Mondays are for Church History
8/26/24
Schaff, Philip. (2014). "Chapter V. The Hierarchy and Polity of the Church." In History of the Christian Church. (The Complete Eight Volumes in One). Volume 3, Nicene and Post-Nicene Christianity A.D. 311-600, from Constantine the Great to Gregory the Great. (pp. 1993-2106). (Original work published 1889). Amazon Kindle Edition. (Personal Library). (sections 48-67).
"§57. The Rival Patriarchs of Old and New Rome." (pp. 2039-2042).
By the end of the fourth century, Schaff has observed the existence of five patriarchates, of which four were in the Eastern Church (Schaff 2014, p. 2039). While the concept of unity in the Roman empire had previously created at least an illusion of unity in the Church, the political distinctions between East and West led to increasing distinctions between Eastern and Western Christianity. Particularly in the East, with its multiple patriarchates, the one in Constantinople became marked by supreme jurisdiction, despite protests from the others. As monophysite controversies and the later rise of Islam came about, those outside of Constantinople declined in influence. By the eighth century Constantinople gained unrivaled prominence, which it retained until the 15th century (Schaff 2014, p. 2040). However, Schaff observed the patriarch of Constantinople held to a view of being primus inter pares, unlike the bishop of Rome, who claimed dominion over all of Christianity. The monarchical outlook of Rome consistently worked to maintain power. In the East, however, Constantinople retained pre-eminence in terms of language and literature throughout the middle ages. Schaff therefore sees a strong distinction between the Eastern and Western churches (Schaff 2014, p. 2041).
Among the distinctions between East and West, Schaff observes the West was relatively stable in its ecumenical orthodoxy, while the East tended to be plagued by heretical movements (Schaff 2014, p. 2042). People looked to the East for historical and theological learning, while they saw the future, stability, and the spread of Christianity in the West.
8/26/24
Schaff, Philip. (2014). "Chapter V. The Hierarchy and Polity of the Church." In History of the Christian Church. (The Complete Eight Volumes in One). Volume 3, Nicene and Post-Nicene Christianity A.D. 311-600, from Constantine the Great to Gregory the Great. (pp. 1993-2106). (Original work published 1889). Amazon Kindle Edition. (Personal Library). (sections 48-67).
"§57. The Rival Patriarchs of Old and New Rome." (pp. 2039-2042).
By the end of the fourth century, Schaff has observed the existence of five patriarchates, of which four were in the Eastern Church (Schaff 2014, p. 2039). While the concept of unity in the Roman empire had previously created at least an illusion of unity in the Church, the political distinctions between East and West led to increasing distinctions between Eastern and Western Christianity. Particularly in the East, with its multiple patriarchates, the one in Constantinople became marked by supreme jurisdiction, despite protests from the others. As monophysite controversies and the later rise of Islam came about, those outside of Constantinople declined in influence. By the eighth century Constantinople gained unrivaled prominence, which it retained until the 15th century (Schaff 2014, p. 2040). However, Schaff observed the patriarch of Constantinople held to a view of being primus inter pares, unlike the bishop of Rome, who claimed dominion over all of Christianity. The monarchical outlook of Rome consistently worked to maintain power. In the East, however, Constantinople retained pre-eminence in terms of language and literature throughout the middle ages. Schaff therefore sees a strong distinction between the Eastern and Western churches (Schaff 2014, p. 2041).
Among the distinctions between East and West, Schaff observes the West was relatively stable in its ecumenical orthodoxy, while the East tended to be plagued by heretical movements (Schaff 2014, p. 2042). People looked to the East for historical and theological learning, while they saw the future, stability, and the spread of Christianity in the West.
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