[2] A Summary of the History of Christianity: A "Paradigm Shift" Approach (Part 2)

 A Summary of the History of Christianity (by Hans Küng)

(with annotations and revisions done by Julius-Kei Kato)

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Part 2 - Paradigm #2 : Constantinople - Moscow - the Orthodox Churches 

We will refer to sub-divisions of this article by the section numbers within square brackets (e.g. [1]).

Resources:

Original Link to this Summary (in the public domain / accessed 2020-09-20): https://www.global-ethic-now.de/gen-eng/0b_weltethos-und-religionen/0b-01-02-christentum/0b-01-0201-jesus.php

Paradigm Shifts in Christianity (a one-page visual diagram) https://www.global-ethic-now.de/gen-eng/0b_weltethos-und-religionen/0b-pdf/paradigm-shifts-christianity.pdf

[5] Constantinople – The Second Rome

Emperor Constantine (306–337)

·         Christianity became, first, the favoured religion of the empire (under Constantine). Later, it became the state religion under the emperor Theodosius (380 CE).

·         Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul) became the centre of Christianity (the “Second Rome”).

·         Ecumenical councils were convened to lay down rules for orthodoxy and to formulate dogmas about God and Christ and other matters.
   – Nicaea (325),
   – Constantinople (381),
   – Ephesus (433/449),
   – Chalcedon (451)

·         The Eastern Church centred in Constantinople and the Western Church centred in Rome became increasingly alienated from each other: different languages and cultures, different ways of thinking and doing things

·         Controversies about questions of faith and discipline and about primacy (of the pope) led to the separation (“The Great Schism”) between the Eastern and Western Churches in 1054. This created two separate great bodies of Christians, the “Roman Catholic Church” under the Pope in Rome and the “Eastern Orthodox Churches” under the Patriarch of Constantinople (present-day Istanbul).

 

[6] Moscow – Becomes the “Third” Rome

•         988–1448  Russia formed an ecclesiastical province under the Patriarchate of Constantinople.

•         15th Century  Moscow emerged as the centre of the growing Russian Empire.

•         1453  After the fall of Constantinople, the Russian Church claimed autonomy with its own ecclesiastical head.

•         1472  Grand Duke Ivan III married the niece of the last Byzantine Emperor and laid claim to the legacy of Constantinople.

•         1510  Moscow was called the “Third Rome” for the first time.

•         1589  Moscow was made a patriarchate.

 

[7] The Orthodox Churches

The Orthodox Churches today can be considered as heirs to the Early Eastern Church (Early Church Hellenistic Paradigm-Paradigm 2):

·         “Orthodox” identity means fidelity to tradition, especially the tradition of a rich sacramental and liturgical life fostering personal religious experience.

·         Impressive artistic traditions in church architecture, icon-painting and liturgical music.

·         Devotion to Mary and the saints as symbols of participation in the heavenly Church.

·         Mystical spirituality practiced by monks and nuns but also by many laypersons.

·         An ethic of personal asceticism, prayer and care for the poor.

·         Close association with national identity resulting in a plurality of jurisdictions in communion with each other but without a common voice.

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