The Epiclesis Debate at the Council of Florence - by Christiaan Kappes (Hardcover)

About the Book

"The Epiclesis Debate at the Council of Florence is the first in-depth investigation into both the Greek and the Latin sides of the debate about the moment of Eucharistic transubstantiation at the Council of Florence. Christiaan Kappes examines the life and times of the central figures of the debate, Mark Eugenicus and John Torquemada, and assesses their doctrinal authority. Kappes presents a patristic and Scholastic analysis of Torquemada's Florentine writings, revealing heretofore-unknown features of the debate and the full background to its treatises. The most important feature of the investigation involves Eugenicus. Kappes investigates his theological method and sources for the first time to give an accurate appraisal of the strength of Mark's theological positions in the context of his own time and contemporary methods. The investigation into both traditions allows for an informed evaluation of more recent developments in the official teaching of the Roman Catholic Church in light of these historical sources. Kappes provides a historically contextual and contemporary proposal for solutions to the former impasse in light of the principles rediscovered within Eugenicus's works. This monograph speaks to contemporary theological debates surrounding transubstantiation and related theological matters, and provides a historical framework to understand these debates. The Epiclesis Debate at the Council of Florence will interest specialists in theology, especially those with a background in and familiarity with the council and related historical themes, and is essential for any ecumenical library"--

Book Synopsis

The Epiclesis Debate at the Council of Florence is the first in-depth investigation into both the Greek and the Latin sides of the debate about the moment of Eucharistic transubstantiation at the Council of Florence. Christiaan Kappes examines the life and times of the central figures of the debate, Mark Eugenicus and John Torquemada, and assesses their doctrinal authority. Kappes presents a patristic and Scholastic analysis of Torquemada's Florentine writings, revealing heretofore-unknown features of the debate and the full background to its treatises. The most important feature of the investigation involves Eugenicus. Kappes investigates his theological method and sources for the first time to give an accurate appraisal of the strength of Mark's theological positions in the context of his own time and contemporary methods. The investigation into both traditions allows for an informed evaluation of more recent developments in the official teaching of the Roman Catholic Church in light of these historical sources. Kappes provides a historically contextual and contemporary proposal for solutions to the former impasse in light of the principles rediscovered within Eugenicus's works. This monograph speaks to contemporary theological debates surrounding transubstantiation and related theological matters, and provides a historical framework to understand these debates.

The Epiclesis Debate at the Council of Florence will interest specialists in theology, especially those with a background in and familiarity with the council and related historical themes, and is essential for any ecumenical library.

Review Quotes

"One can only be thankful to Christiaan Kappes for this brilliant and challenging study on the epiclesis debate at the Council of Florence. His study not only highlights the recent ecumenical achievements reached on this topic, but will undoubtedly be very helpful for further developments of the theological dialogue between Orthodox and Catholics." --The Thomist

"Christiaan Kappes brilliantly recreates the setting of the debate on the epiclesis at the Council of Florence in 1439, analyzing how the two main actors, Juan de Torquemada, O.P. and Mark Eugenicos, forced to work out their arguments and counter arguments in the compressed span of a couple of weeks, crafted responses that would affect the stance of the Catholic and Orthodox churches respectively not simply at the Council but no less importantly for centuries to come. Kappes' book is a must read for anyone interested in the Council and the issue of the epiclesis, and all the more so because he ends by drawing on the results of his research to propose a solution for the present dialogue between the churches concerning the epiclesis." --John Monfasani, Distinguished Professor Emeritus, O'Leary, University of Albany, SUNY

"In this book Christiaan Kappes lays before the reader the genesis of an important, albeit often neglected, ecumenical stumbling block. Although the filioque, papacy, and azymes are traditionally considered the three great causes of the Catholic-Orthodox split, for many today the epiclesis debate remains a significant unresolved issue dividing the two churches. By detailing the theology, setting, and personalities of the first stage of that debate, along with the translation of relevant texts, Kappes has indeed provided an invaluable service to all liturgists, ecumenists, and interested historians of dogma." --A. Edward Siecienski, Clement and Helen Pappas Endowed Professor of Byzantine Civilization and Religion, Stockton University

"Kappes's integrative study effectively draws together the historical and the theological, the practical and the doctrinal, the descriptive and the normative, the medieval and modern." --Reading Religion

"The book can and should be profitably read by theologians, liturgists, and church historians alike. That's no mean thing: The Epiclesis Debate is nothing less than an exercise in hastening Mark of Ephesus's dying prayer for 'the reformation of [God's] church.'" --Anglican Theological Review

About the Author

Christiaan Kappes is academic dean of the Byzantine Catholic Seminary of Saints Cyril and Methodius.