Lectures on the history of the Eastern church...

Front matter

Qass uJ A \ Q

Book . C^'

By the same Author.

Preface

The Introduction to this volume consists of three Lectures delivered in the spring of 1857, when I entered upon my duties as Professor of Ecclesiastical History. They are reprinted, partly for the sake of presenting them in a more correct form than that in which they first appeared, partly for the sake of exhibiting the general plan under which will be comprised any special Lectures like those which form the bulk of the present volume.

It is my hope, if I may look so far forward into the future, to fill up two of the departments indicated in the sketch of the first Introductory Lecture. I have already devoted a large share of each Academical year to Lectures on the History of the Jewish Church, which I trust at no very distant period to publish; and it is my intention to appropriate at least a portion of my remaining time to the History of the Church of England.

Meanwhile, it seemed to me that a course of instruction in the History of the Eastern Church would not be unfitting. The general reasons for this selection are given in the Lectures themselves. The

A 3 vi

Preface.

subject is one in which I had long felt an interest, and which may, perhaps, gain from being approached through a point of view more general than that usually taken in the learned works that have been devoted to its consideration.

In the choice and the treatment of the epochs of Eastern History which appear in the following pages, I have been guided by the necessities of the case, as well as by the wish to exemplify some of the principles laid down in my Introductory Lectures. The form of Lectures 1 lent itself to this mode of handling the subject; and, if the result should bear the appearance of a didactic rather than of a historical work, I have endeavoured to rectify this defect by the references to authorities which begin, and by the chronological tables which end, the volume.

It so happens that one of these epochs (the Council of Mcsea), though receiving much attention from French and German writers, has never been thoroughly described by any English historian. In this instance, therefore, I have gone into every detail. I take this opportunity of mentioning some of the subordinate topics to which allusions have been made throughout the Lectures, and which might well be followed up, as supplemental to those leading events to which I confined myself. The Councils of

1 Most of the Lectures are printed (with necessary corrections and abbreviations) as they were delivered. The First and Eighth are condensed from two courses of Lectures.

Preface.

vii

Ephesus and Chalcedon have never, as far as I know, been described with all the details which could be given. The life of Chrysostom has never been fully told. The Iconoclastic controversy, the dispute on the Light of Tabor, and the history of the final rupture between the Greek and Latin Churches, would furnish materials for curious inquiry. A continuous history of Greek theology, from its peculiarities in the Eastern Fathers of the third and fourth centuries, through the schools of Constantinople, down to its last great effort in the revival of letters in the West, and its influence on the Cambridge Platonic divines, of the Church of England, and, through them, on John Wesley, in the eighteenth century, is still, I believe, a desideratum.

In regard to the relation of Christianity to the other religions of the East, which must be considered as one of the most important branches of the subject in connection with the fortunes of Eastern Christendom, I have been restrained, by my personal ignorance of the languages and customs of most of those countries, from offering more than a few general remarks on the one most directly connected with the Christian Church and the Eastern branch of it, namely, Mahometanism. But, if I may be permitted to refer to the labours of the eminent scholar who has already done so much for elucidating in this country the nature of Oriental religions, it is to be hoped that Professor Max Miiller may be induced to give us the benefit of his genius and learning in

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Preface.

drawing forth the mutual relations of the religions of Asia and the Christian faith to each other, in their past history and in their future prospects.

The Lectures on the Russian Church are intended as an introduction to a sphere of history which probably will, in each succeeding generation, grow in importance. If this volume should fall into the hands of any of those Russians whose hospitality I enjoyed during my stay at Moscow in 1857, I trust that they will pardon, not only the inaccuracies in detail which a stranger can hardly escape, but the divergence of the general point of view from which a Western European must regard the Church and State of Russia. There is an expressive proverb written over the house of Archbishop Plato in the forests of the Troitzka Convent, " Let not him who comes in " here carry out the dirt that he finds within." If this precept is not altogether practicable for an impartial traveller, I can yet truly say that my chief impressions are those of gratitude for the intelligence and courtesy with which I was received, both among laymen and ecclesiastics. It is a pleasure to me to hope that those kind friends at Moscow, to whom I would especially commend this part of my volume, may receive it as a token of sincere hope and good will for their country in this great crisis of its social existence, and in its entrance on the thousandth anniversary of the foundation of their Empire.

