Byzantine Religion Flashcards
(47 cards)
What major policy did Constantine enact in 313 AD that shaped Byzantine religion?
The Edict of Milam, which legalized Christianity throughout the Roman Empire, allowing it to flourish and integrate into public life.
What was the significance of the First Council of Nicaea (325 AD)?
It defined the Nicene Creed and established that Christ is of the same essence as God, rejecting Arianism. It marked the start of imperial involvement in theological disputes.
By what point had Christianity become the official religion of the empire, and what happened to paganism?
By the end of the 4th century; pagan practices were suppressed, with the last temple shut by Justinian in 535-537 AD.
What major Christological controversy did the Council of Chalcedon (451 AD) address?
It affirmed that Christ had two natures, divine and human, in one person. This led to a schism with the Miaphysite churches.
What is iconoclasm and which emperor initiated it?
A movement against religious images, initiated by Emperor Leo III in 726 AD, arguing that icons led to idolatry.
What was the “Triumph of Orthodoxy” and when did it occur?
The 843 AD restoration of icon veneration under Empress Theodora, officially ending the Iconoclastic Controversy.
How was the emperor’s role defined in Byzantine religious life?
The emperor was viewed as God’s representative on Earth, responsible for convening the ecumenical councils and maintaining orthodoxy.
Why was monasticism so influential in Byzantium?
Monks pursued asceticism and spiritual perfection, becoming sources of authority, miracle-working, and missionary influence; monasteries became centers of learning and piety.
What were key pilgrimage practices in the Byzantine Empire?
Pilgrims traveled to sites like Jerusalem, seeking spiritual merit, relics, healing, and to connect physically with Christian sacred geography.
What are the core elements of the Byzantine liturgy?
Eucharist, the Liturgy of the Word, the Liturgy of the Pre-Sanctified Gifts, veneration of saints, and extensive use of icons.
How did the Byzantines understand the relationship between earthly and heavenly worship?
They saw earthly liturgy as a mirror of the celestial liturgy; churches were designed to reflect divine order and beauty, enhancing this spiritual mirroring.
How did the Byzantines define “heresy”?
Any deviation from the official doctrine of the Orthodox Church as defined by ecumenical councils; heresy was seen not just as error but as a spiritual and social threat to imperial unity.
What were the theological stakes of Christological heresies in Byzantium?
They were considered to undermine salvation by misrepresenting the nature of Christ; debates like those between Chalcedonians and Miaphysites risked fracturing both church and empire.
How did the state respond to heresies like Arianism or Monophysitism?
The emperor convened ecumenical councils to define orthodoxy and suppress dissent, often using state power (law, exile, censorship) to enforce theological conformity.
What was the major theological difference between the Eastern (Orthodox) and Western (Latin) Churches?
The Filioque clause - Western Christianity added “and the Son” to the Nicene Creed regarding the procession of the Holy Spirit, which the East rejected as unauthorized and theologically flawed.
How did the political and cultural differences exacerbate East-West religious tensions?
The East emphasized conciliarity, imperial oversight, and Greek tradition, while the West centralized power in the papacy and followed Latin liturgical customs, creating friction over authority and practice.
What event formally split the Eastern and Western Churches?
The Great Schism of 1054, when mutual excommunications were issued by the Patriarch of Constantinople and the Pope’s legates, though tensions had existed for centuries.
How did Byzantines view the Latin Church post-schism?
Increasingly as heretical and schismatic, especially after the Fourth Crusade (1204) which intensified mutual hostility; Western Christians were seen as spiritually deviant and politically treacherous.
How central was religion to the average Byzantine’s identity?
Religion was not just personal belief - it was imbedded in political loyalty, social hierarchy, and cultural expression; being Orthodox was synonymous with being Roman.
How did Byzantines interact with the holy in daily life?
Through icons, relics, processions, fasting, prayer, and pilgrimage. They saw miracles, saints’ intercession, and liturgical participation as direct links to the divine.
What was the perceived role of the emperor in religious life?
The emperor was a quasi-sacred figure, God’s lieutenant, responsible for defending Orthodoxy, convening councils, and ensuring divine favour through righteous rule.
How did sacred space and liturgy reflect Byzantine cosmology?
Churches were microcosms of heaven, with domes representing the firmament and icons acting as visual theology; liturgy was a mystical participation in the eternal, heavenly worship.
Why were saints and relics so important in Byzantium?
Saints served as intercessors and local patrons; their relics were sources of healing, protection, and legitimacy - frequently invoked by emperors, armies, and communities.
Define Orthodox Christianity.
The official and dominant form of Christianity in the Byzantine Empire, rooted in the decisions of the ecumenical councils and centered on the belief in the Holy Trinity, the Incarnation, the importance of icons, and liturgical tradition.
KEY FEATURES
- belief in Christ as fully God and fully human
- use of icons and sacred images
- emphasis on liturgy, fasting, and sacraments
- strong relationship between church and emperor
