Links: Photo of mosaic of Justinian I by Petar Milošević Map of Europe in 526 Litle Hagia Sophia/Sergius and Bacchus . The Code of Justinian Map of Samaria Justinian’s law on the Jews Check out the other great Catholic podcasts at the Starquest

#495 – A History of the Catholic Church – The Rule of Benedict

May 31st, 2019

Saint Benedict of Nursia and his Rule set out to establish a monastic charism of moderation for beginners that would become the model of monastic spirituality throughout the West. We also look at the importance of monastic penance and child obl

#494 – A History of the Catholic Church – The Council of Orange

May 24th, 2019

Conflicts over Augustine’s theology of prevenient grace and predestination arise in Gaul as Caesarius of Arles defends himself against suggestions of heresy at the Council of Orange. Pope Boniface II tries and fails to name his successor. A pop

#493 – A History of the Catholic Church – Choosing a Successor

May 17th, 2019

After a survey of the Christian/Jewish relationship in the former Roman Empire and in the Byzantine Empire, we look at the status of Christians outside the Byzantine Empire. We end with a look at how Pope Felix IV tried to avoid a crisis over h

#492 – A History of the Catholic Church – The Rule of the Master

May 10th, 2019

In the late 5th/early 6th century, there were significant developments in monastic spirituality. In the West, the appearance of the Rule of the Master. In the East, the homilies of Jacob of Serug. Bishops tried to exert control over monastics,

#491 – A History of the Catholic Church – Episcopal Responsibilities

May 3rd, 2019

A growing Church and political instability mean new responsibilities for the clergy – especially the bishops. Not even the Church of Rome remains unaffected. Links: Icon of Caesarius of Arles Map of the territory of the various Patriarchs Check

#490 – A History of the Catholic Church -Complexities of Christian Art

Apr 26th, 2019

The Church in the late 5th/early 6th centuries continues to struggle with the right relationship to the pagan culture of the Greek/Roman Empire – what must be rejected as false, what should be preserved as true, what can be authentically Christ

#489 – A History of the Catholic Church – Anno Domini

Apr 19th, 2019

In this episode, we look at the Easter Tables of Dionysius Exiguus, the beginnings of the Anno Domini dating system, historical Chronicles and the Liber Pontificalis – all seeking to present God as Lord of time and history. Links: Image of Rave

#488 – A History of the Catholic Church – The Death of Boethius

Apr 12th, 2019

As the Church of Rome and the Emperor Justin move to restore ties with the end of the Acacian Schism, tensions between King Theodoric of Italy and the Byzantine Empire increase leading to the imprisonment and death of both the Roman Senator Boe

#487 – A History of the Catholic Church – The Scythian Monks

Apr 5th, 2019

The Scythian Monks hoped to end the conflict between the Chalcedonians and Monophysites. But their endorsement of Theopaschatism – that one of the Trinity/Jesus Christ was crucified in the flesh caused concern in both the East and the West – as

#486 – A History of the Catholic Church – Ending the Acacian Schism

Mar 29th, 2019

The death of Anastasius and accession of Justin as Emperor offers a new opportunity for the restoration of ecclesiastical union between Rome and Constantinople. However, behind the union many problems remained as a union motivated by politics c

#485 – A History of the Catholic Church – Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite

Mar 22nd, 2019

The mystical theologian Pseudo-Dionysius may remain a mystery, but the influence of his work upon the theology of the Eastern and Western Church is quite evident. From the theology of the Angels, to Christology, to Prayer, Pseudo-Dionysius left

#484 – A History of the Catholic Church – The Formula of Hormisdas

Mar 15th, 2019

After a brief presentation of the Christology of Severus of Antioch and its relationship to Neo-Chalcedonianism, we move to another attempt at ending the Acacian Schism. However, Pope Hormisdas of Rome continues his predecessor’s strong line to

