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 Occupations

CHURCH HIERARCHY OTHER POSITIONSPope

Cardinals

Archbishops

Bishops

Curates

Priests

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