El partido ignaciano: estructuración en el exilio y supervivencia tras la muerte del patriarca Ignacio I

Abstract

The deposition of the patriarch Ignatius I on 23 November of 858 andhis later exile plunged the Byzantine Church into the first one of the post-Iconoclast crises that she should know. The consecration of Photius like his substitute the day of Christmas of the year 858 did not drive away the discomfort created in the bosom of the East Christianity, but toughened the positions of clergymen, hegoumenoi and archbishops originating the dispute known as the Photian Schism. This conflict marked the second half of the Byzantine 9th century and was accentuated by Photius’ exile and excommunication, by therestoration of Ignacio (867-877) and by Photius’ second patriarchate (877-886). The present work aimes to analyze the structure of the Ignatian party during the difficult years when his leader was missing and the way in which their cause survived after Ignatius’ death (whenPhotius exercised his ministry without opponents). For it we are going to focus principally on a source that has gone unnoticed until now but which testimony is greatly eloquent: patriarch Photius’ collection of Epistles.