Changes

'''''Filioque''''' is a Latin word meaning "and the Son" which was added to interpolated into the [[Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed]] by the [[Church of Rome]] in the 11th century, one of the major factors leading to the [[Great Schism]] between East and West. This inclusion in the Creedal article regarding the [[Holy Spirit]] thus states that the Spirit "proceeds from the Father '''''and the Son'''''."

Its inclusion in The interpolation of the Filioque into the Creed is seen by Eastern Orthodox a violation of the [[canons]] of the [[Third Ecumenical Council]] in 431, which forbade and [[anathema]]tized any additions to the Creed, a prohibition which was reiterated at the [[Eighth Ecumenical Council]] in 879-880. This word The Eastern Orthodox, however, make no protest against the Latin interpolation "Deum de Deo" ("God from God") into the text of the Creed. The Filioque, like the phrase "Deum de Deo," was not included by neither the [[First Ecumenical Council|Council of Nicea]] , nor of [[Second Ecumenical Council|Constantinople]]. The term itself has been interpreted in both an Orthodox orthodox fashion and wrongly in a heterodox fashion. It may be is read as saying that the Spirit proceeds from the Father through (''dia'') the Son. This ; this was the position of St [[Maximus the Confessor]]. On In this reading, the Son is not an eternal cause (''aition'') of the Spirit. The heterodox reading , which is not held by the Latin Church, sees the Son, along with the Father, as an eternal cause of the Spirit. Most in the Eastern [[Orthodox Church]] es consider this latter reading to be a [[heresy]].

The description of the ''filioque'' as a heresy was iterated most clearly and definitively by the great [[Church Fathers|Father]] and [[Pillars of Orthodoxy|Pillar]] of the Church, St. [[Photius the Great]], in his ''On the Mystagogy of the Holy Spirit''. He Ignoring the orthodox interpretation held by the West, he describes it as a heresy of [[Triadology]], striking at the very heart of what the Church believes about God.

In the West, St. [[Augustine of Hippo]] taught that the Spirit came from the Father ''and'' the Son, though subordinate to neither. His theology was dominant in the West until the Middle Ages, including his [[Triadology|theology of the Trinity]]. Other Latin fathers also spoke of the Spirit proceeding from both the Father and the Son. While familiar in the West, this way of speaking was virtually unknown in the Greek-speaking, Eastern Roman Byzantine Empire.

Although the [[Second Ecumenical Council]] in 381 had expanded and completed the [[Nicene Creed]] begun at the [[First Ecumenical Council]], the [[Third Ecumenical Council]] (Ephesus, 431) had forbidden any further changes to itthe theology of the Creed, except for by another [[Ecumenical Council]]. By this time, then, the text theology of the [[Nicene Creed]] had acquired a certain definitive authority, of ecumenical value and importance. Rome received the [[Fourth Ecumenical Council]], which referred to preceding councils, citing the authority of the theology of the Creed.

Rome received The ''filioque'' was first used in Toledo, Spain in 587 without the consultation or agreement of the [[Fourth Ecumenical CouncilPentarchy|five patriarchs]], which referred to preceding councils, citing of the authority [[Church]] at that time and in direct violation of [[canons]] of the text [[Third Ecumenical Council]] that prohibited unilateral alteration of the Creedby anything short of another [[Ecumenical Council]]. However, at this time, central Italy The purpose of its addition in Spain was in to counter a state of collapse. In 410 and 455, Rome [[heresy]] that was vandalized and sacked by barbarian invasions. In 476local to that region, probably some form of [[Arianism]] brought there from the Western Roman Empire fell, with East by the exile of Romulus Augustulus, Goths (who had been missionized by the last emperorArian bishop [[Wulfila]]). Chaos followed The practice spread then to France where it was repudiated at the Gentilly Council in 767.

The ''filioque'' was first used in Toledo, Spain in 587 without the consultation or agreement of the [[Pentarchy|five patriarchs]] of the [[Church]] at that time and in direct violation of [[canons]] of the [[Third Ecumenical Council]] that prohibited unilateral alteration of the Creed by anything short of another [[Ecumenical Council]]. The purpose of its addition in Spain was to counter a [[heresy]] that was local to that region, probably some form of [[Arianism]] brought there by the Goths (who had been missionized by the Arian bishop [[Wulfila]]). The practice spread then to France where it was repudiated at the Gentilly Council in 767. After generations of social upheaval, strong leadership appeared in the person of Pepin the Short, king of the Franks, and his son, [[Charlemagne]], crowned as emperor in 800. Charlemagne intended to restore the Roman Empire in the West, with himself in charge, to the chagrin of the leaders of the Eastern Roman Byzantine Empire, whom he referred to as "Greeks" (and thus not Romans), despite the Roman capital being in the East and the continued use by Easterners of ''Roman'' to describe themselves. Charlemagne called for a council at Aix-la-Chapelle in 809 at which Pope [[Leo III of Rome|Leo III]] forbade the use of the ''filioque'' clause and ordered that the original version of the [[Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed]] be engraved on silver tablets displayed at St. Peter's Basilica in Rome so that his conclusion would not be overturned in the future. Some historians have suggested that the Franks in the 9th century pressured the Pope to adopt the ''filioque'' in order to drive a wedge between the Roman Church and the other patriarchates. It is true that Despite this action, the ''filioque'' had come came into wide use in the West and was widely thought to be became an integral part of the Creed, while Rome, renowned for its stability in Orthodoxyconservatism, resisted. Similarly, unleavened bread had come to be thought of as normative for the [[Eucharist]]; diocesan priests were expected to be unmarried. In such cases, in the West, ancient tradition was forgotten. Contemporary usage was thought to be normative and authentic. In these matters of discipline, the influence of the Franks is certain. They intended to exalt Charlemagne, as the new Roman Emperor. The Catholic religion, as they knew it, was to be part of the package. Meanwhile, from cac. 726 to 843, the Eastern Roman Byzantine Empire, under the thumb of successive emperors, was dominated by the heresy of [[iconoclasm]]. Both Franks and Greeks, in their own way, departed from ancient tradition. Unlike the East, however, where iconoclasm was repudiated at the [[Seventh Ecumenical Council]] and the use of icons later confirmed by the [[Theodora (9th century empress)|Empress Theodora]], the West to date never recovered from its departure.

Within a couple of generations, in 858, a new situation came to pass. The Eastern Byzantine Emperor Michael III removed [[Ignatius of Constantinople|Ignatius I]] as patriarch of Constantinople. The emperor replaced him with a layman, St. [[Photius the Great]], who was the first Imperial Secretary and Imperial Ambassador to Baghdad. However, Ignatius refused to abdicatebow to secular authority. Michael and Photius invited Pope [[Nicholas I of Rome]] to send legates to preside over a synod in Constantinople to settle the matter. With the council, the legates confirmed the patriarchate of Photius, much to Nicholas's chagrin, who then declared that they had "exceeded their authority."

In opposition to this removal of Ignatius, the bishop of Rome supported Ignatius as legitimate patriarch. Moreover, contrary to violating existing canons, Photius had been ordained to the office of bishop very quickly. Some scholarship suggests that violation of these canons was the main reason the bishop of Rome rejected the appointment of Photius, though other major actions by Nicholas to bolster his power and position as pope puts his intervention in Eastern ecclesiastical matters more firmly in the context of his general programme of the growth of papal monarchy.

Therefore, after After the arrival of an embassy from Ignatius, in 862, Nicholas said that Photius was deposed, as well as the bishop who ordained him and all the clergy Photius had appointed. The sheer temerity of this action did not even generate a response from Constantinople. However, several years later in 867, Photius finally rejected the Pope's assertion, particularly because of the activities of Latin missionaries in Bulgaria, who were, as St. Photius saysclaimed, turning the Orthodox Christians there away from their pure Orthodox the faith and leading them into [[heresy]]—most notably, the ''filioque''. Photius' response cited the ''filioque'' as proof that Rome had a habit of overstepping its proper limits.

