vid

What were implication of becoming an "anathema" in various eras of catholic church, since Constantine to reformation? Do you know any documented examples?

Thanks

storytime

If "anathema" means accursed, doesn't that mean excommunicated from the church?

mountainman

Political exile.

The earliest most important anathema is that appended
as an exclusion or a disclaimer clause, to the original Nicaean
Creed, for which signatures were obtained from - as the
story goes - the three hundred and eighteen "fathers".

This original anathema at the formation of the universal catholic
church has the following form, and was of course, universally
directed at that depraved author Arius who wrote with a poisoned pen
against the doctrines of the most holy church of Constantine.


Anathemas are then continually pronounced in increasing severity
on heretics against the creed for the rest of the 4th and 5th centuries.
Cyril of Alexandria issued stacks of anathemas against Nestorius.

Political exile was the result of anathema from Constantine onwards.

mountainman

Leaving aside for the moment the entire commencement
of this casting of anathemas at the Council of Nicaea, here
is a brief listing of the further continuance of the same
during the following epochs ...

The First Seven Heresies of the Eighty "Against Heresies"

Sourced from The Panarion of Epiphanius of Salamis, recent translation.

The First Seven Heresies in the Index of Eighty

In his introductory prelude, in speaking of the "sects" or "heresies" Epiphanius notes:
"For it was about these four sects ("heresies") that the apostle clearly said in reproof,
"In Christ Jesus there is neither Barbarian, Scythian, Hellene nor Jew, but a new creation" [5] Col 3:11

Heresy 1 of 80 - Against Barbarism
Heresy 2 of 80 - Against Scythianism
Heresy 3 of 80 - Against Hellenism
Heresy 4 of 80 - Against Judaism
Heresy 5 of 80 - Against Stoics
Heresy 6 of 80 - Against Platonists
Heresy 7 of 80 - Against Pythagoreans

As one may plainly perceive, it was "The Christians against the World".
Typical of a top down emperor cult.


Anathematising Public Opinion

Anathemas of Church Councils as representative of public opinion.
Blashemy against the new god of the last emperor was not on.
Business was too successful.


Hilary of Poitiers De Synodis - Mid-Fourth Century Public Opinion Poll about Jesus Christ

We say anathema to every heretical and perverted sect, and if any man teaches contrary to the wholesome and right faith of the Scriptures, saying that there is or was time, or space, or age before the Son was begotten, let him be anathema. And if any one say that the Son is a formation like one of the things that are formed, or a birth resembling other births, or a creature like the creatures, and not as the divine Scriptures have affirmed in each passage aforesaid, or teaches or proclaims as the Gospel anything else than what we have received: let him be anathema.

An additional creed is described as according to the Council of the East is also presented, and has the following disclaimer clause appended:

"But those who say that the Son of God is sprung from things non-existent or from another substance and not from God, and that there was a time or age when He was not, the holy Catholic Church holds them as aliens. Likewise also those who say that there are three Gods, or that Christ is not God and that before the ages He was neither Christ nor Son of God, or that He Himself is the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost, or that the Son is incapable of birth; or that the Father begat the Son without purpose or will: the holy Catholic Church anathematizes."[/url]

