Latin West and Greek East: From Nicaea to the Fall of Constantinople

3 credits

The course involves informed discussion of source texts referring to the main events and topics in theological relations between Latins and Greeks from the fourth to the fifteen century: from the "golden" conciliar age to early debates/schisms, especially on the filioque and azymes; iconoclasm; the so-called "Schism of 1054"; Innocent III and the Fourth Crusade; medieval theologians and their attitudes towards Byzantine theology and culture; Byzantine humanists and latinophrones of the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries; the Council of Florence (1439), its achievements and failures. We focus on ecclesial self-understanding of the emerging Churches, and their respective perception of a theological and cultural "other." Special emphasis will be placed upon the developments in attitudes to sacraments, doctrine, and authority. The course will conclude with reflection on the implications for ecumenical dialogue and current ecclesiology.