#483 – A History of the Catholic Church – The Ascendancy of Monophysitism

Mar 8th, 2019

Emperor Anastasius of the Byzantine Empire with the support of Philoxenus of Mabbug, Severus of Antioch and John II/III of Alexandria aggressively move to put an end to support for the Council of Chalcedon, but they face strong resistance. Link

#482 – A History of the Catholic Church -The Symmachian Forgeries

Mar 1st, 2019

Symmachus and Laurentius fight for control of the Church of Rome with all the means they have at their disposal. The Basilica of St. Peter’s grows in importance as the symbol of the Pope’s Petrine authority. Links: Ruins of the original Basilic

#481 – A History of the Catholic Church – The Laurentian Schism

Feb 22nd, 2019

Controversy over the Acacian Schism leads to a schism with the Church of Rome and the bishops of Italy debate whether anyone but God can judge the actions of a Pope. Links: Mosaic at the Basilica of Saint Agnes. Pope Symmachus is to the left. J

#480 – A History of the Catholic Church -The Gelasian Doctrine

Feb 15th, 2019

Pope Gelasius I enunciates the proper relationship between the Pope of Rome and the Emperor and the proper relationship between the Pope of Rome and the Metropolitan Bishop of Constantinople. Unfortunately for Gelasius, the Emperor and Bishop o

#479 – A History of the Catholic Church – The Baptism of Clovis

Feb 8th, 2019

In Gaul, Clovis becomes the first of the Germanic leaders to adopt Nicene Christianity. In Rome, Pope Gelasius struggles to deal with the problems caused by recent wars in Italy. The Acacian Schism continues to fester. Links: The Baptism of Clo

#478 – A History of the Catholic Church – The Movement Toward Claustration

Feb 1st, 2019

In North Africa, Fulgentius of Ruspe defends the Nicenes against the return of Arian Persecution. In Gaul, Caesarius of Arles writes the first Western rule for Monastic Women. In Italy, Theodoric seeks to keep the peace between the Arians and t

#477 – A History of the Catholic Church – The School of Nisibis

Jan 25th, 2019

The School of Nisibis and Narsai spread the Christology of Theodore of Mopsuestia throughout the Church of the East. Links: Mar Jacob Church in Nisibis by Gareth Hughes. Some examples of Narsai’s Mêmrê can be found here Adam Izdebski, “The Scho

#476 – A History of the Catholic Church – The Church of the East Defines Itself

Jan 18th, 2019

The Church of the East moves away from the Church of the Roman Empire through the adaptation of married clergy and the adaptation of the Christology of Theodore of Mopsuestia as its official teaching. Meanwhile, the Church of Armenia adopts Zen

#475 – A History of the Catholic Church – The Schism Continues

Jan 11th, 2019

As the conflict between East and West over the Henotikon continues, Pope Felix III needs to deal with Nicenes in North Africa abandoning the faith and the Ostrogoths invading Italy. We also look at the theology of Philoxenus of Mabbug. Links: P

#474 – A History of the Catholic Church – The Acacian Schism

Jan 4th, 2019

Zeno’s Henotikon succeeds in establishing a tenuous religious peace in the East but provokes schism with Pope Felix III over its apparent failure to defend the Council of Chalcedon and Acacius’ unwillingness to recognize Felix’s claims of Petri

#473 – A History of the Catholic Church – Faustus and the Henotikon

Dec 28th, 2018

St. Faustus of Riez leads the bishops of Gaul against the theology of Predestination showing that the defeat of Pelagius has not meant the complete acceptance of Augustine. In the East, in an attempt to create unity between Chalcedonians and Mo

#472 – A History of the Catholic Church – Barbarian Domination

Dec 21st, 2018

In the West, the Fall of Roman power in the West meant the domination of Arians in the Kingdom of the Vandals of North Africa, the Kingdom of the Visigoths in Hispania and Gaul and the Kingdom of Odoacer in Italy. In North Africa, the Nicene Ro