The Byzantine Theocracy: The Weil Lectures, Cincinatti | Steven Runciman

The Byzantine Theocracy: The Weil Lectures, Cincinatti | Steven Runciman | Outstanding; and Essential!

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The Byzantine Theo...

	The Byzantine Theocracy: The Weil Lectures, Cincinatti Steven Runciman Cambridge University Press, 2004 - 205 pages average customer review:based on 2 reviews view larger image
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The constitution of the Byzantine Empire was based on the conviction that it was the earthly copy of the Kingdom of Heaven. Just as God ruled in Heaven, so the Emperor, made in his image, should rule on earth and carry out his commandments. This was the theory, but in practice the state was never free from its Roman past, particularly the Roman law, and its heritage of Greek culture. Sir Steven Runciman's Weil lectures trace the various ways in which the Emperor tried to put the theory into practice - and thus the changing relationship between church and state - from the days of the first Constantine to those of the eleventh. The theocratic constitution remained virtually unchanged during those eleven centuries. No other constitution in the Christian era has endured for so long.

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An Engaging Survey of Byzantine Political Theory in Practice

In his book "The Byzantine Theocracy" is an excellent survey of the relationship between Emperors and the Church hierarchy throughout Byzantium's 1,100 year old history. This book is in fact a collection of six separate lectures given by Runciman given at the Weil Institute in Cincinnati. The six chapters in the book chronologically map the evolution of Byzantine political thought, from the Constantine I and the era of Christological controversies, through the Iconoclastic controversy, Schism with the West, and the Byzantine Empire's decline and eventual collapse in 1453.

Runciman's main argument is that an unwritten Byzantine constitution, formulated by the fourth century Bishop Eusebius, regarded the Emperor as God's Viceroy on earth. Runciman's view is that throughout the Empire's history, Byzantines following this understanding of divine kingship jealously struggled to maintain the dignity of the Imperial office in the face of abuse, incompetence and challenges from ecclesiastical authorities.

"The Byzantine Theocracy" is also a rather pleasant history of Church history from the 4th through 15th century, demonstrating many of Byzantium's splendid contributions to Christian history. Byzantine emperors were very much involved in virtually all of the ecumenical councils that took place during this era. As well, the complicated history of the relationship between the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, the Pope and the other eastern Patriarchs is intertwined with Byzantine political history.

This is a fascinating book and an essential read for anyone interested in Byzantine history, Church history, applied politics or anyone curious how a state that lasted more than a millennium governed itself.

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Outstanding; and Essential!

Wonderful British historian Steven Runciman herein chronicles the terribly important saga of the Byzantine Theocracy, from its foundation by Constantine, until its tragic fall, over 1,100 years later. As Runciman so clearly and insightfully illustrates, the theory of the Byzantine, or later Roman, Empire was that it was the Kingdom of God on Earth. With this lofty concept in mind, we see the various human machinations of the many interesting players in Byzantine history in the context of their membership in the Mystical Body of Christ, His Holy Church. We have read no more important treatise on Christian government to date.

In historical context, the Byzantine theory of government is of crucial importance. For it was this theory that was inherited by Holy Russia. It is in this context, that Moscow was known as the Third Rome, after the original Rome, the first city of the Church, and the second Rome, Constantinople, which fell in 1453. When Constantinople fell, Moscow became the leading city of Orthodoxy, a role in which she served until her fall to the Bolshevik butchers in 1917. And we wait anxiously to see if Moscow, the Third Rome, can emulate her predecessor, Constantinople, and rise again. On this question turns much of the story of Civilization yet to come.

We strongly recommend Sir Steven Runciman's very important work. He writes beautifully, and with a proper sense of justice.

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