Il Simbolo di Nicea e il Simbolo degli Armeni

This paper examines the history, transmission, and adaptation of the Nicene Creed (Symbolum Nicaenum) within the Armenian Apostolic Church. Although the Armenian liturgy still refers to its creed as “Nicene,” the text actually corresponds to a later version known as the Armeniacum, whose wording differs substantially from the original Nicene formula. Through a detailed historical and philological study, Alpi traces how the Nicene Creed was received, translated, and gradually transformed in Armenia between the 4th and 7th centuries. The study discusses the earliest Armenian attestations of the Creed in Sahak I’s 5th-century correspondence, the doctrinal and linguistic developments leading to the Armeniacum, and the influence of Syriac and Greek theological traditions. It also reviews major scholarly contributions—from Joseph Catergian to Gabriele Winkler and Wolfram Kinzig—highlighting ongoing debates on translation, terminology (such as the rendering of ousia and homoousios), and the interplay between theology and linguistic innovation. The article concludes that the Armenian “Nicene” Creed represents a distinct synthesis of Greek, Syriac, and local elements, reflecting Armenia’s unique position between the Byzantine and Persian worlds.