Christ Church, Oxford : March 6. 1861.

Table Of Contents

INTKODUCTION.

I. The Province Of Ecclesiastical History

Page

Description of Ecclesiastical History . . . xxiii

I. Its first beginning . . . . . xxiv

The History of Israel, the first period of the History

of the Church ..... xxv Its peculiar interest . . . . xxvi

Its religious importance . . . xxvii

II. The History of Christendom, the second period of

the History of the Church . . . xxix

Relations of Civil and Ecclesiastical History . xxx

Points of contact between them . . xxxiii

Points of divergence .... xxxv Stages of the History of the Christian Church . xxxvi

1. The Transition from the Church of the

Apostles to the Church of the Fathers . xxxvi

2. The Conversion of the Empire. The Eastern

Church ..... xxxviii

3. The Invasion of the Barbarians. The Latin

Church ..... xxxviii

4. The Reformation .... xxxix The French, German, and English Churches xli, xlii

Conclusion. The late Professor Hussey . . xlii, xliii

General Chronological Table of the Periods of Church History . ... . . . xliv

II. The Study Of Ecclesiastical History

- Dryness of Ecclesiastical History . . . xlv

Remedy to be found in a Historical View of the Church . xlv

X

Table of Contents.

Page

I. History of Doctrines II. History of Creeds and Articles III. History of Events and Persons General Study

Detailed Study of great Events

The Councils Detailed Study of great Men Neander and his History Distinction of Characters Uses of this Method :

I. Gradation of Importance in Ecclesiastical Matters . . . liii II. Combination of Civil and Ecclesiastical History . . . liv

III. Caution against Partiality . . liv

IV. Reference to Original Authorities . Ivi

Graves of the Covenanters . lvii

The Catacombs . . . lviii Special Opportunities for this Study :

I. In the Church of England . . . lix

II. In the University of Oxford . . Ix

III. In active Clerical Life . . . lxi

Conclusion ...... Ixii xlvii xlviii xlviii xlix xlix 1 1 li

III. The Advantages Of Ecclesiastical History

I. Importance of Historical Facts in Theological

Study . . . . . . . . lxiv

II. Importance of a General View of Ecclesiastical

History . ... . . . Ixvi

III. Use of the Biography of good Men . . lxviii

IV. Use of the general Authority of the Church . Ixx V. Better understanding of Differences and of Unity. Ixii

VI. Evidence rendered to the Truth of Christianity . lxxiii

VII. Lessons from the Failings of the Church . . lxxiv VIII. Comparison of Ecclesiastical History with the

Scriptures ..... lxxv

IX. Future Prospect of the History of the Church . Ixxviii

Indications in History .... lxxix

Indications in Scripture . . . Ixxx

Conclusion ...... Ixxxii

Table of Contents. xi

LECTURE T.

THE EASTERN CHURCH.

Tage

Authorities for its History ..... lxiii

I. Its General Divisions .... 3—20

1. The National or Heretical Churches of the

remote East .... 5—14

a) Chaldcean or Nestorian Churches . . 6

Christians of S. Thomas . . 7

b) The Armenians .... 7

c) The Syrians . . . .9

Jacobites — Maronites . . 9, 10

The Abyssinian Church . 12—14

2. The Greek Church . . . 15—18

Representative of Ancient Greece . .15

Of early Greek Christianity . .16

Of the Byzantine Empire . .17

Constantinople . . . .18

Church of Greece . . . .18

3. Northern Tribes . . . . 18—20

a) Danubian Provinces. — Bulgaria. —

Servia. — Wallachia and Moldavia.

— The Raitzen . . .19

b) The Church of Russia . . .20

II. Historical Epochs . . , . . 21 — 23

1. Period of the Councils . . . .21

2. Rise of Mahometanism . . . .22

3. Rise of the Russian Empire . . .23 III. General Characteristics . . . 23 49

1. Speculative tendency of Eastern Theology . 24 Rhetorical as opposed to logical . . .27 Metaphysical as opposed to legal . . 27

2. Speculative tendency of Eastern Monachism . 30

3. The Eastern Church stationary . . 31 sq

In the Doctrine of the Sacraments . . 33

Baptism . . . . .34

Confirmation . . . .34

Extreme Unction . . .35

Infant Communion . . .36

4. Absence of Religious Art in the East . . 35

5. The Eastern Church not Missionary . . 40

But not persecuting . . . .41 xii

Table of Contents.

Page

6. Eastern Theology not systematised - . 42

7. Eastern Hierarchy not organised . . .43

Independence of Laity . . .44

Study of Scripture . . . .45

Absence of a Papacy . . . .46

Married Clergy . . . .48

IV. Advantages of a Study of the Eastern Church . 48

1. Its Isolation from Western Controversy . , 49

2. Its Competition with the Latin Church . .51

3. Its Illustration of the Unity of Western Christen-

4. Its Advantages over the Western Church . 56

5. Its Use to the Church of England . . 59 Note on the Doctrine of the Single and Double Procession . 61

LECTURE II.

THE COUNCIL OF NKLEA. A.D. 325.

The Authorities for the History . . . .63

I. The Oriental Character of the Council . . 65

II. Its general Interest . . . . .69

1. Historical Importance of Arianism . .71

2. Importance of the Period . . .75 The Nicene Council the first example of a General a) In its deliberative Character . . 77

b) In its Imperial Character . . .80

c) In its mixed Character . . .85 III. Peculiarities of the History . , . . 90—93

1. Contemporary Sources . . . .90

2. Sources on both Sides . . . .91

3. The Legends . . . . .92

4. The Characters . . . . .93

LECTURE III.

THE MEETING OP THE COUNCIL.

The present Appearance of Nicsea . . . .96

I. The Occasion of the Council . . . .96

Table of Contents.

xiii

Page

1. The Arian Controversy . . . .96

Its abstract dogmatism . . .96

Its Polytheistic Tendencies . . .97

Its Vehemence . . . .98

2. Intervention of the Emperor . . .99 II. The Selection of the Place . . . .101

Its Situation . . . . . .102

III. The Time of the Council . . . .104

IV. Its Assemblage . . . . .105

Mode of travelling . . . . .106

V. Diversity of Characters . . . .109 First Place of Meeting . . . .111

1. Alexandrian Deputies . . . .112

Alexander . . . . .113

Coptic Hermits . . • .117

2. Syrian and Assyrian Deputies :

Eustathius of Antioch . . .117

Eusebius of Cassarea . . .118

Macarius of Jerusalem . . .119

Deputies from Mesopotamia and Armenia . 119

3. Deputies from Asia Minor and Greece :

Leontius of Caasarea . . . 121

Eusebius of Nicomedia . . .122

Alexander of Byzantium . . .123

Acesius the Novatian . . .123

Marcellus of Ancyra . . .124

Spyridion . . . . .124

4. Deputies from the West :

Theophilus the Goth . . .127

The Roman Presbyters . . .128

Hosius of Cordova . . . .129

VI. Preliminary Discussions . . . ,130

The Theologians and the Layman . . .131

The Philosopher and the Peasant . . .132

Principle of Free Discussion . . .134 xiv

Table of Contents.

LECTURE IV.

THE OPENING OF THE COUNCIL.

Page

Arrival of the Emperor . . . . .137

Complaints of the Bishops . . . . .137

Hall of Assembly . . . . .139

Entrance of Constantine ..... 141

The President . . . . . .142

The formal Opening . . . . .146

The Eebuke to the Bishops .... 147

Theological Divisions . . . . .150

The Thalia and Creed of Arius . . . .152

Legend of S. Nicolas . . . . .153

Creed of Eusebius of Caesarea .... 155

The Homoousion 158 The Controversy on ousia and hypostasis . . .161

Creed of Nicaea . . . . . .164

The Subscription of Eusebius of Caesarea . . . 167

of Eusebius of Nice-media . . 168

Banishment of Arius . . . . . 171

Finality of Nicene Creed ..... 174

Broken at Chalcedon . . . . .176

LECTURE V.

THE CONCLUSION OF THE COUNCIL.

I. The Paschal Controversy . . . .178

1. Decree of Settlement . . . .179

2. Paschal Table . . . . .182

3. Festal Letters of Alexandria , . .183 II. The Melitian Controversy . . . .185

HI. The Canons . . . . . .189

Apocryphal Canons . . . .189

Reception of the Book of Judith . . . 190 Twenty genuine Canons .... 191

1. On Clerical Discipline . . . 191—195

On Provincial Councils . . .191

On Episcopal Ordination , . .191

Table of Contents,

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Page

On Metropolitan Privileges . . .192

On Jerusalem and Csesarea . . .193

On Translation . . . .194

On the Power of Deacons . . ,195

2. On Public Worship . . . .195

3. On Clerical Manners . . . 196, 197

Intercourse with religious Women . .197 Protest of Paphnutius . . .197

4. On Cases of Conscience .... 199

Official Letters and Final Subscription . . . 200

Imperial Banquet ...... 202

Rebuke to Acesius . . . . . . 203

Farewell of the Emperor . . . . . 205

Honours paid to Nicsea ..... 207

Departure of the Bishops ..... 207

Reception of the Decrees ..... 208

Legends of Rome and Constantinople . . 208, 209

General Conclusion :

1. Diversity of Incidents .... 210

2. Effect of Individual Characters . . .211

3. Contrast of Legendary and Historical Accounts . 211

4. Settlement of Theological Controversies . .212

LECTURE VI.

THE EMPEROR CONST ANTINE. A.D. 312-338.

Historical Position of Constantine . 217 His Appearance . . . . . .219

His Character . . . . . =220

I. The First Christian Emperor . . . .221

The Battle of the Milvian Bridge . . .225

His ambiguous Religion .... 227

His Christian Legislation .... 229

II. Founder of the Established Church . . .231

His Devotion and Preaching . . . 232

III. His last Visit to Rome . . . . .234

Crimes of the Imperial Family . . . 236 xvi

Table of Contents.

Page

1. Foundation of the Papal Power at Rome . . 238

Absolution of Hosius . . . 239

of Sylvester . . . 240

Donation . .... 241

2. Foundation of Constantinople . . . 243

Its Situation ..... 245

Its Importance in Ecclesiastical History . 248

3. Foundation of the Holy Places in Palestine . 249

Pilgrimage of Helena .... 249

4. Restoration of Arius .... 250 Baptism and death of Constantine . . . 253

LECTURE VII.

ATHANASIUS. A.D. 312-372.

I. Athanasius, as representing the Church of Egypt . 263

His Appearance ..... 263

His Childhood . . . . . .264

Archdeacon of Alexandria .... 265

Consecration as Bishop .... 266

Importance of the See of Alexandria . . . 268

1. Conversion of Abyssinia .... 269

2. Egyptian Hermits . . . . 270

3. National feeling of Egypt . . . 272

Scene of Athanasius's return to Alexandria . 273

II. Contests of Athanasius with the Emperor . . 276

His Isolation, " contra mundum" . . . 276

1. Independence against the Imperial Power . 277

2. Personal, not Ecclesiastical, Opposition . . 280

3. Arian Persecution .... 281

Scene in the Church of S. Theonas . . 283

His General Character .... 284

His Versatility ...... 284

His Humour ...... 285

Magical Reputation ..... 287

III. Athanasius as a Theologian .... 289

1. Common to East and West . . . 290 Athanasian Creed .... 290

2. Founder of Orthodoxy . . . .291 Polemical Vehemence .... 292 Defence of the Doctrine of the Incarnation . 293

Table of Contents. xvii

Page

3. Discrimination of essential and unessential . 296 In the Monastic Disputes . . . 296

In Clerical Discipline . . . 297

In the Use and Disuse of the Homoousion . 297 In the Controversy respecting "Person" and

"Substance" , . . .299

Council of Alexandria . . . . 299

Relations with S. Basil ..... 301

LECTURE VIII.

MAHOMET ANISM IN ITS RELATIONS TO THE EASTERN CHURCH.

Prefatory Remarks on our Knowledge of Mahometanism . 304

I. Its Connection with Western Churches . . 306

II. Its Connection with Eastern Churches . . 307

with their Rise . . .307 and their Ruin .... 308

III. Point of Contact in History . . . .310

1. Christians at Mecca . . . .310

2. Sergius, Monk of Bostra . . . .310

3. Apocryphal Gospels . . . .311

4. Christian Doctrines and Legends . . 312

IV. Comparison with Sacred History . . .313

with Ecclesiastical History . .314

V. The Koran compared with the Bible . . .315

1. Resemblances of Form .... 315

2. Contrasts between them, as regards

a) Uniformity — Variety . . .317

h) Narrowness — Diffusion . . . 319

c) Purity of Text — Variations . .321

d) Monotony — Multiplicity . . 322

e) Exclusiveness — Expansiveness . . 323 VI. Comparison of the Ecclesiastical System of Mahometanism with that of the Christian Church . . 323

1 . Its Relations to Protestantism . . . 324

2. Its Relations to Catholicism . . . 327

3. Its Oriental Character . . . . 330

In its worse and better Qualities . 330 — 333 a, xviii

Table of Contents,

LECTURE IX.

THE RUSSIAN CHURCH.

Page

Authorities . . . . . * . 336

L Importance of the Church of Russia as an Eastern

II. Its Parallel with Western Christendom . . 340

III. Its National Character . . . . .341

Periods of its History ..... 344

Missions of Constantinople .... 345

Conversion of Russia . . . . . 347

1. Legendary Account — S. Andrew, S. Antony 347, 348

2. Historical Account .... 349 Vladimir . . . . .351

Missions to convert him . . . 352

Mission from him to Constantinople . . 355

The Church of S. Sophia . . . .357

Baptism of Vladimir at Kherson . . . 359

of the Russians at Kieff . . . 360

1. Influence of Constantinople . . . 360

2. Veneration of Sacred Pictures . . . 362

3. Effects of Authority .... 365

4. Translation of the Bible into Sclavonic . . 367 Early Christian Princes of Russia .... 370 Will of Vladimir Monomachus . . . . 372

LECTURE X.

THE RUSSIAN CHURCH IN THE MIDDLE AGES.

The Middle Ages of Russia, a.d. 1250—1613 . . 377

Cathedral of the Archangel at Moscow . .381 Ivan the Terrible ..... 382

His Position in Ecclesiastical History . . 382

II. The Metropolitans . 388 Their general Character .... 389

Martyrdom of S. Philip . . . .391

Table of Contents. xix

III. The Monastic Orders .... 392

1. The Hermits . . . . .393

Basil — Nicholas of Plescow . . . 395

2. The Monasteries . . . . .397 IY. The Invasion of the Tartars, a.d. 1205—1472 . . 398

The Troitzka Monastery .... 400

Battle of the Don . . . . ' .402

V. The Invasion of the Poles, A.D. 1606— 1613 . . 404

Siege of the Troitzka .... 406

Election of the Romanoff Dynasty . . . 407

LECTURE XI.

THE PATRIARCH NICON.

The Eastern Reformation ..... 409

I. His Appearance and Character . . .413

Opposition to them .... 424 — 428

II. His Personal History ..... 429

Friendship with the Czar Alexis . . . 430

Retirement ...... 435

Convent of the New Jerusalem . . . 436

Resignation . . . . . . 441

Death and Funeral ..... 449

LECTURE XII.

PETER THE GREAT AND THE MODERN CHURCH OF RUSSIA.

His Historical Importance, a.d. 1672 — 1725 . . 453

His Appearance and Character . . . 454 — 457

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XX

Table of Contents.

His Connection with the Eastern Church His Religion His Death-bed His Reforms

Abolition of the Patriarchate

The Rascolniks (Dissenters)

The Starovers (Old Believers)

Their Grievances

Representatives of Old Russia

Settlement at Moscow Modern State of Russian Church, a.d. 1725

Demetrius of Rostoff

Ambrose of Moscow

Plato of Moscow

Innocent of Kamtschatka

Philaret of Moscow

Professor at the Troitzka Convent

Conclusion

Page

Chronological Table Index

505 515

AT END OP VOLUME.

Plan of the Patriarchal Cathedral of Moscow. Map of the Eastern Churches.

ERRATA.

Page 63, line 9, for "Harris" read "Harris Cowper."

71, Hue 3, for "have never penetrated" read "have never been incorporated."

106, note, for " Heinicher" read " Heinichen."

177, note, for "Lincoln Sermons" read "Lincoln's Inn Sermons."

189, line 20, for "volumes" read "hooks."

294, line 2 from bottom, insert 1 after "position,"

312, line 7, for "belief of the West" read "unbelief of the West."

Introduction To The '

STUDY OF ECCLESIASTICAL HISTOKY.

IN THREE INAUGURAL LECTURES Delivered in the Lent Term of 1857.