Title: The Foundations of Medieval Christianity
1The Foundations of Medieval Christianity
2Imperial Structure Tetrarchy
- Augustus of the East Diocletian (285-305)
- Ceasar of the East Galerius (293-311)
- Augustus of the West
- Maximian (292-305)
- Ceasar of the West Constantinus (293-306)
3 Divisions of the Roman Empire under
Diocletian
- Diocletian divided the empire into 4
prefectures and 17 dioceses.
4Diocletian Persecution
- Persecutes Christians for the sake of state
unity. - The persecution continued in the East until 311.
- Four Stages
- All military personnel must sacrifice to the gods
(300) - All churches to be destroyed and Scriptures
burned (303) - All clergy arrested (303)
- All citizens to offer sacrifices (304)
5Constantine (306-337)
- Born in Dacia (274), mother was Christian but
father pagan. - Served under Galerius in 303.
- Father (Constantinus) died in Britain in 306 and
the army elected Constantine as his replacement. - Galerius died in 311 and the struggle for
imperial power in the ensued.
6Conversion of Constantine
- Constantine crossed the Alps and moved toward
Rome in 312 for the Battle of Milvian Bridge near
Rome against Maxentius. - Vision cross above the sun with the words by
this sign you will conquer (in hoc signo vinces) - Dream Christ commanded him to draw the Chi-Ro
on the shields of his soldiers.
7Friend of Christianity
- After victory, he was convinced Christ was a real
power and decided to show the peace of Christ. - He declared Christianity a legal religion with
the Edict of Milan (313) and by 323 had united
the Empire under one Emperor. - Favored Christianity
- Built Churches
- Makes Sunday a day of worship
- Initiates Christmas as festival
- Ordered new copies of the Bible
- Gave bishops a rank equal to Senators
- Excluded churches and clergy from
- taxation
8New Capital
- During the Tetrarchy of 305, the four capitals
were Trier, Milan, Thessaloniki, and Nicomedia. - In 330, Constantine established his new capital
in the NW corner of Asia Minor and called it
Constantinople (at Byzantium). Indeed, he left
Rome in 324 never to return. - It was built on seven hills (like Rome) with a
forum, hippodrome, Senate and its people received
subsidized grain and paid no taxes. Unlike Rome,
it was a Christian capital with few traces of
paganism. - He also began the construction of a church in the
city which would become known as the Hagia
Sophia. 2/3 of the worlds wealth was said to be
in Constantinople (originally name New Rome).
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10Constantinople
11Rome and Christianity
- Edict of Milan (312) Christianity is tolerated.
- Constantine presided over the first Christian
Ecumenical Council at Nicea (325). - Successive emperors were sometimes Arian (such as
Constantines son Constantius), sometimes
Trinitarians. They often used violence to coerce
unity. - The Emperors are now all Christian, except one
(Julian the Apostate, 361-63). - Theodosius I (Trinitarian) made Christianity the
compulsory religion of state employees in 389,
outlawed paganism in 391, and declared
Christianity the only legal religion in 395.
12Rome and the Church
- The church (especially the clergy, specifically
the bishops) grew in wealth and power due to the
privileges of the state. - The influx of pagans into the church created
new problemsmoving from 10 of the population in
300 to probably 60 of the population in 400. - Even the Emperor Theodosius was forced to do
public penance for his massacre 1000s in
Thessalonica in 389.
13Romes New Problem (360-390s)
- The Barbarian tribes (the Germanic tribes),
particularly the Goths, admired the Romans. - They sought alliances (protection from the Huns),
trade and participation in Roman civilization. - The Romans needed alliances to defeat the Huns
who were invading across Hungary, Northern Italy
and into Gaul.
14Rome and the Goths
- Running from the Huns, the Goths sought a Roman
alliance in 360s. - Rome regarded them as a buffer between themselves
and the Huns, but the Romans exploited and
enslaved them. - At the battle of Adrianpole (379), the Emperor
Valens was killed and the Goths overran the
Empire.
15Battle of Adrianople
16Theodosius, Last Unified Emperor (379-391)
- After the death of Valens (378), Theodosius made
peace with the Goths. - After Theodosius death in 395, the empire was
divided between east and west. - Honorius in the West (395-423) and Arcadius
(395-408) in the East. - Honorius moved the Western capital to Ravenna in
401.
