IN HOC SIGNO VINCES |
"Credo" of the Order of Centurions All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness |
TIME DEUM ET OPERARE IUSTITIAM |
I believe in God, the Father omnipotent.
And in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord;
who was born of the Holy Spirit and Virgin Mary;
under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, and buried;
the third day he rose from the dead; ascended into heaven,
and sits on the right hand of the Father;
he shall come to judge the living and the dead.
And in the Holy Spirit;
the Holy Church;
the forgiveness of sins;
and the resurrection of the body.
This form was used in Rome. It is found in the baptismal liturgy of the Apostles Doctrine written in about 215 by Hyppolitus to preserve ancient customs. It was likely what a Centurion seeking inclusion in the Christian community would have believed before baptism. All elements of this form can be proved by Holy Scripture. It was "not given at length in the early manuscripts, since it was not to be written on paper, but to be engraved on the memory, and to serve the baptized Christian as a viaticum [knapsack of supplies] for his journey through life, and by which he might test the doctrine of any other teacher." These beliefs, and a knowledge and faith in the Scriptures, continue to aid Centurions in their journey today. See Rufinus' Commentary on the Apostles Creed
In 325 the Church published an expanded creed to fight against heresies. The First Ecumenical Council met at Nicaea, called by Emperor Constantine. Three 318 bishops from around the world met. It was modified in 381 by 150 bishops at the Second Ecumenical Council of Constantinople and confirmed by following ecumenical councils. This Nicene-Constantinople creed is still used throughout orthodox-catholic Christianity today and is known as the
Nicene Creed See ANCIENT FORMS where the reader will find a quite detailed discussion of these early beliefs, and CREEDS of CHRISTENDOM where modern beliefs from every major denomination are found. For the purpose of the Order of Centurions - any commonly accepted affirmation of faith used in the Church today, or any found at the web site below, or any individual affirmation of the basic items in the original Forma Romana Vitus, is sufficient.
ANCIENT FORMS * CREEDS of CHRISTENDOM
Forma Romana Vetus
Credo in Deum Patrem omnipotentem.
Et in Jesum Christum, Filium ejus unicum, Dominum nostrum;
qui natus est de Spiritu Sancto et Maria virgine;
sub Pontio Pilato crucifixus, et sepultus;
tertia die resurrexit a mortuis; ascendit in cælum,
sedet ad dexteram Patris; inde venturus judicare vivos et mortuos.
Et in Spiritum Sanctum;
Sanctam, Ecclesiam;
remissionem peccatorum;
carnis resurrectionem.
Constantine's "Confession" of Faith This God I confess that I hold in unceasing honor and remembrance; this God I delight to contemplate with pure and guileless thoughts in the height of his glory.
His pleasure is in works of moderation and gentleness. He loves the meek and hates the turbulent spirit, delighting in faith. He chastises unbelief.
He is the supreme judge of all things, the prince of immortality, the giver of everlasting life.
A composite from various sources
