Description
Book SynopsisThe Council of Constantinople of 553 (often called Constantinople II or the Fifth Ecumenical Council) has been described as ‘by far the most problematic of all the councils’, because it condemned two of the greatest biblical scholars and commentators of the patristic era – Origen and Theodore of Mopsuestia – and because the pope of the day, Vigilius, first condemned the council and then confirmed its decisions only under duress. The present edition makes accessible to the modern reader the acts of the council, session by session, and the most important related documents, particularly those that reveal the shifting stance of Pope Vigilius, veering between heroic resistance and abject compliance. The accompanying commentary and substantial introduction provide a background narrative of developments since Chalcedon, a full analysis of the policy of the emperor Justinian (who summoned and dominated the council) and of the issues in the debate, and information on the complex history of both the text and the council’s reception. The editor argues that the work of the council deserves a more sympathetic evaluation that it has generally received in western Christendom, since it arguably clarified rather than distorted the message of Chalcedon and influenced the whole subsequent tradition of eastern Orthodoxy. In interpreting Chalcedon the conciliar acts provide a fascinating example of how a society – in this case the imperial Church of Byzantium – determines its identity by how it understands its past.
Trade ReviewThere are many amusing and clever asides which make these two volumes not only an important contribution to historical scholarship and research but a pleasure to read.
Lionel Wickham, Journal of Theological StudiesPrice’s extra labour in supplying detailed indices and an up-to-date bibliography makes this volume a valuable aid to research as well as an accessible introduction to the doctrinal and political issues surrounding the Fifth Ecumenical Council.
Kevin Uhalde, Early Medieval Europe 19 (3)'Not only impressive from the standpoint of the work it represents, but also useful for historians of the late Antiquity as well as for those interested in the councils of that time.' (Translated from French)
Dominic Moreau,
Cristianesimo nella storiaTable of Contents
- Preface
- Abbreviations
- GENERAL INTRODUCTION
- I. The Road from Chalcedon 451–518
- II. The Ecclesiastical Policy of the Emperor Justinian
- III. The Trials of Pope Vigilius
- IV. The Theology: Problems and Solutions
- V. The Three Chapters
- 1. Theodore of Mopsuestia
- 2. The Controversial Writings of Theodoret
- 3. The Letter of Ibas to Mari the Persian
- VI. The Reception of the Council
- VII. Texts and Versions
- LETTERS FROM AFRICA (545–6)
- 1. Bishop Pontianus to Justinian
- 2. Ferrandus, Letter 6 to the Deacons of Rome
- JUSTINIAN, EDICT ON THE ORTHODOX FAITH (551)
- LETTERS BY OR ON POPE VIGILIUS (551–2)
- 1. Letter of Excommunication to Ascidas and Menas
- 2. Letter from the Church of Milan to the Frankish Envoys
- 3. Encyclical Letter, Dum in Sanctae Euphemiae
- THE ACTS OF THE COUNCIL OF 553
- Session I, 5 May
- Session II, 8 May
- Session III, 9 May
- Session IV, 12 May
- Session V, 17 May
- VOLUME ONE
- TABLE OF CONTENTS
- VOLUME TWO
- Abbreviations
- THE ACTS OF THE COUNCIL OF 553
- Session VI, 19 May 3
- Session VII, 26 May 72
- Session VIII, 2 June 102
- VIGILIUS, THE TWO CONSTITUTA (553–4)
- 1. First Constitutum 141
- 2. Second Letter to Eutychius of Constantinople 214
- 3. Second Constitutum 219
- APPENDICES
- I. The Anti-Origenist Canons (543 and 553)
- 1. Canons of 543
- 2. Letter of Justinian to the Council (553)
- 3. Canons of 553
- II. The Attendance and Subscription Lists
- MAPS
- 1. Patriarchates and Provinces
- 2. The Balkans
- 3. Western Asia Minor
- 4. Eastern Asia Minor
- 5. Syria and Palestine
- 6. Egypt
- 7. Italy and Africa
- GLOSSARY
- BIBLIOGRAPHY
- 1. Primary Sources
- 2. Secondary Literature
- INDICES
- 1. Persons in the Texts
- 2. Documents
- 3. The Commentary
