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'''The Council of Florence''' was held in Florence, Italy, during 1438-1439, as a second reunion council to heal the [[Great Schism]] between East and West, the first being the [[Councils of Lyons|Council of Lyons ]] in 1274. The Florentine Council was itself a continuation of the Council of Ferrara, which was itself a continuation of the Council of Basel convoked in 1431 by Pope Martin V.
==The Emperors==
*Bessarion of Nicea – He played the reluctant second chair to Mark during the initial debates and helped throw the match later after Mark was silenced. For his loyalty to the union the Pope rewarded him with the title of Cardinal and gave him lavish gifts.
*'''George Scholarius''', philosopher – He played a supportive roll in the discussions, was faithful to Orthodoxy. later in life he was made Patrirach by the Moslems and took the name [[Gennadius Scholarius]].
*'''[[JosephII of Constantinople|Joseph]], Patriarch of Constantinople''' – He initially strongly opposed the council's locale, which was to have been in Constantinople, but capitulated due to weakness and age. He died mysterious in June before the documents were to be signed, but managed “supposedly” to have made all the necessary concessions to the Pope, as within his authority and dignity, in a letter left written two days before the request by the Pope was even made.
"To the other afflictions which the Orthodox delegation suffered in Florence were added the death of Patriarch Joseph of Constantinople. The Patriarch was found dead in his room.
The Patriarch was buried in the cemetery of a Dominican Church dedicated the Theotokos.
*'''[[Isidore the Apostate|Isidore]], Metropolitan of all Russia''' – He arrived late to the council in August, but managed to arrive before the transferal of the council from Ferrara to Florence due to “plague” conditions in the city of Ferrera. He made a grand tour of his territories before he came to Italy. After Mark was silenced [[Isidore the Apostate|Isidore]] takes a minor roll as second fiddle to Besserion as the two trip over each other trying to sell Orthodoxy out. For his attempts to promote the Latin cause he was made a Cardinal by the Pope and given authority not only over the Russian lands but the [[church]]es and [[diocese]]s of the former Russian lands. He was sent by the Pope to Constantinople to settle the uproar over the Patriarchal elections and to officially declare the union there. Due to the uproar, Metrophanes’ election by default resulted in his being forced to flee. He then went to the territory of Russia to announce the Union and received only slightly better treatment there.*'''[[Metrophanes II of Constantinople|Metrophanes of Cyzicus]]''' - The future Patriarch of Constantinople sold out to the Latins and was not even a strong figure. He was chosen after literally everyone else refused.
==Minor Greek figures present==
*'''Dorotheus of Trebizond'''
*'''Anthony of [[Heraclea]]'''
*'''Macarius of Nicomedia'''
*Ivan N. Ostroumov, ''The History of the Council of Florence''. Holy Transfiguration Monastery, 1971.
*Constantine N. Tsirpanlis, ''Mark Eugenicus and the Council of Florence: A Historical Re-evaluation of His Personality''. 1979.
==See also==
* [[Sylvester Syropoulos]]
* [[Timeline of Orthodox Church and Roman Catholic relations]]
==External links==
[[Category: Councils|Florence]]
[[Category: Robber Councils|Florence]]
[[ro:Sinodul de la Ferrara-Florenţa]]
