The Culture and Religion of The Byzantine Empire. Between the East and the West.
to define the characteristics of the Byzantine art and culture;
to list the greatest works of Byzantine arts;
to describe why the dispute between the supporters and opponents of the icons took place;
to explain why the East‑West Schism of 1054 happened.
The birth of the Germanic states on the territory of the Western Roman Empire disturbed the harmonious development of the Antique culture in that area. It did not, however, put an end to its existence and development. It was still present in the Eastern part of the Empire, where it was kept alive and cultivated by the social elites that took pleasure in drawing from the Antique heritage. It underwent numerous changes though, mainly due to the gradual departure from the use of Latin, first in the official documents, then in the public sphere and in literature. This way, the Byzantine culture became the Greek culture, and the Eastern Roman Empire became the Greek Empire. The Emperor found himself in its heart. The Byzantine art, much like the literature and the architecture, drew from the Antiquity. This, however, did not mean that the old formulas were replicated. Contrary to their Antique peers, the Byzantine artists parted ways with realism, seeking to convey multiple meanings through symbols, gestures and colors. The aim of this was to spread the truths of faith and the Emperor’s expectations of his subjects as widely as possible.
The life of the inhabitants of the Byzantine Empire was strongly associated with their faith. It is no coincidence that the majority of Byzantine literary works had religious themes. This did not mean that there was a lack of secular and scientific literature; however, the view that everything that was important in nature had been discovered by the Greeks and Roman already persisting in the Byzantine culture led to shifting the focus towards the word of God. It was not just the domain of the priests and the temples. The Byzantine Church was, from the very beginning, strongly associated with the Emperor’s authority. It meant that the monarch had a say in its internal matters, such as those pertaining to faith. In the end, the decisions of the Emperors led to the greatest crisis in the history of the Byzantine Church that resulted in the split (schismschism) of Christianity between the East and the West in 1054.
Examine the mosaic on the tympanum of the Imperial Gate of the Church of Divine Wisdom (Hagia Sophia) and find out more about its symbols.
Mark the description of those customs of the faithful which, according to the Emperor, were contrary to orthodoxy, in the quote below. Mark those that were commonplace. Next, indicate exceptional cases resembling local rituals.
general customs exceptional customs
And thus we declare to Your Christ-beloved Highness, that many of the clergymen, and secular men as well, have distanced themselves from the Apostolic traditions, and by not keeping the customs of their fathers they have become creators of evil. Certain respectable, life-giving and they have removed crosses from the churches and replaced them with icons and they set lamps and burned incenses as offerings in front of them. They regarded them as much as the noble and living tree on which Christ, our true God, was crucified for our salvation. They worshipped, prayed to, and even asked those icons for protection. Many vested those icons in linen robes and made them godparents of their baptized children.
[...]
Some of the clergymen, having scratched paint off the icons, added it to the Communion and the wine, and after Mass they administered it to whomever wanted it. Others put the Corpus Christi in the hands of representations (statues), from whence whoever wanted to take Communion could take it.Many, having rejected the Church, used the icons as altars in community houses and performed the holy rituals before them. They also commited many other acts contradictory to our religion, considered dishonorable by the educated and wise Fathers.
True or false?
One of the characteristics of the Byzantine architecture were unadorned facades and opulently ornate interiors., The Byzantine artists sought to portray the likenesses in a very realistic manner., In 1054, the unity between the Eastern and Western Churches was severed, beginning the so-called East-West Schism., Byzantine art was used for religious, political, and propagandistic purposes., The heyday of the Byzantine culture took place under the rule of Justinian the Great., The iconoclasts worshipped icons and other representations of the likeness of Christ, Virgin Mary and the Saints., The best-known symbols of Byzantine art are icons and mosaics.
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Keywords
schism, Germanic states, church, Byzantine
Glossary
dyptyk - w sztuce sakralnej dzieło składające się z dwóch połączonych części (skrzydeł), na których umieszczano malowane lub rzeźbione treści religijne.
ikonoklazm - obrazoburstwo; ruch zapoczątkowany w Bizancjum występujący w VIII i IX wieku dążący do likwidacji ikon i innych przedstawień wizerunków Chrystusa, Marii i świętych.
ikonodulia - oddawanie czci obrazom, ikonom, rzeźbom i innym wizerunkom bóstw i świętych.
herezja - poglądy religijne, które są uznawane za sprzeczne z oficjalnymi naukami Kościoła. Pojawiały się przede wszystkim w pierwszych wiekach istnienia chrześcijaństwa (np. arianizm).
idolatria - bałwochwalstwo; oddawanie czci fałszywym bóstwom zamiast prawdziwemu Bogu.
synod - zebranie dostojników kościelnych.
prymat - pierwszeństwo, przewodzenie w czymś, posiadanie zwierzchności i nadrzędnej roli.
schizma - rozdział, podział między wyznawcami jednej religii. Pierwszą wielką schizmą był zapoczątkowany w 1054 r. rozłam w Kościele na wschodni (ze stolicą w Konstantynopolu) i zachodni (w Rzymie).
mozaika - wielobarwna dekoracja wykonana z niewielkich kamieni, szkła lub ceramiki. Znana i popularna w starożytności.
narteks - w budownictwie bizantyjskim kryty przedsionek na początku kościoła.