The Orthodox Church in the Byzantine Empire (Oxford History of the Christian Church)

✍ Scribed by J. M. Hussey, Andrew Louth

• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Year: 1990
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 440
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

This book describes the role of the medieval Orthodox Church in the Byzantine Empire (c.600-c.1453). As an integral part of its policy it was (as in western Christianity) closely linked with many aspects of everyday life both official and otherwise. It was a formative period for Orthodoxy. It had to face doctrinal problems and heresies; at the same time it experienced the continuity and deepening of its liturgical life. While holding fast to the traditions of the fathers and the councils, it saw certain developments in doctrine and liturgy as also in administration.

Part I discusses the landmarks in ecclesiastical affairs within the Empire as well as the creative influence exercised on the Slavs and the increasing contacts with westerners particularly after 1204. Part II gives a brief account of the structure of the medieval Orthodox Church, its officials and organization, and the spirituality of laity, monks, and clergy.

✦ Table of Contents

Contents
Abbreviations
List of Rulers, Popes, and Patriarchs
List of Maps
Introduction
PART I: CHALLENGE AND RESPONSE WITHIN THE HISTORICAL FRAMEWORK
I. The Christological Problem in the Early Middle Ages
1. The seventh-century watershed in the Byzantine Empire
2. The theological background to seventh-century monotheletism
3. Monenergism and monotheletism against a background of imperial crisis
4. The Quinisext council (691–692)
II. The Iconoclast Controversy 726–843
1. The North Syrian rulers: the first phase 726–787
2. The first restoration of the icons
3. The second phase of iconoclasm
4. The restoration of orthodoxy in 843: the Synodicon
5. The significance of the controversy over icons
III. The Age of Photius 843–886
1. Patriarch Methodius (843–847): the first patriarchate of Ignatius (847–858)
2. Photius's first patriarchate (858–867)
3. Ignatius's second patriarchate (867–877); the council of Constantinople (869–870)
4. Photius's second patriarchate (877–886): the council of 879–880: the alleged second Photian schism
5. Photius—churchman and humanist
6. Byzantine missionary activities in the early middle ages
IV. Leo VI's Dilemma: Nicholas Mysticus and Euthymius 886–925
1. Leo VI: the Emperor's fourth marriage
2. Nicholas I's second patriarchate (912–925): the interdependence of church and state
V. The Patriarchate (925–1025): The Predominance of Constantinople
1. Co-operation and criticism 925–970
2. The imperial advance in the East: the Muslims and the non-Chalcedonian Churches
3. Caucasian and North Pontic regions: Russia
4. Byzantium and South Italy
VI. Increasing Pressures on Constantinople and the Widening Gap 1025–1204
1. Impending threats
2. Patriarchs (1025–1081)
3. 1081: a new era or continuity?
4. Philosophers and theologians: individual heretics: ecclesiastical currents
5. The dualist heresies
6. Relations with the West
VII. The Effects of the Fourth Crusade 1204–1261
1. The patriarchate of Constantinople 1204–1261: the Latins in occupation
2. Ecclesiastical organization within the various Latin conquests
3. Thirteenth-century rival Byzantine churches: Nicaea and Epirus
4. The Nicaean Empire and Rome
VIII. Contacts: Failure and Achievement 1258–1453
1. Michael VIII Palaeologus and the papacy: Byzantine doubts concerning union 1258–1274
2. Michael VIII and the council of Lyons (1274)
3. Byzantine reaction to the union 1274–1282
4. Andronicus II and Andronicus III: internal problems: Josephites and Arsenites: repudiation of the union
5. Patriarch Athanasius I and his immediate successors
6. Renewed contacts with the West under Andronicus II and Andronicus III
7. Palamite problems
8. John V Palaeologus and John VI Cantacuzenus: Constantinople and the West
9. Manuel II: the council of Ferrara–Florence and after
10. The authority of the Byzantine Church in the later middle ages (c. 1334–1453)
PART II: ORGANIZATION AND LIFE OF THE ORTHODOX CHURCH IN BYZANTIUM
1. Collegiality: the emergence of the pentarchy; the position of Constantinople
2. The patriarchate of Constantinople and the Emperor
3. Canon law: the nomocanons
4. The Notitiae Episcopatuum: the higher clergy and imperial ceremonial
5. The oecumenical Patriarch and his election
6. Patriarchal administration: the major officials of the Great Church
7. The patriarchal synod: the metropolitans
8. Secular clergy in the provinces (eparchies) and in the dioceses
9. Monks and monasteries
10. The spiritual life of the Orthodox in Byzantium
Bibliographical Note
Glossary
A
C
D
E
G
H
K
L
N
P
S
T
V
Index
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z
Maps