SainteTrinité

Sainte-Trinité, literally Holy Trinity in French, refers to a central doctrine of Christian theology that describes God as one being in three coequal, consubstantial persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The doctrine holds that the three persons are fully God and share one divine essence, yet are distinct in personhood. It is foundational to most mainstream Christian confessions, including Roman Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, Anglicanism, and many Protestant denominations.

Historically, the term and its doctrine were argued among early Christians and were more fully articulated in the ecumenical councils of Nicaea (325) and Constantinople (381). These creeds affirm the unity of the Godhead and the distinct roles of each divine person. The Western church later added the Filioque clause to the Nicene Creed, a point of historical contention with the Eastern churches. The doctrine remains a central point of faith for trinitarian Christians, while nontrinitarian groups reject it.

The concept has philosophical and theological implications, including discussions of person, essence, and relation. The vocabulary includes hypostasis (the person) and ousia (the essence). The Trinity is often understood as a mystery of faith rather than a concept easily reduced to human categories, and it informs liturgy, baptism, and other sacraments.

In French-speaking contexts, Sainte-Trinité is used as a dedication for churches and geographic names. It appears in church names such as Église de la Sainte-Trinité and in toponyms across France and former territories.