Really Religious Religion in Byzantium
By: Lucy
By: Lucy
![Picture](/uploads/1/8/9/5/18958021/9709745.jpg?164)
In Byzantine, you can feel the beauty of religions including architecture and cultures, and it is worth to visit Byzantine Empire just because of its colorful religion.
First, Constantine the Great, commonly considered the first Byzantine emperor, strongly supported Christianity and was baptized a Christian shortly before his death in A.D. 337. During and after Constantine’s reign, Christianity spread throughout Byzantine society and replaced polytheism (belief in many gods). Christianity transformed most of the empire’s institutions. It also introduced new ones of its own. For example, the church established its own hierarchy (organization by rank). A form of religious community life known as monasticism became widespread.
First, Constantine the Great, commonly considered the first Byzantine emperor, strongly supported Christianity and was baptized a Christian shortly before his death in A.D. 337. During and after Constantine’s reign, Christianity spread throughout Byzantine society and replaced polytheism (belief in many gods). Christianity transformed most of the empire’s institutions. It also introduced new ones of its own. For example, the church established its own hierarchy (organization by rank). A form of religious community life known as monasticism became widespread.
![Picture](/uploads/1/8/9/5/18958021/5305695.jpg?203)
Also, many institutions and religious practices changed during this anxious period. In popular and official religiosity, the empire was troubled by a bloody dispute over the appropriateness of the worship of icons themselves or the images of holy people they represented. Many were killed as the result of this struggle over iconoclasm.
The longest-lasting result of these campaigns was the strong Greek religious and cultural presence in southern Italy for centuries afterward. However, Religion and government were more closely linked in the Byzantine Empire than in the west. The Byzantines viewed the emperor not just as the head of the government but as the living representative of God and Jesus Christ. This meant that church and state were combined into one all-powerful body.
The longest-lasting result of these campaigns was the strong Greek religious and cultural presence in southern Italy for centuries afterward. However, Religion and government were more closely linked in the Byzantine Empire than in the west. The Byzantines viewed the emperor not just as the head of the government but as the living representative of God and Jesus Christ. This meant that church and state were combined into one all-powerful body.
![Picture](/uploads/1/8/9/5/18958021/304648941.jpg?340)
The influence of Christianity is particularly evident in Byzantine art, including architecture and literature. Byzantine art featured pictures of holy people that stressed the sacred quality of the subject, rather than the human quality (for example this mosaic painting) . The Byzantines also designed elaborately decorated domed churches. In addition, the Byzantines produced valuable works in history and wrote fine poetry, including religious poems. They also created much religious prose.
Also, churches are almost all that survive of Byzantine architecture. Byzantine churches were built mainly of stone, brick, and mortar. They featured plain exteriors and elaborately decorated interiors. This contrast suggested the differences between the daily world outside and the ideal or spiritual universe of the church.
Also, churches are almost all that survive of Byzantine architecture. Byzantine churches were built mainly of stone, brick, and mortar. They featured plain exteriors and elaborately decorated interiors. This contrast suggested the differences between the daily world outside and the ideal or spiritual universe of the church.
Citations:
Greenfield, Richard. "Byzantine Empire." World Book Student. World Book, 2014. Web. 10 Apr. 2014.
"Byzantine Empire." Great Empires of the Past Online. Infobase Publishing. Web. 10 Apr. 2014.
"Subscription." Subscription. Teachers' Curriculum Institute, n.d. Web. 14 Apr. 2014.
Greenfield, Richard. "Byzantine Empire." World Book Student. World Book, 2014. Web. 10 Apr. 2014.
"Byzantine Empire." Great Empires of the Past Online. Infobase Publishing. Web. 10 Apr. 2014.
"Subscription." Subscription. Teachers' Curriculum Institute, n.d. Web. 14 Apr. 2014.