An Eastern Church Amidst the Struggles of Rome and Constantinople: The Patriarchate of Antioch During the Crusades

Authors

Sergei P. Brun, Russian historian, specializing in the history of the Latin East

Abstract

The Age of the Crusades is by far one the most popular subjects in the Orthodox-Catholic dialogue – or rather, in the ongoing Orthodox-Catholic polemics; a time period which constantly arises in the field of historical, as well as theological deliberation. The Christian East, suffering from the aggression of the Latins, is indeed a popular image, constantly present in the Orthodox perception of history and in Orthodox historical memory. This image is, in fact, one of the principal generators of the 'victim complex' in the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox mindset. In many ways, this complex derives from the ultimate fear of change; the fear to be changed by the other and ultimately – by communion with the other.
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Résumé

L'un des sujets les plus abordés dans les relations entre catholiques et orthodoxes, en Orient, est sans doute celui du rôle des Croisades et de leur impact sur les Eglises. L'anteur décrit la situation particulière d'Antioche sous les Croisades et l'effort déployé par l'Église d'Antioche en vue de garder son identité d'Église locale malgré les influences byzantines et latines. Il évoque le rôle positif de certains princes francs dans la reconnaissance de l'identité locale de l'Église antiochienne bien que la liturgie de l'Église de Constantinople ait remplacé les anciens rites.

Recommended Citation

Brun, Sergei P. (2016) "An Eastern Church Amidst the Struggles of Rome and Constantinople: The Patriarchate of Antioch During the Crusades," Proche-Orient Chrétien: Vol. 66: Iss. 2, Article 2.
Available at: https://e-journals.usj.edu.lb/poc/vol66/iss2/2