Untitled Flashcards Set

Athenagoras

Eastern Orthodox patriarch who described his meeting with Pope Paul VI as akin to brothers meeting after a long separation.

Mutual Excommunication

The act of lifting the decrees of excommunication between the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church, a significant step toward reconciliation.

Byzantine Empire

The eastern half of the Roman Empire that continued after the fall of the Western Roman Empire, centered in Constantinople.

Eastern Orthodoxy

The particular branch of Christianity practiced in the Byzantine Empire, characterized by its close connection to the state.

caesaropapism

The political-religious system in which the emperor not only rules as a monarch but also exerts strong influence over the Church.

Serfdom

A form of labor where serfs were bound to the land and required to provide services to a lord, typical in post-Roman Europe.

Crusades

A series of religious wars initiated by the Catholic Church to reclaim Jerusalem and the Holy Land from Muslim control.

Iconoclasm

The rejection or destruction of religious images, significant in Byzantine history where emperors sought to limit the use of icons.

Kievan Rus

A federation of Slavic tribes under the leadership of the city of Kiev, which played a key role in the spread of Orthodox Christianity in Eastern Europe.

Cyrillic Script

An alphabet developed by Byzantine missionaries Cyril and Methodius for Slavic languages, aiding in the spread of literacy and Christianity.

Justinian

Emperor of the Byzantine Empire (527–565) known for his ambitious attempts to reconquer the Mediterranean and codifying Roman law.

Ladder of Divine Ascent

A Christian instructional book used in Byzantine monasticism, illustrating the spiritual journey towards union with God.

Eastern and Western Christendom

The two major branches of Christianity that developed divergent traditions and practices, particularly after the Great Schism.

Nestorianism

A form of Christianity regarded as heretical by the Western Church, practicing in regions such as Persia and India.

Third Rome

A concept articulated in Russia asserting that Moscow is the successor to the legacy of Rome and Constantinople in preserving Orthodox Christianity.

The Great Schism

The split between the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church that formalized the religious divide in Christianity.

Papacy

The office of the Pope in Rome, which became increasingly centralized and powerful in Western Christianity.

Byzantine Icons

Religious images used in worship within the Eastern Orthodox Church, seen as windows to the divine.

Greek fire

A flammable substance used by the Byzantine military, significantly effective against invading forces.

Holy Roman Empire

A multi-ethnic complex of territories in Western and Central Europe that developed during the early Middle Ages and sought to revive Roman imperial authority.

Two Swords Theory

A theory in medieval political thought asserting that church and state should both hold power, each with its own authority.

Vikings

Norse explorers and warriors who expanded into Europe and beyond from the late eighth to early eleventh centuries.

Feudalism

The social system in medieval Europe where land was exchanged for military service and loyalty.

Charlemagne, King of the Franks

Ruler who expanded the Frankish empire and was crowned emperor by the pope, symbolizing the union of Christian and political authority.

Celtic Christianity

The form of Christianity that developed in the British Isles, characterized by its distinct practices and traditions differing from Roman Catholicism.

Papal Indulgences

Grants by the Catholic Church that released individuals from penalties for their sins, often associated with the Crusades.