41. Book Review: "The Symbol of Our Faith (Historical and Dogmatic Development)" by Petros Georgantzis

The Symbol of Our Faith 

(Historical and Dogmatic Development)

By Petros Georgantzis

Published by the Metropolis of Xanthi and Peritheorion, 2012, pp. 442. 

Book Reviewed (from the Greek text) by:
Metropolitan Hierotheos of Nafpaktos and Agiou Vlasiou
(Published in "Ekklesiastiki Paremvasi", Issue 347, June 2025)

Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos

The year we are going through has been characterized as the anniversary year of 1700 years since the convening of the First Ecumenical Synod, which drafted the first seven articles of the Symbol of Faith (Creed), which was supplemented by the Second Ecumenical Synod, that was held in Constantinople in 381 AD.

1. The Book of Petros Georgantzis

On the occasion of this anniversary, much has been written about the work accomplished by the First Ecumenical Synod and the great importance of formulating the first articles of the Symbol of Faith. I have read many of the articles, texts and related books, but I can note that the best book that develops how the Church came to the formation of the first articles of the Symbol of Faith, and how the Church completed it with the Second Ecumenical Synod, is the book by the memorable Petros A. Georgantzis, titled “The Symbol of Our Faith” and subtitled “Historical and Dogmatic Development,” which is a “contribution to the historical develoment” of the Symbol of Faith of Nicea-Constantinople and “the teachings of the Holy Fathers Athanasius the Great, Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian and Gregory of Nyssa,” and was published in Xanthi in 2012.

The importance of this book, which extends to 442 pages (large size), is that it examines the history of the formation of the Symbol of Faith, in combination with the heresies of Arius and his like-minded people and the subsequent heretics, but also the teaching of the Great Fathers of the 4th century that I mentioned earlier. First of all, it should be noted that the late Petros Georgantzis came from Xanthi and was a distinguished son of this local Sacred Metropolis. He graduated from the Theological School of Thessaloniki, from which he was also awarded an honorary doctorate. He worked in Secondary Education as a Middle School and High School Principal, eventually becoming a School Counselor of Secondary Education.

He excelled most in his writing, having written over 30 books with a research and original interest, using all the relevant bibliography with a critical attitude, and for this he was awarded three times by the Academy of Athens (1975, 2003 and 2010). His books "The Bishops and Twenty-One," "The Excommunication of Alexander Ypsilantis," "Pomaks, Origin and Identity", etc. show the charismatic and original author who utilizes his sources and aids and concludes with important arguments.

2. The Thematic Structure of the Book

His book “The Symbol of Our Faith” is very important and in many ways original.

In the Prologue he informs the reader about the occasion and the reasons that led him to deal with this topic. Then he cites his bibliography from the Great Fathers of the Church of the 4th century, philosophers, sociologists, ancient Church historians and other Fathers throughout the centuries, but also a modern bibliography from scientific researchers.

In the Introduction he defines the great importance of the Symbol of Faith and makes pertinent observations for the understanding of the subject that “God does not give language, but truth and people insert their language to better understand this truth from above,” and that “dogma and history are interrelated, interdependent and interwoven.”

Furthermore, he clarifies that in addition to the texts of the Fathers that have been treasured in Migne’s edition, he also uses the Acts of the Synods published by Mansi. He concludes that it is worth studying this entire process for the composition of the Symbol of Faith, because, according to Amphilochios of Iconium “we must baptize as we were taught, believe as we were baptized, and glorify as we believed.”

The whole subject is structured into ten chapters, followed by the Addendum and the Epilogue. It is not possible to analyze the entire book, because my analysis functions as an introductory presentation, so I will limit myself to listing and recording the titles of the chapters and the units by chapters. This is a methodical work with competent documentation.

The first chapter is titled "Symbols in General and in Christianity" and examines the meaning of "Symbol", symbols in general in Religion and in Christianity, and the main elements of the Christian faith as its Symbol.

The second chapter is titled "The Symbols of Faith in Early Christianity," as observed in the apostolic period, in post-apostolic times with the rise of Gnosticism, during the period of the Apostolic Fathers, and the Symbols used during the 2nd and 3rd centuries.

