Filioque External Links: an Online Bibliography

The following links provide a functional bibliography for the Filioque Wikipedia article. These online references are in the order in which they are cited, directly or indirectly, in the Filioque article itself.

Historical origins

• An extensive history of the filioque dispute, assembled by Gerard Seraphin The author makes an important reference to Johannes Grohe, who speaks of Eastern use of the filioque.

• Chronology of the Filioque Controversy A one-page overview of the dispute, from 325 to 1453.

• John S. Romanides, "The Filioque" The author shows how Franks in the Carolingian Empire in the ninth century worked in opposition to the ancient Church of Rome-Constantinople, the "Roman Church" of East and West.

• "History of the Mass: Part VI" A brief but more objective presentation of the influence of the Franks in matters of discipline.

• "The Patriarch Photius: The Era of Confrontation and Polemics" Yves Congar, O.P., here provides the historical context of the filioque dispute, as it took place with Patriarch Photius.

• Encyclical to the Eastern Patriarchs The polemical letter of Patriarch Photius, condemning the filioque, as well as other practices, such as fasting on Saturdays. From the very words of Photius, it is evident that the origin of his hostility is in what he perceives as competition from "Westerners" (Latin priests) in Bulgaria, a territory he considers under his jurisdiction. It is also evident, as Photius says, that he never heard of the filoque until now; in spite of his considerable erudition, he is, therefore, not familiar with the Latin Fathers.

• "Photius of Constantinople" From the Catholic Encyclopedia</i>, here is an introduction to Photius, reflecting the state of scholarship on this topic, at the beginning of the twentieth century.

• <b>The Orthodox Church In this excerpt from the book, Bishop Kallistos Ware writes of the role of the filioque in the East-West disputes, especially objections to that phrase by St. Photius and Patriarch Cerularius. The author provides the historical context of the estrangement of East and West; he does an excellent job.

• "Hugh and Leo Etherianus" At Constantinople, in the 12th century, Hugh Etherianus prepared the first exhaustive and scholarly defense of the filioque, using both Latin and Greek Fathers: De haeresibus quas Graeci in Latinos devolvunt, sive quod Spiritus Sanctus ex utroque Patre et Filio procedit. In English, that's "About the heresies of which the Greeks accuse the Latins, whether the Holy Spirit proceeeds from both the Father and the Son."

• "St. Thomas Aquinas" Introduction to Thomas Aquinas, O.P., prominent Scholastic theologian and philosopher, defender of the filioque.

• Excerpt from the Summa Theologica, "The Processions of the Divine Persons" Explicit explanation of the processions of the Trinity, according to Aquinas.

• Another excerpt from the Summa, "Whether the Holy Ghost proceeds from the Son?" The Scholastic perspective of Aquinas, precisely on the topic of this present article.

• Scott Steinkercher, O.P., "Notes on Thomas Aquinas" Background, method, and anthropology of the Scholastic theology of Aquinas.

• Thomas Aquinas, Contra errores Graecorum This 55-page essay, in Latin, is not for the faint of heart. Alta Vista and Google probably cannot render the text clearly in English, because of the dense logic of the arguments. In this essay, Aquinas argues that the Greeks don't accept universal jurisdiction of the Pope because their pneumatology is defective, as evidenced, he says, in their rejection of the filioque. This essay was influential among the participants in the 1274 Council of Lyons. Pope Urban IV had asked Aquinas to prepare this document, in preparation for that council. Regrettably, there does not seem to be a complete English translation of Contra errores available online.

• Contra errores Graecorum This is an English translation of the first part of this essay, by Antoine Valentin. Although the relevant passages are not here translated, in this excerpt you can see how Aquinas argues.

• Patriarch John Beccus of Constantinople The remarkable life of this Orthodox bishop; he did not consider the filioque heresy and favored reconciliation with the West.

• Tomos of 1285 The definitive rejection by Patriarch Gregory and the Council of Blachernae of the union of 1274 and the preceding patriarch, John Beccus. Calling the filioque addition to the Creed "blasphemy," this document represents a polemical, violent reaction to Scholastic theology, used to explain and defend the filioque. In this document, Beccus and his followers are said to be banished and "expelled from Orthodoxy."