The Council of Laodicea - Controlling the Heretics

Canon 6
It is not permitted to heretics to enter the house of God while they continue in heresy.
Canon 7
Persons converted from heresies, that is, of the Novatians, Photinians, and Quartodecimans, whether they were catechumens or communicants among them, shall not be received until they shall have anathematized every heresy, and particularly that in which they were held; and afterwards those who among them were called communicants, having thoroughly learned the symbols of the faith, and having been anointed with the holy chrism, shall so communicate in the holy Mysteries.
Canon 8
Persons converted from the heresy of those who are called Phrygians, even should they be among those reputed by them as clergymen, and even should they be called the very chiefest, are with all care to be both instructed and baptized by the bishops and presbyters of the Church.
Canon 9
The members of the Church are not allowed to meet in the cemeteries, nor attend the so-called martyries of any of the heretics, for prayer or service; but such as so do, if they be communicants, shall be excommunicated for a time; but if they repent and confess that they have sinned they shall be received.
Canon 10
The members of the Church shall not indiscriminately marry their children to heretics.
Canon 31
It is not lawful to make marriages with all [sorts of] heretics, nor to give our sons and daughters to them; but rather to take of them, if they promise to become Christians.
Canon 32
It is unlawful to receive the "blessings" of heretics, for they are rather "follies" than "blessings". .
Canon 33
No one shall join in prayers with heretics or schismatics.
Canon 34
No Christian shall forsake the martyrs of Christ, and turn to false martyrs, that is, to those of the heretics, or those who formerly were heretics; for they are aliens from God. Let those, therefore, who go after them, be anathema.
Canon 36
They who are of the priesthood, or of the clergy, shall not be magicians, enchanters, mathematicians, or astrologers; nor shall they make what are called amulets, which are chains for their own souls. And those who wear such, we command to be cast out of the Church.
Canon 37
It is not lawful to receive portions sent from the feasts of Jews or heretics, nor to feast together with them.
Canon 38
It is not lawful to receive unleavened bread from the Jews, nor to be partakers of their impiety.
Canon 39
It is not lawful to feast together with the heathen, and to be partakers of their godlessness.

Canon 59
Let no private psalms nor any uncanonical books be read in church, but only the canonical ones of the New and Old Testament.


etc.
etc,'etc



A List of Anathemas brought against Nestorius by the THUG BISHOP CYRIL

Nephew of the mafia boss Theophilus Cyril's anathemas
knew no bounds. Hypatia and the Alexandrian library beware.
The Alexandrian Christian Doctors of Philosophy were thugs.


Decretum Gelasianum - An Index of Anathema c.491 CE [/url]

The date may be earlier -- as early as Damasius (c.367 CE).
Damasius was the successful THUG BISHOP of Rome.
His army defeated the troops of rival christian bishops.
And he was then ensconsed in Rome.
Damasius was the first non-emperor to have the role "Pontifex M"
Damasius renovated the catacombs for the Roman tourist industry.
It was big business.

There is obviously a direct link between this list and
the papal Index Librorum Prohibitoru

We may as well conclude with this citation
since the authors appear to know exactly
what they are doing ....

Heavy political authoritarianism.
Backed by the emperor.

Huon

Sometimes the pope of Rome won, sometimes he did not.

Pope Gregory V won against Robert II of France (996-1031) :

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_II_of_France
Pope Boniface VIII did not win against Philip IV the Fair of France and Edward I of England. He published in 1296 a bull called "Clericis laicos" against the taxation of the clergy by emperors, kings, dukes, counts, etc... (My money is not your money!)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clericis_laicos

In 1302, the same Boniface VIII published another bull called "Unam sanctam", arguing that the Pope is superior to the kings or the emperors.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unam_sanctam

In response, Guillaume de Nogaret, Philip's chief minister, denounced Boniface as a heretical criminal to the French clergy. In 1303, Philip and Nogaret were excommunicated. However, on September 7, 1303 an army led by Nogaret and Sciarra Colonna of the Colonna family surprised Boniface at his retreat in Anagni. The King and the Colonnas demanded that he resign, to which Boniface VIII responded that he would "sooner die". In response, Colonna hit Boniface, a "slap" that is still remembered in the local lore of Anagni.

Boniface was beaten badly and nearly executed but was released from captivity after three days. He died a month later of "shame", on October 11, 1303.

Pope Clement V (1305-1314), (Raymond Bertrand de Got, archbishop of Bordeaux) was the second successor of Boniface VIII. He moved the papal court to Avignon.

Huon

Another good example is the history of the great schism of 1054, between Rome and Constantinople.

The actors were Michael Cerularius, pope Leo IX and his ambassador, Humbert de Moyenmoutier (misspelled in wiki) :


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_I_Cerularius

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leo_IX

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schism_of_1054