Media, News, Publishing

In 543, Justinian wrote a treatise condemning the teachings of the mystic, ascetic and theologian of the 3rd century Origen, denying the eternal torment of sinners. However, the emperor paid the main attention to overcoming the split between the Orthodox and the Monophysites. This conflict has tormented the church for more than 100 years. In 451 the IV Ecumenical Council at Chalcedon condemned the Monophysites. The theological dispute was complicated by the rivalry between the influential centers of Orthodoxy in the East - Alexandria, Antioch and Constantinople. The split between the supporters of the Council of Chalcedon and its opponents (Orthodox and Monophysite) in the reign of Justinian I became especially acute, because the Monophysites created their own separate church hierarchy. In 541, the activity of the famous monophysite Jacob Baradei begins, who, in the clothes of a beggar, went around all the countries inhabited by monophysites, consecrated bishops and even founded a patriarchy. The religious conflict was complicated by the national one: the Greeks and Romans, who considered themselves the ruling people in the Roman Empire, were predominantly Orthodox, while the Copts and many Arabs were Monophysites. For the empire, this was all the more dangerous because the richest provinces - Egypt and Syria - gave huge sums to the treasury, and much depended on the support of the government by trade and craft circles in these areas. While Theodora was alive, she helped mitigate the conflict by patronizing the Monophysites, despite the complaints of the Orthodox clergy, but in 548 the empress died. Justinian decided to bring the issue of reconciliation with the Monophysites to the Fifth Ecumenical Council. The emperor's plan was to smooth out the conflict by condemning the teachings of the enemies of the Monophysites - Theodoret of Cyrrhus, Willow of Edessa and Theodore of Mopsuet (the so-called "three chapters"). The difficulty was that they all died in peace with the church. Is it possible to condemn the dead? After much hesitation, Justinian decided that it was possible, but the Roman Pope Vigilius and the vast majority of Western bishops did not agree with his decision. The emperor took the Pope to Constantinople, kept him almost under house arrest, trying to achieve consent under pressure. After a long struggle and hesitation, Vigilius gave in. In 553, the 5th Ecumenical Council in Constantinople condemned the "three chapters". The pope did not participate in the work of the council, citing malaise, and tried to oppose its decisions, but in the end he nevertheless signed them. In the history of this council, one should distinguish between its religious meaning, which consists in the triumph of the Orthodox dogma that divine and human nature are united in Christ inseparably and inseparably, and the political intrigues that accompanied it. The direct goal of Justinian was not achieved: reconciliation with the Monophysites did not come, and there was almost a break with the Western bishops, who were dissatisfied with the decisions of the council. However, this cathedral played a big role in the spiritual consolidation of the Orthodox Church, and this was extremely important both at that time and for subsequent eras. The reign of Justinian I was a period of religious upsurge. It was at this time that church poetry was developed, written in simple language, one of the most prominent representatives of which was Roman Sladkopevets. This was the heyday of Palestinian monasticism, the time of John of the Ladder and Isaac the Syrian.

There was also a turning point in political affairs. In 552, Justinian equipped a new army for a campaign in Italy. This time she went by land, through Dalmatia, under the command of the eunuch Narses, a brave commander and a cunning politician. In the decisive battle, Totila's cavalry attacked the troops of Narses, built in a crescent, came under cross fire from archers from the flanks, fled and crushed their own infantry. Totila was severely wounded and died. Within a year, the Byzantine army restored its dominance over all of Italy, and a year later Narses stopped and destroyed the hordes of the Lombards that poured into the peninsula. Italy was saved from a terrible plunder. In 554, Justinian continued his conquests in the Western Mediterranean, trying to capture Spain. It was not possible to do this completely, but the south of the country with the city of Cordoba and the Strait of Gibraltar came under the rule of Byzantium. The Mediterranean Sea has once again become the "Roman Lake". In 555, the imperial troops defeated the huge Persian army in Lazik. Khosrow I first signed a truce for six years, and then peace. It was also possible to cope with the Slavic threat: Justinian I concluded an alliance with the nomadic Avars, who took upon themselves the protection of the Danube border of the empire and the fight against the Slavs. In 558 this treaty came into force. For the "Empire of the Romans" the long-awaited peace came.

The last years of the reign of Justinian I (559-565) passed quietly. The finances of the empire, weakened by a quarter of a century of struggle and a terrible epidemic, were being restored, the country was healing its wounds. The 84-year-old emperor did not leave his theological studies and hopes to end the schism in the church. He even wrote a treatise close in spirit to the Monophysites on the incorruptibility of the body of Jesus. For resistance to the new views of the emperor, the Patriarch of Constantinople and many bishops ended up in exile. Justinian I was at the same time the successor of the traditions of the early Christians and the heir of the pagan Caesars. On the one hand, he fought against the fact that only priests were active in the church, and the laity remained only spectators, and on the other hand, he constantly interfered with the state and politics in church affairs, removing bishops at his own discretion. Justinian carried out reforms in the spirit of the gospel commandments - he helped the poor, eased the situation of slaves and columns, restored cities - and at the same time subjected the population to severe tax oppression. Tried to restore the authority of the law, but could not destroy the venality and abuse of officials. His attempts to restore peace and stability in the territory of the Byzantine Empire turned into rivers of blood. And yet, in spite of everything, the empire of Justinian was an oasis of civilization surrounded by pagan and barbarian states and struck the imagination of his contemporaries.

The significance of the deeds of the great emperor goes far beyond the scope of his time. Strengthening the position of the Church, the ideological and spiritual consolidation of Orthodoxy, the liberation of the Western Church from the power of the Arian kings played a huge role in the formation of medieval society. The Code of Justinian survived the centuries and became the basis of subsequent legal norms.

Media, News, Publishing

среда, 1 июля 2020 г.

News update 01/07/2020 (25611)

среда, 1 июля 2020 г.

News update 01/07/2020 (25611)

среда, 1 июля 2020 г.