HANDOUT FOR FEB. 26: BYZANTINE ORTHODOXY
Significant Emperors:
Heraclius 610-641
Leo III 717-741 first Iconoclast emperor.
Constantine V Copronymus 741-775, Iconoclast.
Irene, empress 797-802, restores icons.
Theophilus 829-842, Iconoclast.
Theodora, empress 815-867, restores icons after death of Theophilus.
Iconoclasm:
Iconodules: supporters of icon-veneration.
Iconoclasts: opponents of icon-veneration.
726-787: First phase of Iconoclasm.
John of Damascus (c.675-749) a theologian living under Muslim rule; defends icons.
754: Church Council in Constantinople decrees in favor of Iconoclasm.
787: Council at Nicaea rejects Iconoclasm and restores icon-worship.
813-842: Iconoclasts in power again.
Other events:
674-678: First siege of Constantinople by Arabs.
717-718: Second siege of Constantinople by Arabs.
c.862: Khan Boris of the Bulgars accepts Christianity.
c.863-869: Cyril and Methodius preach Christianity to the Slavs. "Cyrillic" alphabet invented.
989: Russia converts to Christianity.
1054: Final schism between Latin and Greek churches.
1204: Fourth Crusade: western Crusaders sack Constantinople.
1453: Constantinople conquered by Muslim Turks. End of Byzantine Empire.
Cause of the Schism: the filioque in the Creed
Eastern (Orthodox) version:
[We believe] in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and giver of life, who proceeds from the Father, who with the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified…
Western (Catholic) version:
[We believe] in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and from the Son [filioque, in Latin], who with the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified…