The Germanizationof Christianity

Theology 237-01: The Church in History and Culture

Chronology

383 - Ulfilas, missionary to the Goths493 - Patrick, missionary to the Irish496 - Clovis is baptized into Catholicism547 - Benedict of Nursia565 - Emperor Justinian 587 - Recared’s converson to Catholicism604 - Gregory the Great622 - Hijra, birth of Islam732 - Battle of Tours754 - Boniface, Apostle to the Germans787 - Council of Nicaea II, ending iconoclasm800 - Charlemagne is crowned Holy Roman Emperor

Chronology

863 - Cyril and Methodius convert Moravia989 - Synod of Charroux and the Peace of God Movement1054 - Eastern/Western Schism1066 - Battle of Hastings1077 - Investiture controversy (Henry IV and Gregory VII at Canossa)1085 - Gregory VII1095 - First Crusade is preached and launched1099 - Crusaders takes over Jerusalem1119 - Creation of the Knights Templars1122 - Concordat of Worms (ending the investiture controversy)1123 - First Lateran Council1145 - Second Crusade is launched

Barbaric invasion

Germanic Profiles

• Huns – Come from Asia, push German tribes into Rome and through Attila attack Rome itself

• Visigoth (Western Goths) – Arian Christians until 587, Migrate into Rome and eventually control Spain until the Muslim conquest in 711

• Ostrogoth (Eastern Goths) – Arian Christians, Migrate into Rome and control northern Italy, Weakened by the Byzantines in 567 they were absorbed by the Lombards

• Vandals – Arian Christians, Migrate into Rome and control North Africa and the Mediterranean until the Byzantines reconquered in 533

• Alamanni – Pagan confederation of smaller germanic tribes, eventually absorbed by the Catholic Franks

• Saxons – Pagans who reside in northern Germany and Briton, convert in mid 600’s, conquered by Charlemagne and William the conqueror

• Irish/Celtic – Converted in the 5th century and create their unique monastic societies conducting missionary activities in Europe

• Franks – Convert with Clovis in 496 and become the dominant Germanic power culminating with Charlemagne and the creation of the Holy Roman Empire

Monastic influence Irish Monasticism

Palladius and Patrick in 5th century converts many Irish. A network of monasteries was developed in lieu of an episcopal

church. Irish monasteries were local political units that served a local kingdom.

Immensely personal spirituality, created penitential (private confession), date of Easter was different.

590 Columbanus and the Irish missionaries go to Gaul Roman Monasticism

Benedict designs the structure of European monasticism with “The Rule.” Well functioning and organized communities of prayers and work.

Monasteries developed in marginal lands and made them productive economic systems.

This Monasticism grew and missionaries like Augustine would take the rule throughout Britain and Europe.

Synod of Whitby – 664 AD King Oswiu of Northumbria supported the holder of the keys.

POPE GREGORY THE GREAT (540-604) In the tradition of Leo he

governed Rome, “St. Peter’s patrimony.” Organized health and sanitation, defense, social justice/distribution, and trade.

Promoted Germanic conversion Converted the Arian Goths in Spain Sent Augustine on missions to

Briton Theological development of

Augustinian concept of salvation, purgatory and penance (pushing aside ideas of predestination and irresistible grace)

Gregory the Great

“When we attend to the needs of

those in want, we give them what is theirs, not ours.

More than performing works of mercy, we are paying a debt of

justice.”

St. Boniface (680-754) 716 – Mission to Frisia and

Germania, used germanic superstition to convert the masses (legend of cutting down Donar Oak)

732 – made archbishop of Germania where he had to create an ecclesial structure.

Throughout this time he consolidated the relationship between the Papacy and the Carolingian (the Franks)

754 – martyred trying to convert the Frisians

The General missionary policy of Gregory, and later Boniface, may be summarized as “that which cannot be supplanted by preaching or coercion, may be accommodated.” – David Keep

Conversion To advance the process of

Christianization among the Germanic peoples it adopted the religiopolitical and magicoreligious elements of Germanic religiosity.

Christianity was adapted to germanic political and military ideals (blood feuds) in order to facilitate the alliance of the Frankish political and military unit

A comprehensive program of post baptismal religious education never materialized, thus Christianity remained a superficial and superstitious religion.

Charlemagne and the Carolingian Renaissance

• Byzantines and Lombards threaten Rome and Muslims are threatening Europe.

• Looking for a military protector the Papacy looks to their Frankish allies and the Carolingian house.

• 800 AD, Charlemagne is crowned by Pope Leo III

• He revived education and schools with the contribution of Alcuin of York and scholars flocked to his domain.

Second wave of invasions

Northern wave - The Vikings/Norseman (793, 911)

Eastern wave – The Magyars (896, 955)

Southern wave – The Muslim (711, 754)

In the East, Iconoclasm

• In response to Islamic cultural issues with the use of images Byzantines started a campaign to also eliminate the use of icons.

• It was a class issue with lower class, eastern Byzantines supporting iconoclasm and wealthy aristocratic Byzantines condemning it.

• 730, Emperor Leo III began the iconoclasm campaign of smashing images. Pope Gregory III condemned iconoclasm

• 787, Council of Nicaea II (the last ecumenical council between east and west) condemned iconoclasm.

In the West, Investiture

• Who had higher power and influence in western Europe, Specifically, who had the right of investing authority on bishops: Pope or Holy Roman Emperor?

• From the time after Charlemagne until 1122 this issue depended on who had a stronger personality.

• In 1075 Pope Gregory claimed this authority against Emperor Henry IV and excommunicated him. 1077 Henry IV found himself with no power and went to Canossa for forgiveness.

• Emperor and Pope continued to fight until the Concordat of Worms in 1122.

RELIGIOUS CONTROVERSY

1054: Official split between Eastern and Western Church

RENEWAL AND REFORM Clunaic Reform

909 – Monastery of Cluny founded to reform monasticism with a reapplication of The Rule along with the evangelical counsels of poverty, celibacy and obedience. Subject to the Papacy alone.

Eleventh century ecclesiastical reformation to strengthen the church with monastic discipline.

1049 Monks Bruno, Humbert and Hildebrand go to Rome to reform the Papacy.

Hildebrand is Pope Gregory VII from 1073-1085.

War and Peace

Feudal society is in a state of constant warfare between local lords.

Peace of God › Synod of 989 – Christian

Knights who attacked or robbed clergy or serfs were to be excommunicated

› Synod of 1033 – Children and women were specifically protected.

Truce of God › Council of 1027 –

banning warfare on certain holy days.

Reconquista, Crusades and Military Monks

• 1085 – Toledo falls to the Christian armies of Alfonso VI.

• 1095 – Pope Urban II gets a plea for Byzantine Emperor Alexius Comnenus for help against the Muslims, Pope preaches for the Crusade at Claremont

• 1099 – Crusaders take over Jerusalem and establish the Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem. El Cid dies defending Valencia.

• 1119 – Pius Knights create a monastic order to protect and serve pilgrims. Knights Templars and later the Hospitallers are born

• 1147 - Second Crusade go out with Emperor Conrad III of the Holy Roman Empire and Louis VII of France. Liberation of Lisbon

Maps