Christian History Home > Issue 54 > Better the Infidel
Better the Infidel
Why two attempts at reunion were rejected by the Orthodox people.
Mark Galli | posted 4/01/1997 12:00AM
In the decades following the sack of Constantinople, political events conspired to prompt the Eastern church to seek reunion with the West.
Michael VIII (reigned 1259-82), the emperor who recovered Constantinople from the Catholics, made the first attempt. He primarily desired political protection; he was militarily threatened by Charles of Anjou, sovereign of Sicily, and he desperately needed the papacy's protection.
At a council held at Lyons in 1274, the Orthodox delegates agreed to recognize the papal claims and to recite the Creed with the filioque.
But the union was fiercely rejected by the overwhelming majority of Orthodox clergy and laity. The emperor's sister summed up the Greek attitude: "Better that my brother's empire should perish than the purity of the Orthodox faith." The union of Lyons was formally repudiated by Michael's successor.
Powerless agreement
A second reunion council was held at Florence in 1438-9. This time Emperor John VIII (reigned 1425-48) attended, together ...
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