Filioque clause facts for kids

The Filioque clause is a short but important phrase in the Nicene Creed, which is a statement of beliefs for many Christians. The word Filioque comes from Latin and means "and from the Son." This phrase talks about where the Holy Spirit comes from.

The main groups who disagree about this phrase are the Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church. The Catholic Church, along with most Protestant churches and the Anglican Church, accepts this phrase. However, the Eastern Orthodox Church does not.

What is the Filioque Clause?

The Nicene Creed is a very old and important statement of Christian faith. It was written a long time ago to help Christians agree on their core beliefs. The part of the Creed that includes the Filioque clause talks about the Holy Spirit.

The original Nicene Creed, agreed upon in the year 381 AD, said that the Holy Spirit "proceeds from the Father." This means the Holy Spirit comes from the Father. Later, in the Western part of the Christian world, the phrase "and from the Son" (Filioque) was added.

Here is the part of the Creed in Latin with the added phrase highlighted:

(Credo)… Et in Spiritum Sanctum, Dominum et vivificantem,
qui ex Patre Filioque procedit …

This is usually translated into English as:

(I believe) .. and in the Holy Ghost
which comes from the Father and from the Son...

Many Eastern Catholic Churches use the same version of the Creed as the Eastern Orthodox Churches. However, they still believe in the idea that the added words express.

Why is it a Disagreement?

The disagreement over the Filioque clause is very old and deep. It was one of the major reasons for the Great Schism in 1054 AD, which was a big split between the Western (Catholic) and Eastern (Orthodox) branches of Christianity.

Different Views

The Eastern Orthodox Church believes that the Holy Spirit comes only from the Father. They see the Father as the single source of the Holy Spirit. They also believe that adding "and from the Son" changed the original Creed without everyone agreeing. They feel this change was made without the approval of all Christian leaders.

The Catholic Church believes that the Holy Spirit comes from both the Father and the Son. They see the Father and the Son working together as one source for the Holy Spirit. They also believe that the addition helps explain the relationship between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit more fully.

This difference in belief might seem small, but it has been a major point of discussion and separation between these Christian groups for centuries. Both sides believe their understanding is correct and true to the Christian faith.

Images for kids

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  This artwork shows the Holy Spirit coming from both the Father and the Son. It's from the Boulbon Altarpiece, made around 1450.

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  A miniature painting showing the First Council of Constantinople in 381 AD. This is where the original Nicene Creed was finalized.

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  Saint Maximus the Confessor was an important theologian who lived in the 7th century. He wrote about the Holy Spirit.

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  A portrait of John VIII Palaiologos, a Byzantine Emperor who tried to reunite the Eastern and Western Churches in the 15th century.

See also

In Spanish: Cláusula Filioque para niños