The present short study on the ecumenical patriarchate was authored by the prominent Byzantine historian, Professor Deno J. Geanakoplos. The occasion for this publication was to honor Ecumenical Patriarch Demetrios of Constantinople on his first visit to America. Though the book is very small, it is very important in order to understand the history of this great See of Christendom. The book covers the five phases of the history of the Patriarchate as well as the historical and theological background of the Orthodox view of pentarchy as opposed to the absolute power of the Roman pope. The author discusses the formative period (330-843) of the patriarchate including important personalities such as Saint Gregory the Theologian who served as patriarch in the fourth century and presided over the Second Ecumenical Council. Also, the book briefly brings to life the theological activities during this period, especially the church's response to Arianism, Nestorianism and iconoclasm. The second phase (843-1204) of the patriarchate is devoted to Patriarch Photios and his relation to the West, and especially his missionary achievement of Christianizing the Slavs. Also discussed is the growth of Western hostility during this period. The third phase discusses the last Byzantine period (1261-1453). In this period the "unionist" councils of Lyons (1274) and that of Florence (1439) occurred; both were rejected by Byzantium. The author here gives facts concerning the relationship of Byzantium to Russia. The fourth phase (1435-1833), the "Tourkokratia," or the Turkish domination, is discussed. The author begins with the fall of the great city of Constantinople and specifically with Patriarch Gennadios. This patriarch managed to preserve the authority of the patriarchate over all the Christians under the Turks. In this section, Geanokoplos articulates the sufferings of the Orthodox Christians and their survival under unbearable conditions. There were numerous martyrs, both clergy and lay, who died for the Orthodox faith. Also discussed is the Order of Archons that developed during this period for the protection and support of the patriarchate. The fifth phase (1833 to the present) covers the church's involvement in the educational renewal of the Greek nation. It also discusses the important role the patriarchate plays in the contemporary world in the search for Christian unity. Indicated is the malignment of the patriarchate by the Turkish authorities, impairing the function of this venerable institution in fulfilling its mission of preserving Orthodox unity and seeking relations and dialogue with all Christians. The present study is well written and documented. This work is extremely
In the course of the history of Christianity two types of approaches were expressed in relation to Judaism. They are those expressed by the phrase adversus Judaeos and by Justin Martyr's Dialogos pros Tryphona. The first type has been more prevalent. Beginning with Tertullian a great bulk of literature has been written ‘against the Jews’, contra Judaeos. The dialogue with Trypho seems to have been an anomaly in the flood of literature that was written against Judaism. Among the persons who spoke against Judaism most prominently are St. John Chrysostom and St. Augustine.
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