Part I: Eastern Orthodox Church

• Church of the Seven Ecumenical Councils

• Iconography & Liturgy• Differences between Eastern

Orthodoxy & Roman Catholicism

Map of Eastern Empire

Eastern Churches

• Eastern Orthodox Churches• Non-Chalcedonian Churches:

separated from the Orthodox Church in the 6th c.

• The Assyrian Church of the East: isolated from the Orthodox Church in the fifth c

Iconoclastic controversy• 787 Seventh ecumenical council met

at Nicaea• Issue: the use of icons (religious

images) to depict God• Main objections:

– Icons are idols – Infinite God cannot be depicted

• Decision of the council: incarnation justifies the use of icon

Kasimir Malevich. Complex Presentiment: Half-Figure in a Yellow Shirt

Differences between Eastern Orthodoxy & Roman Catholicism

• Cultural differences• Final schism in 1054• Doctrinal differences:

– Pope or council? (papal primacy & infallibility)– Addition to the creed (filioque)– Two new dogmas about Mary

• Immaculate Conception & Bodily Assumption)

Part II: Islam

• Early History of Islam• Five pillars of Islam• Christianity & Islam

Timeline

570 AD Birth of Muhammad

610 Muhammad begins his prophetic mission.

622 Muhammad’s flight to Medina (hijra)

632 Muhammad’s death

7th- 10th c Spread of the Islamic Civilization

1096-1291 Crusades

1453 Fall of Constantinople

Muslim Empire in 656

Islamic Expansion after the death of Muhammad

Christianity & Islam

• Common ground:– Belief in one God who is

just & good

• Main differences:– Islam’s rejection of Jesus’

divinity & Trinity– Islam’s claim that Koran

replaces the Bible Mosque of Omar. Jerusalem.

Holy Wars: past & present

• Judaism: conquest of Canaan

• Islam: conquest of Mecca• Christianity: crusades

Meanings of Holy War

Spiritual warfare

Apocalyptic battle

Physical extermination of infidels