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Post by Admin on May 24, 2016 15:05:06 GMT
It seems that the population of Antioch have resolutely sided with the School of Antioch's preaching, and have erupted in anger after a local priest lead a sermon decrying Nestorius for heresy. The partisans of Nestorius, caught up in a fever, have killed a dozen or more priests on the charge of heresy, for their support of the School of Alexandria.
Antioch converts to Nestorianism (currently functioning as part of the official Church)
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Post by Imperium Romanum (Orientalis) on May 24, 2016 15:11:39 GMT
The rioters are to be put down by the garrison. The preacher is to be arrested quietly in the night and transported to a place of safety. He is not to be harmed, but he is to be kept out of the way until the church can convene a council to deal with the situation.
The Regent begins preparation for a Church Council by inviting the Pentarchs (yes, including Rome) to Constantinople for closed door discussions.
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Post by Admin on May 25, 2016 18:54:57 GMT
The Bishop of Rome sends a representative on his behalf, being far too busy to travel in person. He promises that his representatives have his full trust. They seem lukewarm about the council, and it is clear that they intend to continue calling Mary 'the Mother of God', regardless of the result.
The Patriarch of Alexandria, Cyril, a young man of apparently unshaking convictions, who has already been adding much fuel to the burning fires within Holy Mother Church through his unyielding refusal to accept the toleration of any unorthodox beliefs, is hesitant about the invitation. He would not wish to be involved in any closed-door discussions when the Bishop of Antioch was present, for fear of being accused of compromise.
Bishop John of Antioch undertakes the long journey to Constantinople by land, and happily arrives to meet his temporal sovereign. John has witnessed much of division that lately incited a riot in his See, and despite his sympathy for the School of Antioch - due to proximity if nothing else - he is eager to see unity and compromise through a moderate solution.
The delegation from Jerusalem are sympathetic to the School of Alexandria.
The Archbishop of Constantinople is a fierce opponent of heresy, but has not yet developed a firm position. If Nestorius is proved to deviate from Orthodoxy, he will want a firm declaration of his beliefs as heresy.
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Post by Imperium Romanum (Orientalis) on May 27, 2016 22:52:07 GMT
Those who answered the Regent's call are welcomed discreetly to a fine palacial villa owned by the Regent south of Adrianople. After being fed and watered generously, they are instructed as to the reason for discretion..
The Regent plans to hold a Church Council in Constantinople shortly, to address issues of doctrine arising from the teachings of Nestorius and Pelagius. The Emperor's Office takes no part in matters of theology, but is keenly interested in the preservation of ecclesiastical unity. The Empire is keenly aware that should Nestorius' teaching be declared heresy, it would lead to the alienation of the vast majority of Christians in the East, in Mesopotamia, Armenia, and Persia, regions of keen strategic importance to the Empire, Christianity's great exponent and protector.
Likewise, should Nestorius' teaching be upheld by the council, it would clearly lead to the alienation of most of the Empire's people, especially in the West. This could not be tolerated at such a dangerous junction for the Empire in general, and the West in particular.
To this, the regent puts forward the one part of the church on which he is qualified to discuss, its organisation. It is proposed that, prior to discussion of the teachings of Nestorius and Pelagius, the council should formalise the organisational structure of the church.
The Regent's suggestion is thus, the recognition of the Patriarchs of Constantinople, Rome, Antioch, Jerusalem, and Alexandria form a formal Pentarchy of leadership of the church, with an Ecumenical Patriarch elected from within their number to act as first among equals in matters of church organisation. Beneath these, Patriarchs should be nominated for each key region or state, appointed by the council and Pentarchs, but with delegated authority for their region. The Regent believes that whatever Orthodoxy is settled upon (and he quietly believes it unlikely that either Pealgius' or Nestorius' teachings are taken up), it will be taken to more willingly from a local Patriarch.
Off the top of his head, Anthemius suggests the following as seats for "Autocephalous" Patriarchs: Dvin or Theodospolis (in Persarmenia and Roman Armenia respectively), Al-Hirah, Ctesiphon, Camulodunum or Londinium, and Tarracona.
He hopes that these suggestions are reasonable to their Eminencies, as reasonable and practical means to achieve a stronger, more united church.
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Post by Admin on May 31, 2016 19:15:56 GMT
Some of the Bishops disagree with the administrative suggestions of the Regent, saying that Autocephaly may only be granted by the Bishop of that See, and may not effectively be centrally ordained. The Pentarchs of both Rome and Constantinople fear an erosion of their importance as Bishops of imperial cities, and the idea of who could be first among equal proves slightly divisive among them.
The Bishop of Antioch is happy to assent to the appointing of an Orthodox Patriarch at al-Hirah and Ctesiphon, even if it were to be held by a potential Nestorian. The Bishop of Jerusalem agrees, but adds that if Nestorianism were deemed heresy, then he would not maintain communion with a church that preached Nestorianism.
It seems that the Autocephelous Patriarchs of al-Hirah and Ctesiphon will be approved at the council, but the question of an elected primus inter pares for the Pentarchs is more of an open question.
The position of the Patriarch of Alexandria is, of course, unknown. Other than his passinate hatred of all heresy.
All are pleased at the emperor's neutrality in the matter.
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