„Ein dogmatischer Streit“ – Eduard Schwartz (1858-1940) und die ‚Reichskonzilien‘ in der Spätantike

Abstract

This article is dedicated to Eduard Schwartz and the beginnings of the scientific large-scale project of the Acta Conciliorum Oecumenicorum which was inaugurated in the years around 1911. Focusing on some articles published by Schwartz to accompany his editorial efforts around the acts of the 5th to 6th century-church councils some important aspects of Schwartz' self-conception and his perspective on the late antique councils are analyzed in order to demonstrate that modern research on late Roman church history is still depending on many of Schwartz' assumptions and suggestions. Thus, further research activity in particular has to overcome the traditional borders between ancient history and church history, which are, to some extent, consequences of Schwartz' conception of klassische Altertumswissenschaft and theology.