religion III- chapter 5; byzantine empire & iconoclastic controversy
what does iconography normally involve?
a flat panel painted representation of Christ, Mary, or a saint
how is a Christian work of art to be used?
as an aid to piety or prayer, as a reminder of the communion of saints
identify 4 factors that contributed to the collapse of the Byzantine Empire
bankrupt because of Justinian's war expenses and civil projects, empire was overextended (so territory was lost), no singular leader
adoration
praise and glory given to God alone
what negative influence did Empress Theodora have on her husband?
she wanted a Pope who desired the heresy, so she despised Pope St. Salverius
what superstition crept into some uses of icons?
some acted as if the image had powers of its own, these worshipers fixed the attention on the icon itself, instead of the mystery it was representing
explain how the West came into existence:
temporal rulers were subordinate to the papacy, they respected the papacy authority, missionary activities promoted growth
define "Christendom"
territories/regions dominantly occupied by Christians (all Catholic)
what relationship within the Byzantine Empire tended to undermine the authority of the Pope among the Eastern Christians?
the relationship between the emperors and patriarchs in Constantinople
what was Emperor Justinian's greatest ambition?
wanted to restore the fullness of the Roman Empire
what does the term "Hagia Sophia" mean? what is the Hagia Sophia, where is it located? what is it today?
"Holy Wisdom". it is a great architecture feat commissioned by Justinian, it is located in modern day turkey, and it is a mosque as of July 2020
who was Emperor Justinian I?
- Early Byzantine Emperor who had a significant impact on the Church - one of the most powerful since Constantine - referred to as "the last of the Romans" - desired to restore the fullness of the former Roman Empire as his own by retaking lands now controlled by Germanic tribes
what are the three sources of iconoclasm?
- Muslims prohibit the use of any images in worship - Jews know from past experiences the result of idolatry - In early Christianity during Roman persecution, missionary activity, and early heresies
how did Justinian enrich architecture?
- he is credited with funding the development of the Byzantine style of architecture - he built the Hagia Sophia
what was the Byzantine Empire?
- the most important center of political, religious, cultural, and economic activity in the world of the former Roman Empire - lasted 1000 years - was centered in Constantinople ruled by successors of the roman Empire
with what city is Theophanes most identified?
Constantinople
who were the two major minds (heroes) that clarified the Church's teaching regarding these heresies?
East- St. Cyril West- Pope St. Leo the Great
what is the difference between the Eastern and Western Church?
Eastern: found security in political structures, this resulted in a national identity, conflict between the patriarchs and laity and patriarchs and pope, no interaction Western: more universal without regard to national boundaries, citizenship, or social status, no stable government
who was the Pope during the reign of Justinian I, what was his experience?
Pope St. Silverius, he refuted Justinian's wife on her belief of Monophysitism, as result he was exiled
list the 5 patriarchates that existed by the 5th century
Rome- Sts. Peter and Paul Constantinople- St. Andrew Antioch- St. Peter before he moved to Rome Alexandria- St. Mark Jerusalem- St. James
what was Theophanes instrumental in developing?
Russian religious painting
who defended the existence and veneration of icons? how did he do this?
St. John Damascene, by using logic and reason to reference the Incarnation
what is the iconoclastic controversy?
a heresy known as iconoclasm, the breaking point between the emperors and popes, lasted more than a century
who was Theophanes the Greek?
a leading Byzantine painter of murals and icons who influenced the 15th century painting style, spent most of his career in Constantinople
what is an iconophile?
a lover of icons, one who defend the proper uses of icons in Christian worship
define "patriarchate"
administrative center
what does it mean to be in "full communion"?
all of the churches bishops are in communion with one another and the faithful share one Eucharist which is the ultimate sign of unity in faith
what is an iconoclast? the word comes from the Greek words which mean ____________.
an icon breaker, one who favors destroying things
define "national churches"
attached to specific states as kings and other rulers claimed some type of role in Church governance
why are icons said to be written instead of developing?
because an iconographer writes images instead of words
why are doctrines defined?
because they have been attacked or threatened in some way
which two bodies of law are based on this codex?
civil law and canon law
what early disasters did Islam inflict upon the Byzantine Empire?
control of 3 to 5 of the great patriarchates leaving only Rome and Constantinople
what were the religious reasons behind iconoclasm?
having an image of God was considered idolatry
how did Emperor Justinian I use military power to reunite his empire?
he reclaimed half of Europe and all of North Africa
what was the argument of St. John Damascene that was in support of icons?
he reminded us that God took on human nature in the person of Jesus, Jesus in the image of the invisible God, this would be permission to depict Jesus in the form of art
what was the Council of Chalcedon? what did it resolve? who acknowledged this council and who did not? why?
held in 451, it resolved the heresies that questioned Christ's two natures. the East and West were united in the resolution, but not all of the Eastern churches accepted Pope Leo's decisions.
how did Justinian I meddle in Church Doctrine?
his wife favored Monophysitism. he defended his wife and tried to come up with a compromise theology, but he fell deeper into heresy.
