Patriarch Dioscorus of Alexandria: The Last Pharaoh and Ecclesiastical Politics in the Later Roman Empire

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Patriarch Dioscorus of Alexandria: The Last Pharaoh of Alexandria and Ecclesiastical Politics in the Later Roman Empire offers a thorough revision of the historical role of Dioscorus as patriarch of Alexandria between 444 and 451 CE. One of the major protagonists of the Christological controversy, Dioscorus was hailed a saint in Eastern Church traditions which opposed the Council of Chalcedon in 451. Yet Western Church traditions remember him as a heretic and violent villain, and much scholarship maintains this image of Dioscorus as 'ruthless and ambitious', a 'tyrant-bishop' feared by his opponents-the 'Attila of the Eastern Church'. This book breaks with these negative stereotypes and offers the first serious historical analysis of Dioscorus as ecclesiastical politician and reformer. It discusses the discrepancy that theologically Dioscorus was a loyal follower of his famous predecessor Cyril of Alexandria (412-444) while politically he was the leading figure of the anti-Cyrillian party in Alexandria. Analysing Dioscorus' role as president of the Second Council of Ephesus in 449 and his downfall and deposition at the Council of Chalcedon in 451, Menze also offers a much-needed new reading of the acts of these two general councils. Reappraising the life and role of Dioscorus ultimately shows how the Christological controversy of the fifth century can only be fully understood against the background of imperial politics-and its mechanisms for implementing 'Orthodoxy'-in the Later Roman Empire. Cover Patriarch Dioscorus of Alexandria: The Last Pharaoh and Ecclesiastical Politics in the Later Roman Empire Copyright Dedication Acknowledgements Contents List of Abbreviations Introduction A World without Chalcedon? Why Dioscorus? 1: Cyril’s Legacy: Between Bankruptcy and Sanctity Introduction The Aftermath of the Council of Ephesus (431) Cyril’s Gifts: ‘Blessings’ and Gold for the Court The Recipients at Court and Cyril’s Network in Constantinople ‘Blessings’ as Incentives for ‘Orthodoxy’ Cyril’s Legacy: Burden or Blessing? 2: Wind of Change? Dioscorus and the See of St Mark The Death of Cyril and the End of a Dynasty Dioscorus as Archdeacon in Alexandria Wind of Change? Dioscorus’ Election Being Patriarch I: Dioscorus and the See and City of Alexandria Being Patriarch II: Dioscorus, Shenoute, and the ‘Origenist’ Controversy Being Patriarch III: Dioscorus and the Egyptian Episcopate Being Patriarch IV: Dioscorus and ‘International’ Ecclesiastical Politics Conclusion: Dioscorus and the Wind of Change 3: The Emperor’s Henchman: Dioscorus and the ‘Robber-Council’ Prelude: The Ecclesiastical Situation after the Reunion of 433 The Years 445–448: Emperor Theodosius and the Eastern Bishops The Eutyches affair The Road to the Second Council of Ephesus and Theodosius’ First Sacra Theodosius’ Pet Project: The Second Council of Ephesus in 449 The First Session of the Second Council of Ephesus on 8 August 449 The Second Session of the Second Council of Ephesus on 22 August 449 The Reception of the Second Council of Ephesus in 449–450 The Church between Ephesus and Chalcedon Conclusion 4: The Black Swan of Chalcedon and Dioscorus’ Deposition The Opening of the Council of Chalcedon, 8 October 451 The Council of Nicaea in 451 The First Deposition of Dioscorus in the First Session The Interim Period between Dioscorus’ First and Second Depositions The Location and Impromptu Nature of Dioscorus’ Second Trial The Second Deposition of Dioscorus Conclusion Conclusion: Dioscorus’ Afterlives as Heretic, Saint, and Reformer Chalcedonian Take-over and Dioscorus’ Exile and Death in 454 Dioscorus’ Afterlife as Saint and Heretic Dioscorus as Patriarch, Theologian, and Episcopal Reformer Bibliography Sources Secondary Literature Index