The Medieval Church

THE MEDIEVAL CHURCH

Constantine the Great First Roman emperor

to become Christian Enforced “correct

practice” of religion After his death in 337,

Byzantium was renamed Constantinople

Constantine the Great, mosaic in Hagia Sophia, Constantinople (Istanbul)Constantine I, bronze statue in York, England

Patriarchs Five special bishops had authority over

other church leaders Bishop of Rome Bishop of Alexandria Bishop of Antioch Bishop of Constantinople Bishop of Jerusalem

Argued over who was most powerful

http://darkwing.uoregon.edu/~atlas/europe/interactive/map31.htmlThe Spread of Christianity

Map of the Roman Empire

Popes in Rome Innocent I – pope is supreme leader of the

church Leo I – pope’s word is law Tradition of Apostle Peter as the first pope Christian church split into East and West

The Papal Emblem

Monasticism Setting oneself apart from the secular

world Developed by Coptic Orthodox Church

established in Egypt, 450 AD

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Clergy Church leaders Two groups:

Secular clergy – lived in the world and interacted with people on a regular basis

Regular clergy – monks and nuns

“Monk” comes from a Greek word meaning “solitary” or “alone”

Leaf from a Royal Manuscript, Scenes from the life of Saint Francis

Benedict

Rules for monks Poverty Chastity Obedience

By the end of 600s, most monasteries in the West followed Benedictine rule.

Charlemagne required all monks to follow the Rule.

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Importance of Monasteries Centers for knowledge,

information, & literacy Monks copied

manuscripts, especially copies of the Bible

Between 400 – 800 AD, monks and scholars fled to Ireland to escape Germanic pagans

Kept Western learning and religion alive

The opening of St Luke's Gospel in the Lindisfarne Gospels

Venerable Bede Wrote early histories of England Popularized the term anno Domini,

meaning “in the year of our Lord”

Bede’s Tomb in Durham Cathedral, EnglandThe Venerable Bede Translates JohnBy J.D. Penrose

Cathedrals

Durham Cathedral, England

Canterbury Cathedral, England Chartres Cathedral, France

Religious OccupationsCHURCH HIERARCHY OTHER POSITIONS

Pope

Cardinals

Archbishops

Bishops

Curates

Priests

Abbot/Abbess Almoner Cantor Friar Monk/Nun Pardoner Pilgrim/Palmer Sacristan Sexton