Back to Christian History & BiographySubscribe to ChristianHistory.net
Member Login:    


My Account | About Us | Join now | Forgot password?

 

CH Blog | This Week in Christian History | Ask the Expert | CH Store
 

Related Channels
Christianity Today magazine
Books & Culture





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 ...

To view this item, you must be a member of ChristianHistory.net.


If you ARE a member
of ChristianHistory.net…


Please login:

E-mail:  
Password:  


 
If you are NOT a member
of ChristianHistory.net…

Please click here to see our membership options. As a member, you will be able to have access to all of the content on ChristianHistory.net.




Browse More ChristianHistory.net
Home  |  Browse by Topic  |  Browse by Period  |  The Past in the Present  |  Books & Resources

FREE E-Newsletter
Sign up for the ChristianHistory.net e-mail newsletter. Discover more about your Christian heritage with this weekly e-newsletter that features key people, topics, and events from the history of Christianity.
 
   RSS Feed   RSS Help






















ChristianityToday.com
Home CT Mag Church/Ministry Bible/Life Communities Entertainment Schools/Jobs Shopping Free! Help
Books & Culture
Christianity Today
ChristianityTodayLibrary.com
Christian History Back Issues
Church Law & Tax Report
Leadership Journal
Men of Integrity
Your Church
Church Finance Today
BuildingChurchLeaders.com
ChristianBibleStudies.com
Christian College Guide
Christian History
Christian Music Today
Christianity Today Movies
ChurchLawToday.com
Church Products & Services
ChurchSafety.com
ChurchSiteCreator.com
Kyria.com
PreachingToday.com
PreachingTodaySermons.com
ReducingtheRisk.com
Seminary/Grad School Guide
Christianity Today International
www.ChristianityToday.com
Copyright © 2009 Christianity Today International
Privacy Policy | Contact Us | Advertise with Us | Job Openings