15 February 2004

The filioque clause

One of the divisive issues separating the eastern and western churches is the clause in the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed indicating that the Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son (in Latin: filioque). This clause was not part of the Creed as originally formulated but was added by the Synod of Toledo in AD 447. It has never been accepted by the Orthodox Church. In seeming deference to the Orthodox, the Anglican Church of Canada's Book of Alternative Services has deleted this clause from the Creed. Whether this deletion was preceded by a thorough theological debate is unclear to me. Have Anglicans in general decided that the Orthodox are correct on this issue? Or have they simply decided to defer to Orthodox sensibilities without re-examining the relevant confessional issues? If the latter is the case, then, knowing the Orthodox as I do, I doubt they will be much impressed by this seeming concession in their favour.

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