Catechism 101

This lecture moves from the Nicene Creed’s Christological section into the Holy Spirit, explaining how the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed was developed at Nicaea (325) and Constantinople (381), and why the early draft barely mentioned the Spirit. It introduces the post-Nicaea heresy of Pneumatomachianism (“spirit-fighters”), which denied the Spirit’s divinity and personhood, and highlights the Cappadocian Fathers’ defense.

Abbot A...

This lecture continues the Creed’s teaching on Jesus, emphasizing that his Resurrection is not a mere resuscitation like Lazarus or Jairus’s daughter but a real, glorified bodily life animated by the Holy Spirit, shown in appearances to Mary Magdalene, the Emmaus disciples, Thomas touching Jesus’ wounds, and Jesus eating with the apostles. It then explains the Ascension as Jesus taking authority at the Father’s right hand and, draw...

Abbot Ankido Sipo continues his lecture series on the Creed by moving from the Incarnation to the Paschal Mystery—Christ’s passion, death, burial, resurrection, and the Apostles’ Creed line “He descended into hell.” He argues sin is more than breaking a rule: it fractures communion, producing fear of God, shame, blame, and alienation, as seen in Adam and Eve. Salvation reverses this through Jesus as the new Adam, whose voluntary de...

This week's lecture continues a walk through the Nicene Creed by focusing on Christology, especially the lines affirming Jesus as “true God from true God” and “consubstantial with the Father” as the Church’s response to Arianism. It explains how Scripture presents Jesus’ divinity in a Jewish way (Alpha and Omega, Son of Man from Daniel, “I am,” calming the storm) while also insisting on the full reality of his humanity and warning ...

This lecture gives background on the Nicene Creed’s origins in response to Arius’s claim that Jesus is not God, noting the Council of Nicaea (325) and completion at Constantinople (381), and explains the Creed’s Trinitarian structure and sacramental roots in baptismal profession. Abbot Ankido then focuses on what the Church means by “I believe,” contrasting modern “belief” as personal opinion with faith as a form of knowledge roote...

This week's lecture gives theological background to the Nicene Creed by explaining the Arian controversy: Arius, a priest in Alexandria, taught that the Son/Word was created (“there was a time when the Son was not”), leading Bishop Alexander to condemn him and prompting Constantine to convene the first ecumenical council at Nicaea (325 AD), where the Church defined the Son as consubstantial with the Father. Abbot Ankido explains wh...

Hosted by Abbot Ankido Sipo (from Feeding Fathers and Martyr Mentality on Qurbana Media)

In this opening episode of Catechism 101, Abbot Ankido dives into "The Creed"—the powerful "I believe" we proclaim at every Mass and in the Rosary. Why do we even have creeds in a world that loves saying "my truth" and "your truth?"

He breaks it down simply: the shorter Apostles' Creed (ancient baptismal questions turned profession of faith) vs...