Florence, Council of

Florence, Council of (1438–45). This was a continuation of the Council at Basle, which Eugenius IV transferred to Ferrara (1438–9), Florence (1439–43) and then Rome (1443–5). Its chief object was reunion with the Greek Church, which sought support from the W. against the Turks. The main points of controversy were the Double Procession of the Holy Spirit, the use of unleavened bread for the Eucharist, the doctrine of purgatory, and the primacy of the Pope. The Filioque clause presented particular difficulty. After the Council had moved to Florence, Bessarion addressed to the Greek synod his ‘Oratio Dogmatica’, urging that the Double Procession was taught more or less explicitly by both Latin and Greek Fathers. Eventually the Greeks accepted statements on the disputed issues. These were incorporated into the Decree of Union signed on 5 July 1439. After the Greeks had left, the Council continued in session. The superiority of the Pope over Councils was affirmed. Union was established with the Armenians in 1439, with the Copts in 1442, and with various other E. Churches.

The union with the Greeks was challenged by popular sentiment in Constantinople. The city was captured by the Turks in 1453 and the union ceased. That with Armenia lasted until 1475. The importance of the Council lies in its definition of doctrine and in the principle it established for Church union—unity of faith with diversity of rite.