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Encyclopedia of Religion entry forAthanasian CreedOne of the creeds or confessions of the Christian Church. It is also called " Quicunque vult " from its first words. It is printed in the Roman Catholic breviary and in the Book of Common Prayer of the Church of England. The latter speaks of it as " commonly called the creed of St. Athanasius." It is now widely recognised that it can be so called not as having been written by Athanasius, but at most merely as embodying his teaching. The style is Latin rather than Greek. The creed is not mentioned by Cyril of Alexandria, Pope Leo, the Council of Ephesus, or the Council of Chalcedon; and it is wanting in nearly all the MSS. of Athanasius‘ works. It has been suggested that it may have been composed by Bishop Vigilius of Thapsus (end of fifth century, AD.), since for literary purposes he sometimes assumed the name of Athanasius. Other authors who have been suggested are : Victricius, Bishop of Rouen (c. A.D. 400) ; Hilary, Abbot of Lerins, afterwards Bishop of Arles (ob. A.D. 449) ; St. Vincent, a Gallican monk (earlier than A.D. 450) ; Venantius Fortunatus, Bishop of Poitiers (sixth century). A number of modern scholars have contended however that the creed was not the work of a single author and did not assume its present form until the ninth century. The creed has given rise to much controversy, many members of the Church of England objecting to its use on account of the damnatory clauses, or because it is not adapted to liturgical use. It is used in the French Protestant Church, but only as a hymn in the Church of Ireland. In the Protestant Episcopal Church of the United States it is not recognised in the Articles or Prayer Book. See Prot. Diet.; Oath. Dict. citations: Encyc. of Rel., Canney
article created 2006-04-12 , last updated 2006-04-12 |
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