In 867 and 869-70, synods in Rome and Constantinople (the [[Robber Council of 869-870]]) restored Ignatius to his position as patriarch and deposed Photius. In 877, after the death of Ignatius, Photius again resumed office, by order of the emperor and by the request of Ignatius himself, to whom Photius had been reconciled. In 879-880, he was officially restored to his see and the ''filioque'' effectively condemned by the [[Eighth Ecumenical Council]], a council at which papal legates participated and which the current pope, [[John VIII of Rome|John VIII]], eventually confirmed. He was deposed in 886 when Leo VI took over as emperor, who had had a dispute with his father and turned his animosity for his father toward one of his father's friends, Photius. Photius spent the rest of his life as a monk in exile in Armenia; he is revered by the Eastern Orthodox today as a [[saint]], one of the great [[Pillars of Orthodoxy]]. He was the first important [[theologian]] to accuse Rome of [[heresy]] in the matter of the ''filioque'', although it was an accusation based on a false reading of the Latin understanding.

In the ninth century, Pope [[Leo III of Rome]] agreed with the ''filioque'' phrase theologically but was opposed to adopting it in Rome, in part because of his loyalty to the received [[tradition]]. (He also knew that the Greeks resented the new Roman Empire in the West and Charlemagne in particular; the Pope wanted to preserve Church unity.) In fact, Leo had the traditional text of the Creed, without the ''filioque'', displayed publicly, having the original text engraved on two silver tablets, at the tomb of St. [[Apostle Peter|Peter]]. In any case, during the time of Pope Leo's leadership, 795-816, there was no Creed at all in the Roman Mass.

Later, in 1014, the German Emperor Henry II of the Holy Roman Empire visited Rome for his coronation and found that the Creed was not used during the Mass. At his request, the bishop of Rome added the Creed, as it was known in the West with the ''filioque'', after the Gospel. At this time, the papacy was very weak and very much under the influence of the Germans. For the sake of survival, the Pope needed the military support of the Emperor. This was the first time the phrase was used Creed in the [[Mass]] at Rome.

In 1054, however, the argument contributed to the [[Great Schism]] of the East and West, and the West went so far as to accuse the East of heresy for not including accepting the theology of the ''filioque'' in the Creed. There were many other issues involved, in large part based on misunderstandings between Greek and Latin traditions, as well as the irascible temperament of the antagonists. These were Cardinal [[Humbert]] from Rome and Patriarch [[Michael I Cerularius of Constantinople|Michael Cerularius]] of Constantinople. In addition to the actual difference in wording and doctrine in the ''filioque'', a related issue was the right of the Pope to make a change in the [[Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed]] on his ownfor exclusive use in the Roman liturgy, apart from an [[Ecumenical Council]].

In the thirteenth century, St. Thomas Aquinas was one of the dominant Scholastic theologians. He dealt explicitly with the processions of the divine Persons in his ''Summa Theologica''. While the theology of Aquinas and other Scholastics was dominant in the Western Middle Ages, for all its apparent clarity and brilliance, it remains theology, not official [[Roman Catholic Church]] teaching. In 1274, the Second [[Council of Lyons]] said that the [[Holy Spirit]] proceeds from the [[God the Father|Father]] and the [[Christ|Son]], in accord with the ''filioque'' in the contemporary Latin version of the [[Nicene Creed]]. Reconciliation with the East, through this council, did not last. Remembering the Crusaders' sack of Constantinople in 1204, Orthodox Christians did not want to be reconciled with the West in terms of capitulation to Latin [[Triadology]] and [[ecclesiology]]. In 1283, Patriarch [[John Beccus]], who supported reconciliation with the Latin Church, was forced to abdicate; reunion failed.

The Crusaders in question were In 1274, the Venetians Second [[Council of Lyons]] said that the [[Holy Spirit]] proceeds from the [[God the Father|Father]] and the [[Fourth CrusadeChrist|Son]], who had earlier been excommunicated for attacking other Christians. In 1204, they were getting even for a slaughter of Venetian merchants, in rioting, that took place accord with the ''filioque'' in 1182. Pope Innocent III had sent them a letter, asking them not to attack Constantinople; after hearing the contemporary Latin version of the sack of [[Nicene Creed]]. Reconciliation with the cityEast, through this council, he lamented their action and disowned themdid not last. Nevertheless, Remembering the people Crusaders' sack of Constantinople had a deep hatred for the people they called the "Latins" or the "Franksin 1204," and of course the Western church's major "endowment" from Eastern Orthodox Christians did not want to be reconciled with the spoils carried away now still largely rests West in the hands terms of capitulation to Latin [[Triadology]] and [[ecclesiology]]. In 1283, Patriarch [[John Beccus]], who supported reconciliation with the VaticanLatin Church, was forced to abdicate; reunion failed.

