(Christianity) a formal creed summarizing Christian beliefs; first adopted in 325 and later expanded

A doctrinal confession of the basic tenets of the Christian faith formulated by a council of bishops in response to doctrinal controversies in the 4th century.

The product of the Council of Nicea in 325. The present version includes additions made at the Council of Constantinople in 381 and in the fifth century. The original creed condemned Arianism by stating that the Son was of the same nature (homoousios) as the Father. It also stated that the Son was eternal and implied the eternal existence of Father and Son as distinct persons in the Godhead. The Council of Constantinople added phrases establishing that the Holy Ghost also was an eternally distinct person in the Godhead. Thus, the Nicene Creed is important for three reasons: it rejected Arianism, it was the first official pronouncement to express a trinitarian view of God, and it was the first official pronouncement to reject (albeit by implication) modalism.

The statement of faith adopted by the Christians in the first two Ecumenical Councils held in 325 A.D. and 381 A.D. Nicene refers to the city of Nicaea where the first Council was held.