Credo

The credo (Latin credo, " I believe " ) is one of the main components of Christian worship and provides a common creed of the congregation dar.

Various texts

As a text of the creed usually known as the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed is used in the Roman Catholic and Eastern church liturgy. It is known in all Christian churches and recognized. However, the Nizänum is spoken in the Western churches usually with the addition of the Filioque in the Orthodox churches, however, in its original form without the Filioque. The Roman Missal does to this day always recite the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed. In the German-speaking dioceses of the Catholic Church, the shorter so -called Apostles 'Creed ( Apostles' Creed ) is since the liturgical reform in the celebration often spoken or even just sang a song called Credo. In the Protestant churches, the Apostles' Creed is since the Reformation, the usual commitment; the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed is spoken mostly in special ceremonial occasions or in ecumenical services.

Theology function

Theologically, the creed is an affirmation of the true faith to the delimitation of heresies. In modern church there is also commitment forms that do not allow this original function recognize. The creed was in the early church in connection with the Katechumenatsriten as preparation for Baptism presents (traditio symboli ). Therefore, the Credo in most Christian churches is still in connection with the preaching and baptism today.

The Creed was recited in many eras of church history at the deathbed of a Christian to confirm or strengthen his faith in the face of death.

The creed in worship

• In the Catholic liturgy is sung or said the Creed as part of the Ordinary of the Mass on Sundays and solemnities as well: in the administration of certain sacraments, especially baptism and ordination actions.

• In Protestant churches is the place of the Creed with " preaching and confession ', provides part of the worship. This means that the Creed is spoken either before or after the sermon when in church there is no baptism. In general, the creed of the church is spoken while standing, which - unlike a prayer - not lowered the head, but the view of the altar cross is directed. Credo songs are well known here. Im currently valid Hymns EKD churches Martin Luther found We all believe in one God, - whose roots go back to 1417, and Rudolf Alexander Schröder We believe God in the Highest Throne, from the time of the Confessing Church.

• In the Eastern Churches the Creed is recited regularly at the Eucharist, either immediately before the Prayer or before the kiss of peace, which precedes the Eucharistic Prayer in the east.

Music

The creed is a central part of the large measuring musical settings ( Mass. ) in classical music, such as the B-minor Mass by Johann Sebastian Bach, the c- minor Mass by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart or the Missa Solemnis by Ludwig van Beethoven. In Bach's B Minor Mass, the text of the Creed takes a total of nine pieces a seven choral pieces, a duet ( soprano and alto ) and Aria ( Bass): Credo in unum Deum (2 x), Et in unum Dominum, et incarnatus est, Crucifixus, Et resurrexit, Et in spiritum sanctum, Confiteor, Et expecto.

Fine Arts

The different Christian creeds had an outstanding importance for various forms of fine art. Especially in the painting and sculpture of the High and Late Middle Ages was placed on the representation of the individual credo item value. In the early modern period, the focus of representations va shifted in printmaking, where in southern Germany in the 18th century a special stimulus can be detected.

• Antonio Tempesta created in 1591 " The apostles and the articles of faith known parable " (Vienna, Albertina ). The etchings show the apostles creed articles are cited.
• The " Creed apostolorum " Brothers Klauber ( Göttweig ), built around 1755, shows the Articles of Faith in the form of complex compositions that are enriched strongly allegorical.
• Gottfried Götz (1708-1774) painted for the Admont 1746 a series of church teachers as preachers of the faith. The St. Thomas Aquinas embodies this triumph of faith and the Eucharist, that is, the creed is mitgesehen in the saints, and in his role as a preacher.