Christological disputes in Byzantium

Pre-requisites: Enrollment in the second semester of doctoral studies (history) or applicable semester at another dept.

Course objectives: To introduce students to Byzantine Christianity and the most important religious arguments in byzantine history; beginning with Arianism, Nestorianism and Monophysitism to Iconolatry and schisms.

Course description: Along with the roman civilization and hellenic(greek) culture, Christianity presents the third pillar on which the byzantine civilization was founded. Beginning with the Edict of Milan on religious tolerance, gradually but steadily, the pagan character of the Roman empire changed, so that over time the once polytheist empire would become a christian state. However, as christian dogma was shaped slowly and was in constant conflict over numerous heretical teachings, many bitter and long religious disputes occurred. An added political dimension to the disputes further complicated the issues. The initial conflict between paganism and christianity was, in time, replaced with constant strife within christianity. Some of the more important crises within the byzantine church were connected with arianism, nestorianism, monophysitism, iconolatry, schisms and other ecclesiological disputes. Despite internal dissension, the church managed to remain strong and displayed its strength in its outliving the byzantine empire itself.

Learning Outcomes: Students will posses basic knowledge of the christian dimension of Byzantium, the relations between religious and secular rulers, conflicts in christian dogma and the numerous heresies and teaching in various epochs that rocked the Kingdom.

Literature/Reading:

• G. Ostrogorski, Istorija Vizantije, Beograd 1959 (reprint: 1991)
• J. Majendorf, Vizantijsko bogoslovlje. Istorijski tokovi i dogmatske teme, Beograd 2001.
• G. Ostrogorski, Svetogorski isihasti i njihovi protivnici, Sabrana dela, knj. 5 (O verovanjima i shvatanjima Vizantinaca), Beograd 1970, 203-223.
• A. V. Kartašov, Vaselenski sabori, prev. M. Lalić, I-II, Beograd 1995.
• Dž. Majendorf, Imperijalno jedinstvo i hrišćnske deobe. Crkva od 450. do 680. godine, Kragujevac 1997.
• A. Jevtić, Svešteni kanoni crkve, Beograd 2005.
• R. Popović, Vaseljenski sabori. Odabrani dokumenti, Beograd 2007.