For much The Crusaders in question were the Venetians of the 14th century[[Fourth Crusade]], there who had earlier been excommunicated for attacking other Christians. In 1204, they were two bishopsgetting avenging the slaughter of Venetian merchants, in rioting, each claiming to be that took place in 1182. PopeInnocent III had sent them a letter, each excommunicating asking them not to attack Constantinople; after hearing of the followers sack of the othercity, he lamented their action and disowned them. The Great Western Schism concluded with yet a third individual claiming to be Pope and Nevertheless, the Council people of Constance. The East could hardly seek reconciliation with Constantinople had a Western Church divided among itself. (In deep hatred for the people they called the middle of "Latins" or the century"Franks, about a third " even though the sack of Western Europe died Constantinople was done against the will of the Black Death. People were more concerned about the plague than about Church unityPope.)

At For much of the [[Council of Florence]] in 1439, Emperor [[John VIII Palaeologus]], Patriarch Joseph of Constantinople14th century, and other there were two bishops from the East travelled to northern Italy in hope of reconciliation with the West, mainly in order each claiming to solicit military assistance to fend off the encroaching Turkish invaders. After extensive discussionbe Pope, in Ferrara, then in Florence, they acknowledged that some Latin Fathers spoke of each excommunicating the procession followers of the Spirit differently from the Greek Fathersother. Since the general consensus of the Fathers was held to be reliable, as The Great Western Schism concluded with yet a witness to common faith, the Western usage was held not third individual claiming to be a heresy Pope and not a barrier to restoration of full communion. All but one of the Orthodox bishops present agreed and signed a decree Council of union between East and West, ''Laetentur Coeli'' in 1439Constance. The one bishop who refused to sign and was later heralded as East could hardly seek reconciliation with a Pillar of Orthodoxy by the Western Church was Stdivided against itself. [[Mark (In the middle of Ephesus]]the century, who followed in the footsteps about a third of Western Europe died of the previous Pillar of Orthodoxy, St. [[Photius Black Death with no help from the Great]]East.)

Officially At the [[Council of Florence]] in 1439, Emperor [[John VIII Palaeologus]], Patriarch Joseph of Constantinople, and publiclyother bishops from the East travelled to northern Italy in hope of reconciliation with the West. After extensive discussion in Ferrara, Rome and then in Florence, they acknowledged that some Latin Fathers spoke of the procession of the Spirit differently from the Orthodox Church were back in communionGreek Fathers. However, Since the general consensus of the reconciliation achieved at Florence Fathers was soon destroyedheld to be reliable, founded as it a witness to common faith, the Western usage was on held not to be a compromise heresy and not a barrier to restoration of faithfull communion. Numerous Orthodox faithful All the Eastern patriarchs and bishops rejected the union. Moreover, after the Turks except [[Fall Mark of Constantinople|conquered Constantinople in 1453Ephesus]], they fostered separation from the signed a decree of union between East and West, which remained an adversary to Islamic political and military dominance. Furthermore, the patriarch, Gennadius, was also one of the bishops who had repudiated the reunion of Florence on his own initiative''Laetentur Coeli'' in 1439.

FinallyOfficially and publicly, the theology of rationalistic Western Scholasticism predominated among Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches were back in communion. However, the Latin theologians reconciliation achieved at Florence was soon destroyed. Numerous Eastern Orthodox faithful and bishops and so obscured rejected the biblical, patristic perspective long advocated union even though it was decided by the Eastan ecumenical council. Moreover, in which the Spirit is said to proceed "from after the Father" (as in Turks [[Gospel Fall of JohnConstantinople|Johnconquered Constantinople in 1453]] 15:26) or, more rarely, "they fostered separation from the Father ''through'' the Son" (as in some of the Fathers). The Eastern bishops had not imbibed the rationalist intellectualism of the West, which remained an adversary to Islamic political and so were unconvinced by the highly abstract and convoluted arguments of the Scholastics. Hence, the agreement of Florence, intellectually, represented in many respects an imposition of Scholastic theologymilitary dominance.

