Lessons from Religious History

Transcription

1 Lessons from Religious History

2 Lesson 8: The Expansion of the Papacy and the Great Schism

3 dramatic expansion of papal authority and influence Initially, Roman bishops were nothing like pope Clement (96 AD) Bishop of Rome who gave authoritative counsel to Corinthian church Victor ( AD) Tried to settle Quartodeciman controversy by excommunicating eastern bishops, yet was ignored and opposed Stephen ( ) Argued heretic baptism was valid, used Matt 16:18 to assert his superiority Notably, Cyprian strongly opposed assertion that Stephen was right because he was Roman bishop:

4 Peter whom the Lord chose first and upon whom He built His church did not insolently claim anything to himself. Nor did he arrogantly assume anything when Paul later disputed with him about circumcision. He did not say that he held the primacy and the he needed to be obeyed by novices and those lately come!

5 However, those who are at Rome do not always observe those things that were handed down from the beginning. Yet, they vainly pretend the authority of the apostles. Anyone may know also from the fact that, concerning the celebration of Easter he may see there are some diversities Nevertheless there is no departure at all from the peace and unity of the catholic church on this account such as Stephen has dared to make (Firmilian) Cyprian s and Firmilian s words show the Roman push to expand power and the resistance it met in some quarters

6 Leo ( the Great ) ( ) Drew on growing respect for Roman authority Part of delegation that convinced Attila the Hun not to attack Rome, successfully took credit Wrote his Tome on the person of Christ that greatly influenced the decision of the Council of Chalcedon (451) Chalcedon included statement (Canon 28) that Constantinople and Rome were equal in importance, which dismayed Leo Argued Matt 16:18 as foundation for authority of Roman bishops

7 Leo ( the Great ) ( ) Obtained a decree from Emperor Valentinian: primacy of Rome based on merits of Peter, dignity of the city, Nicene Creed; any opposition to this is treason Gregory ( the Great ) ( ) First pope who is a former monk Promoted Benedictine monasticism and liturgical reform ( Gregorian chant ) Sent missionaries to England to convert Angles and Saxons successful in conversion as well as expansion of peculiarly Roman influence

8 Expansion of papal authority goes hand in hand with decline of Roman power 324 Constantine transfers capital from Rome to Constantinople 476 Rome conquered by barbarians Islam spreads across North Africa, into Spain and modern France With these areas no longer Christian, focus of Roman church turns north to England and Frankish empires 800 Alliance with Frankish kings, Pope Leo III crowns Charlemagne Holy Roman Emperor

9 We are now in Medieval Europe where land is the main currency Church begins to accumulate lands, emperors want to exercise control over them Both church and emperor are weak, and want to use the other to expand power Simony (buying of church office) and lay investiture (laymen appointing priests) common Leo IX ( ) Elected by college of cardinals, bans clerical marriage, concubinage, simony, actually enforces Unprecedented pope has right to judge other bishops and clergy

10 Gregory VII ( ) Playing politics with various kings, forces Henry (king of Germany) to come to him as penitent sinner asking forgiveness for defying church Henry, after a military victory, runs Gregory out of Rome Both invoke precedent for supremacy over the other Gregory the pope can name the emperor! Claims priestly authority because soul is better than body, and priests can do more than emperors (like make the body and blood appear)

11 Gregory VII ( ) Ultimately unsuccessful in his quest, but advanced papal claims nonetheless Dictatus Papae particularly aggressive Innocent III ( ) Deposed emperor in 1212 Ordered King Philip II of France to take back his divorced wife Commanded King Alfonso of Leon to give up his marriage to a relative Forced King John of England to submit through excommunication

12 Boniface VII ( ) It is necessary for salvation for every human being to be subject to the pope Accumulation of land and relation to governments make the Catholic Church a pseudo-state with a religious angle

13 Great Schism (1054) Differences in East and West had persisted from the beginning philosophical vs. legal disposition Many eastern disputes (Arianism, monophysitism) meant little to the west Language also began to separate the two as Tertullian, Jerome, and Augustine began writing important works in Latin Moving of the capital to Constantinople increased the influence of the eastern churches

14 Great Schism (1054) Iconoclast controversy probably precipitated by spread of Islam with its strong stance against icons Though both east and west churches used icons, the east began to repudiate them as Islam spread Iconoclasts (icon destroyers) believed icons were wrong because could not display both human and divine natures of Christ 725 Emperor Leo III forbids use of icons in worship 731 Roman synod excommunicates iconoclasts

15 Great Schism (1054) Doctrinal disputes--extra wording to the Nicene Creed in West: The Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son (aka filioque phrase) The Holy Spirit proceeding from the Son was never accepted in East Eastern church condemned fasting on Saturdays, using dairy products during Lent, priestly celibacy, confirmation being restricted to bishops, use of unleavened bread in Eucharist Unique doctrinal traditions were developing in both East and West, seemed destined for a break

16 Great Schism (1054) Growing power of Rome resisted by Constantinople 1050s Emperors and pope agree to give pope control over the few Greek churches in Italy Michael Cerularius (patriarch of Constantinople) writes Pope Leo IX, addresses him as brother (rather than father), demands that Latin churches in Constantinople fall under his control Cerularius shuts down uncooperative Roman churches Leo sends letter to Cerularius:

17 Great Schism (1054) as a hinge, remaining unmoved opens and shuts a door, so Peter and his successors [at Rome] have an unfettered jurisdiction over the whole Church, since no one ought to interfere with their position, because the highest See is judged by none Cardinal enters church of Hagia Sophia and lays papal bull on altar, excommunicating Cerularius and his followers: Let them be anathema with all heretics yes, with devils Cerularius excommunicates pope and his followers

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19 Great Schism (1054) This division still exists today, fundamental breaking point between Catholic Church and Orthodox Churches

20 Summary The Roman church grew from a separate, independent entity into one that taught it had the right to dictate belief for all Christians everywhere and depose rulers The East-West split occurred as a result of longdormant differences that came to a head as a result of the expansion of the papacy

21 Lessons from Papacy and Great Schism How to deal with error We must acknowledge our ability to be wrong If tradition is the standard, we will be unable to be unified with Christians from different cultures There will always be those who long to enforce opinions as if they are God (2 Thess 2:3-4); we must not be like them!

22 Lessons from Papacy and Great Schism Tendencies Pride Unwillingness to make peace Desire to accumulate power and prestige Submitting to leadership, even when it s wrong

23 Lessons from Papacy and Great Schism The Bigger Picture The combination of religious and governmental authority is potent and dangerous The more worldly the church becomes, the more it strays from Christ Focus on culture and tradition leads to breaks with other cultures and traditions rather than unity