17The Emperor Honorius at his court in Ravenna
18Germanic Invasions
19The Sack of Rome (410)
- Honorius drove the Goths out of Greece twice.
- However, he could not prevent Alaric of the Goths
from moving through Italy and sacking Rome in 410
(the first time in 800 years).
20Leo the Great of Rome
- Leo was the Bishop of Rome during the time of
many Germanic incursions (440-461). - He appropriated the title of Pontifex Maximus
and claimed to be the ecumenical bishop of the
church. Claimed to be the successor of Peterthe
ruler of the catholic church. - He met with Attila the Hun and persuaded him to
forego sacking Rome (through a bribe). - With the loss of imperial power in Italy,
especially Rome, Leo and subsequent Bishops of
Rome became the most powerful leaders in the West.
21Galla Placidia (Honorius sister) guided the West
to 450 Aided by capable Roman general Aetius He
won important victories over Visigoths He and
Theodoric of Constantinople turned back Attila
the Hun at Chalons in 451
Attila the Hun The Scourge of Europe
Coin of Aetius
Galla Placidia
22The Tomb of Galla Placidia at Ravenna
23The Fall of the Roman West
- The Western empire went through a succession of
generals as emperors. They all failed to stop
the incursions. - Odovacar, a Goth, took over the remains of the
Western empire in Italy in 476 from the 12-year
old emperor, Romulus Augustulus.
24Europe Under the Germanic Tribes
25Justinian (527-565)
- Sought to re-establish the Roman Empirefor both
imperial and theological reasons. - Reconquered parts of Spain (Visigoths), Africa
(Vandals) and Italy (Ostrogoths) from the
Barbaric kingdoms. - Through diplomacy and defense (600 forts in the
Balkans), the eastern empire reached the zenith
of its greatness.
26Empire Renewed
- Justinian restored the Empire to the practical
dimensions of Theodosius I in 395 except for much
of Spain and France. As such, he was the last
Roman Emperor of the united Empire.
27Justinian, State and Church
- Justinian asserted the right of Emperor to
determine church theology and force acceptance.
He was as close an example of Caesaropapism as we
have in history. Ultimately, it was competitive
but usually more like joint spheres of influence
in which both have influence in the others
concern. The Emperor (autocrator), however,
represented Christ (pantocrator). - Justinian codified and reformed the tax and legal
codes of the Empire, called Justinian Code.
These formed the basis of future law reform in
the West (12th century). They were based on
previous Roman jurisprudence, imperial edicts,
and Institutes (a handbook for the use of law
students). - He closed the schools of Plato and Aristotle in
Athens in 529 which signaled the end of Paganism
and end of the ancient world.
28Mosaic in St. Vitale in Ravenna, which Justinian
built
29Map of Post-Justinian Empire, ca. 700
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31The Arian Controversy (321-325)
- Arius affirmed there was a time when the Logos
did not exist - Alexander the bishop of Alexandria who deposed
Arius for his views. - Athanasius the supporter and major theological
defender of Alexander. - Eusebius of Nicomedia the bishop who supported
Arius and was a councilor of Emperor Constantine.
32Divided Christianity
- Arians
- Leader Arius
- Taught that there was a time when the Son did not
exist. - Sought to preserve the monarchy of the Father who
alone is true God. - Holy Spirit is a power, energy rather than a
person.
- Trinitarians
- Leader Athanasius
- Taught that the Son was co-eternal with the
Father. - Sought to preserve the confession that Jesus is
God. - The Holy Spirit is co-eternal with the Father and
Son as a person.
33The Council of Nicea (325)
- Called and overseen by Constantine in order to
preserve unity within the church (and thus his
Empire). - About 250 of the 1800 bishops in the Empire
attended. - All but two signed the resultant creed though
some were hesitant. - Constantine himself insisted on the language of
homoousia (same substance) rather than
homoiousia (like substance).
34Council of Nicea, 325 AD
- We believe in one God, the Father Almighty, maker
of all things visible and invisible and in one
Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the
only-begotten of his Father, of the substance of
the Father, God of God, Light of Light, very God
of very God, begotten , not made, being of one
substance (homoousia) with the Father. By whom
all things were made, both which be in heaven and
in earth. Who for us men and for our salvation
came down from heaven and was incarnate and was
made man. He suffered and the third day he rose
again, and ascended into heaven. And he shall
come again to judge both the quick and the dead.
And in the Holy Ghost. And whosoever shall say
that there was a time when the Son of God was
not, or that before he was begotten he was not,
or that he was made of things that were not, or
that he is of a different substance or essence
from the Father or that he is a creature, or
subject to change or conversion--all that so say,
the Catholic and Apostolic Church anathematizes
them.
35Nicea and the Roman Bishop
- The Council organized the structure of the church
in parallel with the Empire using the same
designations and territorial outlines. - The Council recognized four chief bishops
Jerusalem, Antioch, Alexandria and Rome. - The Bishop of Rome was recognized as first among
equals.
36The Ascendancy of Arianism
- After Constantine was persuaded to accept an
ambiguous statement from Arius, Athanasius was
exiled or went into hiding five times over the
next forty years. - Constantius became the sole ruler of the Empire
in 353 and supported Arianism. Niceans were
persecuted. - Even some Western bishops bowed to the will of
Constantinus who declared my will is the canon
for you. Pope Liberius and others were exiled,
and Athanasius stood alone against the Arian
world (having gone into hiding in the deserts of
Egypt). - In response, some bishops met in council at
Constantinople in 360 and declared that the Son
is like the Father (homoousia). - During the reign of Julian the Apostate
(361-363), without imperial pressure the church
began to gravitate more toward the Nicean
position once again.
37Triumph of Nicea
- Valentian became emperor in 363 over the West and
appointed his brother Valens (363-378) emperor
over the East. - This was the time of the Cappodocian Fathers
Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, and
Gregory of Nyssa. - Though Valens supported the Arian party, the
Cappodocians persuaded the church to reaffirm the
Nicean Creed. - When Theodosius became Emperor in 379, he
reaffirmed the Nicean creed and called the
Council of Constantinople of 381. This
reaffirmed Nicea.
38Rome, Arianism and the East
- Pope Julius of Rome in 340 supported the Nicene
creed and sided with Athanasius. He called for a
council in Rome to decide the question. Eastern
bishops rejected the call. - Julius responded Do you not know that the
custom is that we should be written to first, and
that judgment is rendered here? What I write you
and what I say we received from the blessed
Apostle Peter.
39Council of Constantinople, 381
- And in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and
Giver-of-Life, who proceeds from the Father, who
with the Father and the Son together is
worshipped and glorified, who spoke by the
prophets. And in one, holy, Catholic and
Apostolic Church. We acknowledge one Baptism for
the remission of sins, and we look for the
resurrection of the dead and the life of the
world to come. Amen.
40Ecclesial Jurisdiction
- Canon 3 The Bishop of Constantinople,
however, shall have the prerogative of honor
after the Bishop of Rome because Constantinople
is New Rome. - Leo I and papal legates at the later council of
Chalcedon (451) rejected the reordering of the
Nicean canon. Pope Damascus I was not invited to
Constantinople for the council in 381. - The Eastern Church has always recognized the
Bishop of Rome as first among equals but does
not recognize the jurisdiction of the Bishop of
Rome in its own jurisdiction.
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42Nestorian Controversy (428-431)
- Nestorius, Bishop of Constantinople, refused to
call Mary by the title of theotokos (Mother of
God). - Cyril, Bishop of Alexandria, argued that since
Christ is one person united to God and humanity
Mary is the bearer of God. - Rome sided with Cyril.
- Nestorius persuaded Theodosius II to call an
ecumenical council in Ephesus. The Council
divided into two parties Cyril vs. Nestorius.
