A Rahner point: one thing that really complicated these fights over religion and the state back then was that the Basilica of the town would be turned over to the Arians.
A Smith point: both the Jews and Christians, because they believed in one God and were unwilling to give lip service to multiple, put a greater emphasis on TRUTH than "getting along with everybody."
interesting post, we often forget in the West that Rome was a side show in comparison to Byzantium. The conflicts you parse are real but yet there are also attempts at an alliance between them too. The Bzzantinbe princess Theophanu https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theophanu is married to Emperor Otto II. You mentioned Too II.
i know about her because i lived near Fritzlar in Germany where Otto II had a palace. Theophanu is a known figure there, her image is to be seen in medieval art in small churches in the area. They loved everything exotic from the East there.
it’s so interesting to see how the byzantine empire and christianity both share a strange ability to reform and rebuild from issues that have taken down other empires and institutions. excited for the next installment !! :)
See also the assigned reading from Dr. Dougherty on this period:
Hugo Rahner, Church and State in Early Christianity
https://www.amazon.com/Church-State-Early-Christianity-Rahner/dp/0898703778
And an author I assign in my classes sometimes, Steven D. Smith. Pagans and Christians in the City
https://www.amazon.com/Pagans-Christians-City-University-Religion-ebook/dp/B07LBYMJPD?ref_=ast_author_mpb
A Rahner point: one thing that really complicated these fights over religion and the state back then was that the Basilica of the town would be turned over to the Arians.
A Smith point: both the Jews and Christians, because they believed in one God and were unwilling to give lip service to multiple, put a greater emphasis on TRUTH than "getting along with everybody."
Off to read more about Irene of Athens!
Hmm, maybe I can dig up some quotes and anecdotes on her.
Looking forward to the second installment!
interesting post, we often forget in the West that Rome was a side show in comparison to Byzantium. The conflicts you parse are real but yet there are also attempts at an alliance between them too. The Bzzantinbe princess Theophanu https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theophanu is married to Emperor Otto II. You mentioned Too II.
i know about her because i lived near Fritzlar in Germany where Otto II had a palace. Theophanu is a known figure there, her image is to be seen in medieval art in small churches in the area. They loved everything exotic from the East there.
it’s so interesting to see how the byzantine empire and christianity both share a strange ability to reform and rebuild from issues that have taken down other empires and institutions. excited for the next installment !! :)
The Byzantine empire was Christianity