Eternal procession of the Holy Spirit

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The Eternal procession of the Holy Spirit is a theological concept in trinitarianism that describes the relationship of the Holy Spirit within the Holy Trinity. The doctrine of the eternal procession of the Holy Spirit is related to the doctrine of the eternal generation of the Son; however, in Christian theology procession (or spiration) is viewed as being mysteriously different from generation in order to distinguish the Holy Spirit from the Son.^[1][2][3][4]

In Western Christianity, the Holy Spirit is viewed to proceed from the Father and the Son. This is in contrast to the Eastern churches, which argue that the Holy Spirit proceeds only from the Father. This issue has led to the filioque controversy and was a large question in the East-West schism.^[5] However, despite being affirmed within the Nicene creed, the doctrine of the eternal procession of the Holy Spirit (alongside the eternal generation of the Son) is today denied by some social trinitarians, such as William Lane Craig.^[6][7]