• Excerpt from The Council of Florence by Joseph Gill, S.J., "The Addition to the Creed" Dialogue between East and West at Ferrara, on the filioque.

• Another excerpt from The Council of Florence, "Florence and the Dogmatic Discussions" Dialogue at Florence on the filioque.

• A third excerpt from The Council of Florence, "Reunion" History and text of Laetentur Caeli, 1439 decree of union between East and West.

Orthodox Church

• George Dragas, "The Manner of Reception of Roman Catholic Converts into the Orthodox Church" Tracing the history of such reception, the author makes the important point that the practice of re-baptizing Roman Catholics became widespread in the 13th century, after the sacking of Constantinople by the Crusaders. Even single immersion, as in the West, was often considered invalid. In Russia, says the author, such re-baptizing was a universal practice; it must, he says, have been transferred there from the Greek Church. However, a synod in 1484 prescribed only chrismation (anointing), with a renunciation of the filioque and other Western practices, such as the use of unleavened bread for the Eucharist. In both re-baptism and chrismation, the Latins were treated as heretics undergoing reconciliation.

• Ecumenism and Heresy Here is a list of links, giving Orthodox positions that are anti-ecumenical and positions that are more irenic in character. See especially the sites with authorship by the Sacred Community of Mount Athos, John Meyendorff, and David Armstrong.

• "The Filioque: Dogma, Theologumenon or Heresy?" Theodore Stylianopoulos here presents an extensive, scholarly overview of the contemporary discussion of the filioque. His article is carefully reasoned and works toward reconciliation.

• "Papal Primacy". In this article, Emmanuel Clapsis provides a well-documented study of the context in which the filioque dispute may be resolved: a communion ecclesiology, with a renewed understanding of the primacy of the Bishop of Rome. As Cardinal Ratzinger says, we can return to the understanding of that primacy as it was in the first millennium; that would provide a basis for reconciliation of the Orthodox and Catholic Churches.

• "The True Faith" Father Chrysostom here appeals for prayer, to resolve long-standing conflict and polemicism.

Catholic Church

• Yves Congar, O.P., I Believe in the Holy Spirit, "Attempts at and Suggestions for an Agreement" This renowned theologian says that varying formulations may be seen not as contradictory but as complementary.

• Irenee Dalmais, O.P., "The Spirit of Truth andof Life" The author speaks of differing pneumatologies (theologies of the Spirit) in East and West.

• Avery Dulles, S.J., "The Filioque: What Is at Stake?" The author traces the history of the filioque controversy and evaluates current options. He says that it is important for the East to acknowledge that the West has not been in heresy for the past 1500 years. This is a PDF file.

• Eugene Webb, "The Pneumatology of Bernard Lonergan: A Byzantine Comparison" In a PDF file, the author makes use of the pneumatology of Bernard Lonergan, S.J., to resolve the filioque controversy.

• "The Greek and Latin Traditions regarding the Procession of the Holy Spirit," a clarification from the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity. A very important document, making a substantial contribution to contemporary theological dialogue, working toward reconciliation.

• Ioannis Zizioulas, "One Single Source: An Orthodox response to the Clarification on the Filioque" The author says that East and West can easily continue dialogue on the filioque, provided that both agree that the Father is the sole cause/origin both of the Son and of the Spirit. This article is a positive statement, giving grounds for further progress towards reconciliation.

• Jean-Claude Larchet, "À propos de la récente <<clarification>> du conseil pontifical pour la promotion de l'unité des chrétiens A 56-page, scholarly response to the clarification of the Pontifical Council, by Jean-Claude Larchet, in French. An extensive, well thought-out analysis.

Overview

• Excerpt from The Mass of the Roman Rite Here, Joseph Jungmann, S.J., explains the importance of the mediating role of Christ in the liturgy, largely lost in the East, because of anti-Arianism, the same reactive force that in Spain gave rise to the filioque.

Recent discussions and statements

• The agreed statement of the North American Orthodox-Catholic Theological Consulation, Oct. 25, 2003. A very important document, with objective, historical accounting and critical recommendations, to promote ultimate reconciliation between East and West, on the filioque dispute.

• "The Catholic-Orthodox Dialogue: Lights and Shadows" James Likoudis here provides a record of some responses to the 2003 agreed statement.