled by Christian truth to confess each person individually as God and Lord, so we are forbidden by the Catholic religion to say there are three gods or three Lords.
The Father is from none, nor is he created, nor made, nor begotten. The Son is from the Father alone, not made, not created, but begotten. The Holy Spirit is from the Father and the Son, not made, not created, nor begotten, but proceeding. One Father, therefore, not three fathers; one Son, not three sons; one Holy Spirit, not three holy spirits. And in this Trinity nothing is before or after, nothing is greater or less, but all three B persons are co-eternal with each other and co-equal. So that in all things (as has been said) both the Unity in Trinity and the Trinity in Unity must be worshiped. Whoever, therefore, wishes to be saved, let him think thus concerning the Trinity.
Nevertheless, it is necessary for eternal salvation that he also faithfully believe the incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ. For this is the right faith, that we should believe and confess that our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is God and man. God begotten from the substance of the Father before the ages, and man born from the substance of his Mother in time. Perfect God and perfect man, consisting of a rational soul and human flesh. Equal to the Father according to his godhead, less than the Father according to his manhood. Who, although he is God and man, yet he is not two, C but one Christ. One, not by conversion of the godhead into flesh, but by taking of the manhood into God. One, indeed, not by confusion of substance, but by unity of person. For as the rational soul and flesh is one man, so the God-man is one Christ. Who suffered for our salvation, and descended into Hades, and rose again on the third day from the dead. He ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of God the Father almighty, whence he shall come to judge the living and the dead. At whose coming all men shall rise again with their bodies, and shall give an account of their own deeds. And those who have done good shall go into life eternal; but those who have done evil, into eternal fire. This is the Catholic faith, which if anyone does not faithfully believe, he cannot be saved.
FOURTH FORMULA
Whoever wishes to be saved, before all things it is necessary that he hold the orthodox faith; which unless everyone shall keep whole and undefiled, he shall without doubt perish eternally. And the Catholic faith is this, that we worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity; neither confounding the persons, nor dividing the substance.
If anyone wishes to be saved, before all things he has need to lay hold of the orthodox faith; which unless one shall keep it undefiled and uncorrupted, he shall find eternal destruction. This, therefore, is the orthodox faith, that we worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity, neither confounding the D persons, nor dividing the essence.
A For one is the person of the Father, another of the Son, and another of the Holy Spirit. But of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, there is one divinity, one power, one dominion, one kingdom, equal glory, equal majesty, and eternal. As the Father is, such is the Son, and such is the Holy Spirit. The Father is uncreated, the Son is uncreated, the Holy Spirit is uncreated; yet not three uncreated, but one uncreated. The Father is Almighty, the Son is Almighty, the Holy Spirit is Almighty; yet not three Almighties, but one Almighty. The Father is eternal, the Son is eternal, the Holy Spirit is eternal; yet not three eternals, but one eternal. The Father is all-powerful, the Son is all-powerful, the Holy Spirit is all-powerful; yet not three all-powerfuls, but one all-powerful. Thus the Father is God, the Son is God, the Holy Spirit is God; yet not three gods, but one God. The Father is Lord, the Son is Lord, the Holy Spirit is Lord; yet not three lords, but one Lord. And just as we argue by Christian truth that we must confess each person individually as God and Lord, so we do not agree to speak of three gods or three lords, but we altogether forbid it. For the Father is made by no one, nor created, but is unbegotten. The Son is from the Father, not made, not created, but begotten. The Holy Spirit is from the Father, not made, not created, not begotten, but proceeding. Consequently, there is one Father, not three fathers; one Son, not three sons; one Holy Spirit, not three holy spirits. And in this Trinity, no one is first or last, no one is great or small; but the three persons are eternal and equal in all things, as has been said before. Therefore, let every Christian worship Unity in Trinity and Trinity in Unity; and thus let him think concerning the holy, life-creating, and consubstantial Trinity.
B It is also necessary to believe rightly regarding the incarnation of the Son of God and our Savior, Jesus Christ. The right faith, therefore, is that we believe and confess that our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is God and man. He is God from the substance of the Father; He is man from the substance of the Mother. For when Adam, by his sin, had subjected the race of men to death and made our nature liable to debt, the Son of the invisible Father and God, not departing from the heavens, descended to us. And entering through the hearing into the womb of the holy Virgin, He mystically accomplished the pregnancy, having put on our nature by extreme union; having come forth both God and man, He thus fulfilled the economy for us through unspeakable mercy. C And being perfect God, He became perfect man, not having been turned, nor having changed the supersubstantial and ineffable substance of His own divinity, having been substantiated from a rational soul and human flesh. He Himself, together with the co-essential all-holy Spirit, is the author of the all-holy assumption of flesh for Himself, having created a complete human substance subsisting in Him and indivisible, D from Him, free from sin.
indivisible, free from sin; with a body formed from the chaste virginal blood of the Mother of God, without any carnal will or thought; and the soul created immaterially, intelligent, rational, endowed with will and the power to act; which, having been seen entirely with the flesh from the very beginning, from its first existence, on account of its supreme union with God the Word Himself, is A unconfused according to hypostasis. He is, therefore, equal to the Father according to divinity, but lesser than the Father according to humanity. And in reality He is true God and man; yet not two, but Christ is one. And He is one, not by the flesh being converted, but by being assumed into God. One entirely, not by confusion of substance, but by unity of person. For as the rational soul and flesh is one man, so God and man is one Christ. He who suffered in the flesh for our salvation, while His divinity remained impassible; and was buried, and rose again, and was taken up into the heavens, and sat at the right hand of God and the Father. From thence B coming again He will judge the living and the dead. At whose advent all men who have fallen asleep from eternity will rise again, to render an account of their own deeds. And those who have done good will go, by His command, into eternal life: but those who have done evil will go into eternal punishment. This, therefore, is the orthodox faith, which if a man has not kept unsullied, he cannot be saved.
Two Formulae in an Ancient Gallic Idiom
Codex Colbertinus 3133, with no inscription.
Whoever wishes to be saved, before all things it is necessary that he hold the common faith. Which faith, if each does not keep it whole and uncorrupted, without doubt he shall perish eternally. This is certainly the common faith, that we worship one God in Trinity and the Trinity in unity. Neither confounding the persons, nor separating the substance. C Another is the person of the Father, another of the Son, another of the Holy Spirit. But of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit there is one divinity, equal and co-eternal majesty. Such as the Father is, such is the Son, such is the Holy Spirit. The Father is not created, the Son is not created, the Holy Spirit is not created. Great is the Father, great is the Son, great is the Holy Spirit. Eternal is the Father, eternal is the Son, eternal is the Holy Spirit. And yet there are not three eternals, but one eternal. As there are not three uncreated nor three great, but one uncreated and one great. Likewise the Father is almighty, the Son is almighty, the Holy Spirit is almighty. And yet not three almighties, D but one Almighty.
So likewise God is the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit. And yet there are not three Gods, but one God is. So is the Lord Father, Lord Son, Lord Holy Spirit. And yet there are not three Lords, but one is Lord. For just as each person by Himself is commanded by Christian truth to acknowledge as Lord and God, so we are forbidden by the common religion to say three Gods or Lords. The Father is of none, neither made nor created nor begotten. The Holy Spirit is of the Father and of the Son, neither made nor created nor begotten, but proceeding. Therefore there is one Father, not three fathers; one Son, not three sons; one Holy Spirit, not three holy spirits. And in this Trinity there is nothing first or last, nothing greater or lesser. But all three persons are co-eternal and co-equal among themselves. So that in all things, as has already been said, both the unity in the Trinity and the Trinity in the unity is to be worshipped.