43Council of Ephesus (431)
- 1 If anyone will not confess that the Emmanuel
is very God, and that therefore the Holy Virgin
is the Mother of God, inasmuch as in the flesh
she bore the Word of God made flesh (as it is
written, "The Word was made flesh") let him be
anathema. - 2 If anyone shall not confess that the Word of
God the Father is united hypostatically to flesh,
and that with that flesh of his own, he is one
only Christ both God and man at the same time
let him be anathema. - 11 Whosoever shall not confess that the flesh of
the Lord gives life and that it pertains to the
Word of God the Father as his very own, but shall
pretend that it belongs to another person who is
united to him i.e., the Word only according to
honor, and who has served as a dwelling for the
divinity and shall not rather confess, as we
say, that that flesh gives life because it is
that of the Word who gives life to all let him
be anathema.
44Harmony Restored
- Problem Cyril had affirmed one nature of God
the Word Incarnate. To John of Antioch this
seemed to confuse the divine and human natures. - In 432 representatives from Antioch met with
Cyril in Alexandria. They emerged with a
formula of union (433).
45Formula of Union (433)
- We confess, then, our lord Jesus Christ, the
only begotten Son of God perfect God and perfect
man of a rational soul and a body, begotten
before all ages from the Father in his godhead,
the same in the last days, for us and for our
salvation, born of Mary the virgin, according to
his humanity, one and the same consubstantial
with the Father in godhead and consubstantial
with us in humanity, for a union of two natures
took place. Therefore we confess one Christ, one
Son, one Lord. According to this understanding of
the unconfused union, we confess the holy virgin
to be the mother of God because God the Word took
flesh and became man and from his very conception
united to himself the temple he took from her. As
to the evangelical and apostolic expressions
about the Lord, we know that theologians treat
some in common as of one person and distinguish
others as of two natures, and interpret the
god-befitting ones in connection with the godhead
of Christ and the lowly ones with his humanity.
46Monophysite Controversy (433-451)
- Cyrils acceptance of the Formula of Union
upset some in Alexandria who preferred the one
nature (mia physis) formula. - Upon Cyrils death, this party emerged in
rebellion against the Formula of Union led by
Bishop Dioscurus. - Flavian, Bishop of Constantinople, condemned
Eutyches (a monophysite) and was supported by
Pope Leo I of Rome who wrote a letter (Tome)
against monophysitism. - Theodosius called a council in Ephesus (robber
synod) in 449 which involved violent action by
monks against Flavian (who was beaten, deposed
and exiled). - Emperor Marcian called another council in 451 at
the request of Leo I in Chalcedon near
Constantinople. The Council decided against
monophysitism.
47Council of Chalcedon (451)
- Following the holy Fathers we teach with one
voice that the Son and our Lord Jesus Christ is
to be confessed as one and the same, that he is
perfect in Godhead and perfect in manhood, very
God and very man, of a reasonable soul and body
consisting, consubstantial with the Father as
touching his Godhead, and consubstantial with us
as touching his manhood made in all things like
unto us, sin only excepted begotten of his
Father before the worlds according to his
Godhead but in these last days for us men and
for our salvation born of the Virgin Mary, the
Mother of God according to his manhood. This one
and the same Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son
must be confessed to be in two natures,
unconfusedly, immutably, indivisibly, inseparably
united, and that without the distinction of
natures being taken away by such union, but
rather the peculiar property of each nature being
preserved and being united in one Person and
subsistence, not separated or divided into two
persons, but one and the same Son and
only-begotten, God the Word, our Lord Jesus
Christ, as the Prophets of old time have spoken
concerning him, and as the Lord Jesus Christ hath
taught us, and as the Creed of the Fathers hath
delivered to us.
48Leos Authority
- Leo I (the Great) had written a letter to the
council of Ephesus (449) declaring his
Christological views. - According to tradition, after Leos letter had
been read to Chalcedon, the 630 bishops and 4
papal legates present exclaimed unanimously,
"What Leo believes we all believe, anathema to
him who believes anything else. Peter has spoken
through the mouth of Leo." - His Tome (letter) was included as part of the
official documents of Chalcedon.
49Constantinople and Chalcedon
- The Council (451) recognized Constantinople as a
patriarchate (along with Rome, Alexandria,
Antioch and Jerusalem). - Its jurisdiction include Asia Minor, Pontus,
Thrace and all northern unconverted regions
(ultimately to include Russia). - It was also recognized as first among equals in
the east and given appellate authority from the
other sees.
