International Colloquium, University of Vienna, March 14, 2014
The separation of the Latin Church of the West and
the Churches of the Christian East cannot be traced back to a single event, but
was the result of a variety of historical events and mutual perceptions as well
as political strategies. Relations between the East and the West were shaped not
only by (official) Church politics but included a wide range of cultural
encounter. It is this multi-faceted picture that needs to be examined in a more
profound way to better understand the attempts of “union” from the early Middle
Ages up to the threshold of the modern period. The Colloquium intends to
collect current research and to identify new research agendas in the wider
field of (theological) relations between East and West. A certain focus will be
on the modes or styles of theological argumentation as well as on parameters that
supported (or hindered) ecclesial dialogue between the rivalling parties. Last
but not least, the colloquium hopes to provide a forum for junior scholars
which may initiate an ongoing fruitful exchange.
