Het Tweede Concilie van Lyon (1274) Beschouwingen bij het 7e Eeuwfeest

Abstract

The Second Council of Lyons (1274). Reflections after Seven Centuries The Council of Lyons was convoked by Gregory X primarily to launch a new crusade to regain the Holy Places. Union of the Churches, which the Greek Emperor, Michael VIII Palaeologus, had been using in his relations with the popes already for a dozen years to incline the popes to restrain a western attack on his Empire, would greatly facilitate a crusade. The Greeks were invited to the council provided there was some sign forthcoming of their having ended the schism dividing them from the Latin Church. With difficulty Michael persuaded the bulk of the Greek hierarchy to acknowledge the prerogatives of the Roman See — primacy of jurisdiction, right as a universal court of appeal, and commemoration of the popeʼs name in the oriental Liturgy — and on that basis to agree to union. Michael, himself, with a small hut sincere group, went further and accepted complete Roman faith including the Filioque doctrine. At Lyons the two delegates of the Greek Church wholeheartedly embraced union. The Council rejoiced and defined the double Procession of the Holy Spirit. In Constantinople opposition to the union was widespread, but the synod repeated its acceptance of the papal prerogatives. On the Holy Spirit it said nothing; seemingly it carefully avoided having the subject raised. Michael VIII, to satisfy Latin demands for a growing implementation of the union in the Empire had recourse to violence against his subjects. When he died in 1282 his name was execrated and the union was finished.