50Division
- Chalcedon did not settle the problem.
Monophysite and Chalcedonian bishops were elected
in various sees (sometimes two in one see). - When the Chalcedonian bishop of Alexandria
appealed to Pope Felix III in 484 to secure the
support against Acacius, Bishop of
Constantinople, Acacius refused to recognize
Felix III. Pope Felix III then deposed and
excommunicated Acacius. - This was the first formal split between West and
East. - It ended in 518 when a Chalcedonian bishop was
installed in Constantinople. - Ultimately Syrian and Egyptian (Coptic) churches
rejected Chalcedon and affirmed monophysitism.
51Council of Constantinople II (553)
- 1 If anyone shall not confess that the nature or
essence of the Father, of the Son, and of the
Holy Ghost is one, as also the force and the
power if anyone does not confess a
consubstantial Trinity, one Godhead to be
worshipped in three subsistences or Persons let
him be anathema. For there is but one God even
the Father of whom are all things, and one Lord
Jesus Christ through whom are all things, and one
Holy Spirit in whom are all things. - 2 If anyone shall not confess that the Word of
God has two nativities, the one from all eternity
of the Father, without time and without body the
other in these last days, coming down from heaven
and being made flesh of the holy and glorious
Mary, Mother of God and always a virgin, and born
of her let him be anathema. - 4 If anyone shall say that the union of the Word
of God to man was only according to grace or
energy, or dignity, or equality of honor, or
authority, or relation, or effect, or power, or
according to good pleasure in this sense that God
the Word was pleased with a man, that is to say,
that he loved him for his own sakelet him be
anathema.
52Council of Constantinople III (680)
- one and the same Christ our Lord the
only-begotten Son of two natures un-confusedly,
unchangeably, inseparably indivisibly to be
recognized, the peculiarities of neither nature
being lost by the union but rather the
proprieties of each nature being preserved,
concurring in one Person and in one subsistence,
not parted or divided into two persons but one
and the same only-begotten Son of God, the Word,
our Lord Jesus Christ, according as the Prophets
of old have taught us and as our Lord Jesus
Christ himself hath instructed us, and the Creed
of the holy Fathers hath delivered to us
defining all this we likewise declare that in him
are two natural wills and two natural operations
indivisibly, inconvertibly, inseparably,
inconfusedly, according to the teaching of the
holy Fathers. And these two natural wills are not
contrary the one to the other (God forbid!) as
the impious heretics assert, but his human will
follows and that not as resisting and reluctant,
but rather as subject to his divine and
omnipotent will. For as his most holy and
immaculate animated flesh was not destroyed
because it was deified but continued in its own
state and nature, so also his human will,
although deified, was not suppressed, but was
rather preserved according to the saying of
Gregory Theologus "His will i.e., the
Saviour's is not contrary to God but altogether
deified."
53Pope Innocent I (401-417)
- The western Emperor Honorius had moved his
government to Ravenna. - Innocent I was Pope when Rome was sacked by the
Visigoths in 410. - Innocent I took the opportunity to extend his
authority in both political and theological
contexts. - He confirmed the decisions of the North African
churches against Pelagianism as he sided with
Augustine. - He took on political and judicial functions in
the city of Rome, especially the absence of
imperial authority.
54Pope Leo I (the Great), 440-461
- Leo centralized western ecclesial government and
located juridical power in Rome. - Leo also led the city politically and was praised
for dissuading Attila the Hun from sacking Rome
in 452. - Stressed the priority of Rome in the universal
government of the church, especially as he sought
to maintain jurisdiction over Illyricum. - Leo is sometimes regarded as the first Roman
Pope since he stressed his universal
responsibility for the church based on Petrine
supremacy and his rights as the successor of
Peter.
55Christian Meeting Places
- In the New Testament, the meeting place was
primarily domesticin homes. - The Jerusalem church met in the temple for
teaching and prayer, and also met in their homes
for breaking bread. - The shift from domestic meeting place to a
dedicated meeting facility had significant impact
on the nature of Christianity.
56Dura Europos Church Plan
57Dura Europos Church Plan
58Dura Europas Baptistry
59The Roman Basilica
- Romans emphasized law and order.
