The Creed was formulated on the basis of existing confessional statements, with a careful consideration of the Holy Scriptures and the core and defining doctrines that had been taught and passed down from the Apostles.

The motivation for developing this precise and succinct universal Christian confession of the Faith was the uproar that the archpriest Arius of Alexandria created by teaching novel doctrines.

The bishops from all over the Christian world met in 325 AD in the city of Nicea to answer these heretical new teachings. This is how the Nicene Creed first took form. Then 58 years later in the city of Constantinople, another universal council of Christian bishops assembled to respond to other heresies which had emerged and become popular since the Council of Nicea. As a result of the clarifications and definitions put into place by the bishops at this council—clarifications intended to properly express and maintain the same Faith received by the Apostles themselves—a few additions were made to the Nicene Creed. That is why it is most properly, albeit not most often, called the "Niceo-Constantinopolitan Creed."

The Creed is divided into 12 parts and is recited by Orthodox Christians during the Divine Liturgy and other services and throughout each week, as well as in private devotional prayers.

1. I believe in one God, Father, Almighty, Maker of Heaven and Earth, and of all things visible and invisible;
2. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Only-begotten, Begotten of the Father before all worlds, Light of Light, Very God of Very God, Begotten, not made; of one essence with the Father, by Whom all things were made:
3. Who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven, and was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and was made Man;
4. And was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered and was buried;
5. And the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures;
6. And ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of the Father;
7. And He shall come again with glory to judge the quick and the dead, Whose Kingdom shall have no end.
8. And I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Giver of Life, Who proceedeth from the Father; Who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified, Who spake by the prophets;
9. And I believe in one Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church.
10. I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins.
11. I look for the Resurrection of the dead;
12. And the Life of the world to come. Amen.