Eastern vs. Western Missions

[richlich]

Help!!!

I’m doing a research paper on the approach to missions taken by the Eastern and Western (Catholic) churches during Medieval times. I’m looking for some original source material to use for my research. Specifically, I’m looking for a letter written by Pope John VIII to Methodius concerning the latter’s use of the Slavonic language instead of Latin in the church liturgy. Can you tell me where I can find a copy of this letter? My need is very urgent so a “soonest” answer would be greatly appreciated.

 

[ConstantineTG]

Was there really? I find it fascinating because Sts. Cyril and Methodius were Greeks. I don’t know why they would be asked to use Latin when they use the Greek Liturgy.

 

[Inego_de_Loyola]

Was there really? I find it fascinating because Sts. Cyril and Methodius were Greeks. I don’t know why they would be asked to use Latin when they use the Greek Liturgy.

Because the German’s were the Alabama of Europe. newadvent.org/cathen/04592a.htm
To OP I have heard of the letter and will try to dig it up for you, but I make no promises. I recently changed computers and lost most of my files in the process. I recommend the linked article.

 

[richlich]

In fact, that is right, i.e. re. the Germans. See:

elvis.rowan.edu/~kilroy/JEK/02/14.html

I have contacts within the Greek Orthodox church and they pointed out to me the very real situation: there was a visible clash between Western missionaries (of German origin) and the Eastern missionaries (Cyril and Methodius) conducting the mission work among the Slavic peoples. As per the above article, the Western (i.e. Roman) missionaries flatly insisted on the use of Latin in the liturgy. While I may be entirely wrong about Pope John VIII’s insistence on the use of Latin (and this is exactly one of the things I’m researching), it is established fact that the Western (Roman) missionaries did many things to hamper the mission work of Sts. Cyril and Methodius. And some of those things were not very nice.

Inego, I will be eternally greatful if you can find that letter (translated into English). I’m also researching from the other direction (i.e. through my Orthodox contacts).

My apologies if I seem to have an Orthodox bias. My paternal religious heritage is Russian Orthodox; however, I grew-up in a decidedly Catholic neighborhood (we were the only Protestants on the block), have a brother and sister-in-law who are devout Catholics, and have always valued my Catholic friends (one of whom was at one time a priest serving in the parish of which Notre Dame University is a part). And yes, I believe Catholics can be Christians; however, I also believe, just as there are “cultural” Christian Protestants who really aren’t Christians, similarly there are Catholics who are in the same boat, i.e. Catholics but not Christians. It is one thing to have that belief in Christ for Salvation and another to simply be involved in the rituals of the church (which, believe me, happens as much in Baptist churches as it does in Catholic churces).
Rich

 

[Byz_Guy]

My Latin is nearly non-existent, but I think I found the letter referenced (footnote 8) in this text:

books.google.com/books?id=DYAXAAAAYAAJ&lpg=PA206&ots=WgSr65ePwK&dq=Unde%20his%20Apostolatus%20nostri%20Uteris%20tibi%20jubemus&pg=PA206#v=onepage&q&f=false

It may give part of the letter you’re looking for. I don’t know if it’s exactly what you’re looking for or if I’m going down the wrong road.

Another place. If this is useful, perhaps further searches could give the entire text?

ebooksread.com/authors-eng/johann-karl-ludwig-gieseler/text-book-of-ecclesiastical-history-volume-2-sei/page-23-text-book-of-ecclesiastical-history-volume-2-sei.shtml

 

[Vico]

Help!!!

I’m doing a research paper on the approach to missions taken by the Eastern and Western (Catholic) churches during Medieval times. I’m looking for some original source material to use for my research. Specifically, I’m looking for a letter written by Pope John VIII to Methodius concerning the latter’s use of the Slavonic language instead of Latin in the church liturgy. Can you tell me where I can find a copy of this letter? My need is very urgent so a “soonest” answer would be greatly appreciated.

Hereupon, the pope, in 878, by two letters, one addressed to Tuvantarus, count of Moravia, and the other to Methodius, whom he styles archbishop of Pammnia, cited the latter to come to Rome, forbidding him in the meantime to say mass in a barbarous tongue. Methodius obeyed, and, repairing to Rome, gave ample satisfaction to the pope, who confirmed to him the privileges of the archiepiscopal see of the Moravians, declared him exempt from all dependence on the archbishop of Saltzburg, and approved for the Sclavonians the use of the liturgy and breviary in their own tongue, as he testifies in his letter to count Sfendopulk, still extant.[13]

13 See Hansizius, t. l, Germ. Sacr. p. 163;
et Assemani, Orig. Eccl. Sclavor, t. 3, p. 173;
et Joan. VIII, ep. 247, ann. 880, ad Sfendopulchrum Comitem Moraviae.
ewtn.com/library/MARY/CM.htm

Ragusa, the only Sclavonic republic, maintained its existence more than 1100 years from 656 to 1806. It was, moreover, the first nurse of Sclavonic literature.
agepedia.org/wiki/SCLAVONIANS

Paper on The council of Trent and the question of Scripture and liturgy in the
Vernacular, together with an account of the subsequent consequences for
the Slavo-Latin (glagolitic) rite and the Bible in Croatian translation:

europa-zentrum-wuerzburg.de/unterseiten/Band10-Thomson.pdf