Undeniably, the ''filioque'' controversy was at least officially resolved, for both Eastern Orthodox and CatholicChristians. However, because of the historical situation and because of the different ecclesiologies of the East and West—in the East, the whole Church is seen as the guardian of faith, while for the West, the Magisterium maintains the faith—this resolution was neither fully received nor permanently sustained.

Though there had been In December of 1452, a reunion [[Divine Liturgy|liturgy]] was held in December of 1452 at [[Hagia Sophia (Constantinople)|Hagia Sophia]] in Constantinople at which the Pope's name was commemorated and the ''filioque'' used in the Creed, that had been largely boycotted by most of the ; some clergy and laity in the cityboycotted it. On the evening of [[May 28]], 1453, however, another liturgy was held which also commemorated the Pope and used the ''filioque'', but which was not boycotted by the majority of the city. The next day, Constantinople fell to the Muslim invaders.

In the judgment of the consultation, the question of the ''filioque'' is no longer a "Church-dividing" issue, one which would impede full reconciliation and full communion, once again. It still stands for the bishops and faithful of the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches to review this work and to make whatever decisions would be appropriate.

There has never been a specific conciliar statement in the Eastern [[Orthodox Church]] which es that defined the ''filioque'' as [[heresy]]. That being said, however, it has been regarded as heretical by multiple Orthodox saints, including Ss. [[Photius the Great]], [[Mark of Ephesus]], and [[Gregory Palamas]] (the three Pillars of Orthodoxy). At the [[Third Ecumenical Council]] and the [[Eighth Ecumenical Council|"Photian" council of 879-880]] (both councils of which Rome signed ontoratified), all changes to the theology of the Creed are anathematized. Further, it is It was explicitly denounced as heretical by the non-ecumenical, 1848 ''[[Encyclical of the Eastern Patriarchs]]''.

*The Some misinterpret the ''filioque'' distorts Orthodox as distorting [[Triadology]] by making the Spirit a subordinate member of the Trinity. Traditional Triadology consists in the notion that for any given trait, it must be either common to all Persons of the Trinity or unique to one of them. Thus, Fatherhood is unique to the Father, while begottenness is unique to the Son, and procession unique to the Spirit. Godhood, however, is common to all, as is eternality, uncreatedness, and so forth. Positing that something can be shared by two Persons (i.e., being the source of the Spirit's procession) but not the other is to elevate those two Persons at the expense of the other. Thus, the balance of unity and diversity is destroyed. *Given the previous objectionThis interpretation does not, however, take into consideration the repercussions to the acceptance two kinds of the ''filioque'' into church life are potentially massive. Because how we relate to God is significantly affected procession believed by both Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Christians as expressed by what we believe about him, false beliefs lead to damaging spirituality. One objection often raised about Filioquist theology is that it undermines the role of the Holy Spirit in the Church. Thus, with his role being denigrated, his traditional ministries are effaced or replacedSt. The Church's unity becomes dependent on an office, spirituality becomes adherence to the letter of Maximus the law rather than its spirit, sacraments come to be understood in terms of validity, and a spirit of legalism prevailsConfessor.

*Though not really a question of heresy, a common objection is to the means of inserting interpolating the ''filioque'' into the Creed. That is, unlike the original adoption of the Creed at [[First Ecumenical Council|Nicea]] and its subsequent revision at [[Second Ecumenical Council|Constantinople]], the decision to include interpolate the ''filioque'' into the Creed for use in the Creed Latin Church was not done by an [[Ecumenical Council]]. Rather, it was initially inserted by the Third Synod of Toledo, Spain (589), to combat Arianism, which had arrived there from the East with the Goths.

*Rome resisted the inclusion of the ''filioque'' for centuries. Leo III, the Pope of Rome at the time the ''filioque'' began its history in Western theology, strongly advised against its inclusion, even though he agreed with the soundness and validity of the doctrine contained in ''filioque''. Later, however, Rome contradicted its previous more Orthodox stance by the promulgation of the ''filioque'', thus anathematizing its own spiritual forebears.