how was Monophysitism a problem for Emperor Justinian?
his wife favored it and his desire was to reconcile them with the Church, but it did not work.
what is the proper understanding on the correct use of icons in prayer?
icons are supposed to be invitations to prayer, they are reminders to us to model holy lives after
how does iconoclasm illustrate one of the dangers of caesaropapism?
if an emperor changes beliefs or practices, he can be wrong and do great harm, only the Pope and bishops in communion with him have this authority
how was St. John Damascene's argument a defense of all Christian art?
if it is dignified and respectful, all such images should be praise worthy
who was instrumental in drawing the iconoclast controversy to a close?
in 1843, the Empress Theodora set the initial stages to allow Churches to use religious art
when did the Church explicitly define the legitimacy of icons? how did this happen?
in 787 at the Second Council of Nicaea, the Church distinguished between the adoration given to God and the veneration to other holy people
in terms of faith, what did the Byzantine Empire enjoy that the Roman Empire did not?
it began with Christianity.
how did iconoclasm finally come to and end?
it does not come to a final end. in the 9th century, it returned
what factors served to emphasize the Byzantine Church's connection with secular authority?
it was closely allied with the byzantine Empire and the places she evangelized tended to become national churches. the capital authority is in Constantinople, the church authority is going to be allied with the emperor.
which tenet of Islam promoted Muslims to conquer other peoples?
jihad
define the term "caesaropapism" how was this system at odds with papal supremacy?
manner of rule in which the sovereign temporal ruler extended his authority to ecclesiastical and theological matters. emperors appointed bishops, including patriarchs, directed the development of liturgical practices and aided in the recruitment of monks. it undermined the authority of the Pope by giving the emperor more power.
would it be likely that Jews and Muslims would have converted to Christianity if there were no icons? explain.
no because they don't relate to Christianity
what were the motivations of the first iconoclasts?
political and relgious
what were 3 disagreements that pushed the Eastern and Western Church toward a final confrontation?
political/religious authority, liturgical diversity, the iconoclastic controversy
what is the "codex justinianus"?
provided a uniformed legal code of law throughout the empire
veneration
recognition or honor given to people who have done great things
what major traditions came together in Constantinople?
roman law, greek culture, and oriental habits
what is an icon?
sacred art, an image that represents spirituality, an invitation to prayer
Monophysitism
says Christ does not have a human nature
Nestorianism
says Christ had both a human and divine nature, but they were not total. not fully human and not fully divine, denied Theotokos
autonomous
self ruling
what were the 2 major differences between the Byzantine Empire and the Roman Empire?
the Byzantine Empire lasted 1000 years longer and it began with Christianity while the Roman Empire began with paganism.
what factors served to emphasize the Latin (Western) Church's independence from secular authority?
the Church had become autonomous from any particular government missionary activity surged across Europe. the Catholic Church in keeping the mandate of Christ to take the Gospel to the ends of the earth, showed through her evangelistic fervor that she exists for all people, tongue, and culture, without regard to national boundaries or social status.
what is the greatest example of Justinian's accomplishment?
the Hagia Sophia
what political situation in the West tended to increase the sense of the University of the Church?
the absence of strong political communities allowed the Church to identify her universality
what happened to cause Byzantium to eclipse Rome as the center of the Mediterranean world?
the capital was moved from Rome to Constantinople. Byzantium was changed in name to Constantinople.
what feature of the relationship between the "throne and altar" in the East tended to cause schisms?
the close identification of the Church with the secular authority resulted in the creation of national churches defined by specific boundaries
what was the Edict of 726 in relation to icons? how did Pope Gregory III respond to iconoclasm?
the edict was the entice Jews, Muslims, and heretics who were believed to be a threat the the empire to covert to Christianity. instead it caused turmoil because religious people died and an artistic heritage was almost list. he condemned Leo's Edict.
what were the political reasons behind iconoclasm? why did Emperor Leo III unleash iconoclasm on the Church in the East?
the emperor wanted a united empire, he believed the major obstacle of the conversions was the use of icons, so he wanted to remove it.
what turned out to be the ruin of the Byzantine Empire and when did this happen?
the rise of Islam conquers Constantinople in 1453
explain how the East came into existence:
there was a higher Christian population. bishops appointed patriarchs, missionary activities promoted growth
define "patriarch"- who are they within the Church authority in the Byzantine era, are they still in authority today?
they are leaders appointed by the emperor., usually archbishops who rule over the administrative centers for the church
what unified Eastern and Western Christianity up to the year 1000?
they were united by the same apostolic and sacramental christianity
what were the results of Emperor Leo III forbiddance of icons?
this began the iconoclastic controversy
what is iconoclasm, what lessons can be learned from it?
when large amounts of iconoclasts were present. - thoughts or deeds of an iconoclast - misunderstandings and abuses regarding veneration of icons led to eventual destruction of art as well as belief in certain heresies
how is an icon not a violation of the Second Commandment?
when rightly understood, it is a reminder of an image it portrays, it is not to be worshiped itself as an object
