Among theologians after John of Damascus must be mentioned: the emperor
Leo VI., the Wise (886-911), who wrote numerous homilies and church
hymns, and Theodorus of Studium (759-826), who in his numerous writings
affords us instructive glimpses of monastic life. Pre-eminent stands the
figure of the patriarch Photius. Yet his importance consists less in his
writings, which often, to a remarkable extent, lack independence of
thought and judgment, than in his activity as a prince of the church.
For he it was who carried the differences which had already repeatedly
arisen between Rome and Constantinople to a point at which
reconciliation was impossible, and was mainly instrumental in preparing
the way for the separation of the Greek and Latin Churches accomplished
in 1054 under the patriarch Michael Cerularius. In the 11th century the
polyhistor Michael Psellus also wrote polemics against the Euchites,
among whom the Syrian Gnosis was reviving. All literature, including
theology, experienced a considerable revival under the Comneni. In the
reign of Alexius I. Comnenus (1081-1118), Euthymius Zigabenus wrote his
great dogmatic work, the _Dogmatic Panoply_, which, like _The Fountain
of Knowledge_ of John of Damascus in earlier times, was partly positive,
furnishing an armoury of theology, partly negative and directed against
the sects. In addition to attacking the dead and buried doctrines of the
Monothelites, Iconoclasts, &c., to fight which was at this time a mere
tilting at windmills, Zigabenus also carried on a polemic against the
heretics of his own day, the Armenians, Bogomils and Saracens.
Zigabenus's _Panoply_ was continued and enlarged a century later by the
historian Nicetas Acominatus, who published it under the title _Treasure
of Orthodoxy_. To the writings against ancient heresies were next added
a flood of tracts, of all shapes and sizes, "against the Latins," i.e.
against the Roman Church, and among their authors must also be
enumerated an emperor, the gifted Theodore II. Lascaris (1254-1258). The
chief champion of the union with the Roman Church was the learned
Johannes Beccus (patriarch of Constantinople 1275-1282). Of his
opponents by far the most eminent was Gregory of Cyprus, who succeeded
him on the patriarchal throne. The fluctuations in the fortunes of the
two ecclesiastical parties are reflected in the occupation of the
patriarchal throne. The battles round the question of the union, which
were waged with southern passion, were for a while checked by the
dissensions aroused by the mystic tendency of the Hesychasts. The
impetus to this great literary movement was given by the monk Barlaam, a
native of Calabria, who came forward in Constantinople as an opponent of
the Latins and was in 1339 entrusted by Andronicus III. with a mission
to Pope Benedict XII. at Avignon. He condemned the doctrine of the
Hesychasts, and attacked them both orally and in writing. Among those
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