The third chapter develops the topic “Genesis of the Trinitarian Dogma and the Official Symbols of Faith,” in which he develops the topic of the precursor of Arius, the things related to Arius and his teaching and the first Synodal Symbols, such as that of Antioch.

The fourth chapter refers to the “First Ecumenical Synod and its Symbol of Faith,” which was held in Nicaea in Bithynia in 325 AD. He develops what happened during the Synod (May 20 - June 19, 325), what texts the First Ecumenical Synod had before it in order to draw up its own Symbol and what is new in the Nicene Creed, as well as who is its author. He concludes that, in his opinion, there is a collaboration of three persons, namely: Hermogenes who was the scribe-secretary of the Synod, the hand of Athanasius the Great who is the soul of the Symbol, and Hosios of Corduba who is the voice of the Symbol.

The fifth chapter is titled "After the First Ecumenical Synod" and analyzes the climate that existed after the First Ecumenical Synod, the trisection of the Arians, Archbishop Athanasius of Alexandria and his teachings on the divinity of Christ, the divinity of the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Trinity.

The sixth chapter, titled “Successive Synods and the 'Labyrinth' of Symbols,” is important, in which it is analyzed that from the First Ecumenical Synod to the Second Ecumenical Synod, over a period of 56 years, many Synods were held, approximately 27, and most of them drew up Symbols of Faith, differentiated from the Symbol of Faith of the First Ecumenical Synod, in order to confront the various heresies that arose.

In the seventh chapter, titled “New Heresies on the Rise,” reference is made to the heresy of Eunomius (neo-Arianism), to the heresy of Apollinarius on the person of Christ and to the heresy of Marcellus of Ancyra.

The eighth chapter is titled “Cappadocian Theological Thought in the Service of the Symbol of Faith” and presents with theological clarity the great contribution of the Cappadocian Fathers to the consolidation of the Symbol of Faith of Nicea, but also to the response to the new heresies that emerged. In the turbulent period of 56 years, the presence of the Cappadocian Fathers was significant. Thus, this chapter presents, using patristic passages, the theological contribution to the final terminology of Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, and Gregory of Nyssa. During this period, a distinction was made between essence and hypostases, the theological terminology of the mode of existence of each person of the Holy Trinity and the relationship between them was developed, and the teaching of the Holy Spirit was further developed.

The ninth chapter, titled "The Second Ecumenical Synod and the Symbol of Its Faith," which took place in Constantinople from May to July 9, 381 AD, presents the events before and after the Synod, the final text of the Symbol of Faith with the changes, additions and deletions that are clearly visible in the relevant tables. Also, the question is answered as to who was the author of the Symbol of the Second Ecumenical Synod, the Symbol of Faith of the Second Ecumenical Synods and the Symbols of Faith of Epiphanios of Cyprus, in relation to the corresponding Symbols of Faith of Nicaea and Constantinople.

The last, tenth chapter, is titled “Biographical and Informative Elements of the Theology of the Four Fathers,” namely Athanasius the Great, Basil the Great, Saint Gregory the Theologian and Saint Gregory of Nyssa. In this chapter we are given a concise picture of the life and theology of the above-mentioned Great Fathers of the Church and we are given the opportunity to admire both their theology and their expressions, according to the gifts of each one.

As an Addendum of the book, the so-called “Creed of Saint Athanasius”, or Athanasian Creed, which circulated in the West in various forms, which was not compiled by Athanasius the Great, and the Exposition of Faith of Saint Ambrose, Bishop of Milan, are presented.

"Instead of an Epilogue" the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed is presented, both in the original and in a modern Greek rendering.

At the end, an index of main names and the contents are presented.

It is, indeed, a complete scientific book on the Symbol of Faith.

3. The Value of the Book and the Symbol of Faith

I think this brief presentation has shown not only the great importance of the Symbol of Faith, which we read in the Holy Temples and recite in all the sacred services of our Church, but also the methodical work of its analysis by the theologian Petros Georgantzis, for which his memory will be eternal for all his contribution to the Church and theology.

Reading such books, we understand with what awe and sacred respect we should read and recite the Symbol of Faith and deal with dogmatic issues.