The Council of Florence was one of the Ecumenical Councils held by the Roman Catholic Church in the 15th century. This council, which convened from 1431 to 1449, aimed primarily at the reunification of the Eastern Orthodox Church with the Western Catholic Church. Here are some detailed points about the council:
Background and Convocation
- The initiative for the council came from both the political and religious leaders of the time, driven by the need to address the schism that had occurred in 1054, known as the Great Schism.
- The Byzantine Empire was facing significant threats from the Ottoman Turks, and the Byzantine Emperor sought Western aid, which was conditional upon religious unity.
- Pope Eugene IV convoked the council initially at Basel, Switzerland, in 1431, but due to disagreements over its authority and location, it was later moved to Ferrara and then to Florence in 1439.
Key Events and Decisions
- The council began with the intention to heal the schism between the Eastern and Western Churches. Representatives from both sides, including John VIII Palaiologos, the Byzantine Emperor, attended.
- After intense theological debates, particularly on issues like the Filioque Clause and Papal Primacy, a union was proclaimed with the signing of the Decree of Union on July 6, 1439, known as the Laetentur Caeli.
- The decree acknowledged the Pope's primacy and accepted the Latin doctrine of the Filioque, which states that the Holy Spirit proceeds from both the Father and the Son.
Outcome and Legacy
- The union achieved at Florence was largely symbolic and short-lived. The majority of the Eastern Orthodox clergy and laity did not accept the union, leading to significant resistance.
- The Fall of Constantinople to the Ottoman Turks in 1453 further diminished the political influence of the Byzantine Empire, making the union practically irrelevant.
- Despite its failure to achieve lasting religious unity, the Council of Florence contributed to theological dialogue and was an attempt at reconciliation between the Churches.
Notable Figures
- Bessarion, a prominent Orthodox Bishop who later became a Cardinal in the Roman Church, played a significant role in the proceedings.
- Theological figures like Mark of Ephesus opposed the union, becoming a symbol of Orthodox resistance.
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