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The
Athanasian Creed
The precise date, author,
and place of origin of the Athanasian Creed have
not been indisputably determined, but it appears to have originated in
the West, perhaps in Gaul or North Africa, and possibly as early as the
fifth century or the beginning of the sixth century. The creed serves
as a commentary on the first four Ecumenical Councils. It also seeks to
state the doctrine of the Trinity in Augustianian paradoxes. The
Athanasian Creed was popular among the monks of the Middle Ages who
considered it well adopted to meditation and memorizing. In the days of
Charlemagne it came to be used as a canticle (hymn) of worship service
called Prime. The Athanasian Creed details in full the divinity of
Christ to combat those that thought of Him only as a total man. The
Catholic Latin clergy in order to state their position as against the
Arians supposedly framed a creed (originally a hymn) which was commonly
given the name Athanasian, because the Arians called the Catholics
"athanasians". It seems to have been used first at Toledo in Spain in
589 or 653. While at St. Peter's Cathedral in Rome the Popes did not
use it in full until the 11th century. The creed had gradually spread
through the West and in 809 under Charlemagne a Synod at Aachen had
given its approval. In keeping with ancient Church usage, probably
since the 5th century, the Athanasian Creed is used in worship services
on Trinity Sunday.
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