- Their law courts were not only places for legal
proceedings but were centers of civic and public
activities. They functioned sometimes as town
meeting halls under the guidance of the
government. - The basilica form was adopted by Christians as
the best architecture suited for church buildings
(rather than temples).
60The Roman Basilica
Basilicas took their form from a ship. The
center portion was the nave (from Latin word for
ship), flanked by side aisles, and a curved end
known as an apse.
61The largest and most impressive Roman basilica
was built by Maxentius and finished by
Constantine in the early 4th century. The apse
contained a colossal statue of Constantine. It
stood until largely destroyed by an earthquake in
the 17th century.
62Two views showing how the Basilica of Maxentius
and Constantine would have appeared originally
63Christian Basilica (Constantines Basilica at
Trier)
64Basilica as Church Building
- A basilica was a Roman town hall derived from a
Greek word which means belonging to the king. - The apse was the authority seat in the hall where
the council or chairperson would sit. - The bishops chair was called a throne (cathedra)
because the Greek word also referred to a
teachers seat and not only to royalty.
65Drawing of St. Peters Basilica
66Interior of St. Peters Basilica
67St. John Lateran
Built originally as the Church of the Redeemer,
it is the first of Constantines four basilica
churches, and was the main church for Rome until
the 16th century when replaced by the new St.
Peters at the Vatican.
68Santa Maria Maggiore
Great basilica church of the fifth century
69Interior of Santa Maria Maggiore
70Altar of SM Maggiore. Some of the original 5th
century mosaics are visible above the arch behind
the altar
71Buildings and the Arts
- Just as Roman public buildings were decorated
with art, so church buildings were decorated with
frescos and mosaics. - The earliest known Christian mosaic was found
beneath St. Peters Basilica in the 1940sJesus
is pictured in a gold mosaic as the sun-god,
Helios. - Frescos were more common as mosaics were
expensive. Most of these are lost to us due to
the Germanic settling of the West but frescos
were revived in the Renaissance period.
72Earliest Christian Mosaic, ca. 300
- Earliest known Christian mosaic was found beneath
St. Peters Basilica in the 1940sJesus is
pictured in a gold mosaic as the sun-god, Helios.
73Building Churches
- Europe saw a church building craze in the High
Medieval Period. - In 1050-1350 France alone, 80 cathedrals, 500
large churches and 10,000 parish churches were
erected. - As Germanic Europe became Christian Europe, the
church building was a cultural as well as a
religious symbol. Churches functioned as civic
centers in the cities and thus were also a
source of civic pride.
74Ralph Glaber, monk, ca. 1050
- Shortly after the year 1000, all Christian
peoples were seized with a great desire to outdo
one another in magnificence. It was as if the
very world had shaken itself, and, casting off
her old garments, was clothing herself everywhere
in a white robe of churches.
75Romanesque Style
- Where Western Europe
- When 1000-1200
- Major Building Form Churches, Castles
76Romanesque Style
- Plan cruciform (Latin Cross), compartmentalized
on a basilica plan - Support sturdy piers, thick walls with small
windows - Hallmark rounded arches, barrel vault
- Décor stone sculpture
77Romanesque Additions
- The pier (an upright support generally square, or
rectangular in plan) is a better solution for
masonry walls, than the column. Columns are
subsequently replaced by piers, or transformed to
better support the masonry arches. - The portal as a church entrance was introduced
with the Romanesque style.
78Piers at Saint-SaturninAuvergne,France
79Church of St. Trophime, Arles, France (12th
century)
80Romanesque Style
- Effect Massive, segmented
- Interior dimly lit by small windows and
candles/lamps around the altar. - Inspiration Roman construction (basilica plan,
rounded arches, vaulted ceilings, columns) - Goal To accommodate pilgrims to express awe as
eyes are drawn to the space above the ambulatory
with small windows of light illuminating the
altar.
81Floor plan of Romanesque Church
82Romanesque Church
83St. Andrews Church, Krakow (1079)
84St. Pantaleon, Cologne, Germany (1100)
85Duomo and Bell Tower, Pisa, Italy
86The Pisa Cathedral (1063-1350) with Bell Tower
(1174-1271) and Baptistry (1153-1265).
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