the profession of Faith or Creed, against the error of Arius, was introduced the new word consubstantial : thus “conveying,” as Vincent of Lerins observed,“ by a more expressive term, the unchanged point of Faith.” And to signify that nothing new, beside the word itself, was intended, the Creed is thus prefaced, as St. Athanasius, who was present, notices:
Behold, what is the Faith of the Church.” Conc. Gen. T. ii. p. 27.—The same Athanasius adds, “In the question concerning the time of celebrating Easter, because the matter regarded practice, the Fathers (at Nice) in deciding, said: It has seemed good to us. But, in speaking of Faith, they said : So the Catholic Church believes : to which was immediately added the confession of Faith. This they did, to shew, that their doctrine was not new, but Apostolic; and that the confession which they committed to writing, contained nothing invented by themselves, but the very doctrines which the Apostles had taught.” Ep. de Syn. Arim. et Seleuciæ. T. 1, parte ii. p. 719.
COUNCIL OF CONSTANTINOPLE, G. C.-In 381, the se. cond general Council, convened by the Emperor Theodosius, met at Constantinople, to confirm the decisions of Nice; to condemn the error of the Macedonians, who denied the Di. vinity of the Holy Spirit; and to enact some regulations. To meet new difficulties that had been raised, the Creed of Constantinople, in some points, is a little more ample than that of Nice; while the 150 Prelates, who formed the Council, in giving an account to the Western Bishops of what had been transacted, observe: “We maintained the Faith of Nice; which Faith, as most ancient and consentaneous to our baptismal profession, must be approved by us, and by you, and by all who pervert not the word of true belief." Conc. Gen. T. ii. p. 964.
