The debate over the moment of Eucharistic Consecration at the Council of Florence (1439): An analysis of the arguments presented by Juan de Torquemada and Mark of Ephesus.

Davies, Ewan 2023. The debate over the moment of Eucharistic Consecration at the Council of Florence (1439): An analysis of the arguments presented by Juan de Torquemada and Mark of Ephesus. MPhil Thesis, Cardiff University. Item availability restricted.

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Abstract

This dissertation aims to analyse the contributions of Markos Eugenikos, the Metropolitan of Ephesus, and the Castilian Dominican friar, Juan de Torquemada, to the debates concerning the nature and moment(s) of Eucharistic consecration at the Council of Florence which took place in June 1439, after both individuals were appointed by the Byzantine Imperial and Latin Churches respectively to articulate and defend their Church’s stances on this matter. The author will begin by putting this conciliar debate into its broader historical context, particularly with regards to the Latin-Byzantine debates concerning Eucharistic consecration in the late medieval period. The author will then move on to examine the magisterial statements issued by the Latin and Byzantine Churches concerning the nature and moment(s) of Eucharistic consecration following Ferrara-Florence in the second chapter in order to assess Mark of Ephesus’ and Torquemada’s doctrines in terms of their dogmatic authority. Chapters Three and Four will then examine how Torquemada and Mark of Ephesus both advocated their Churches’ doctrines of the nature and moment(s) of Eucharistic consecration after both individuals were respectively commissioned by Pope Eugenius IV and Emperor Ioannes VIII to fulfil this objective. Each chapter will first provide an overview of the pertinent factors within both Torquemada’s and Mark’s backgrounds that informed the tenor of their literary and oral contributions to this Florentine debate and the nature of the source material they evoked to support their respective doctrines. The author will then assess the arguments put forward by Mark and Torquemada in their own right, paying particular attention to how accurately each individual exegeted the Patristic and liturgical source material they evoked to defend their respective Church’s doctrines of Eucharistic consecration. Chapter Five will move on to examine how Torquemada responded to Mark of Ephesus’ claims within the subsequent public conciliar debate which occurred on June 20th. The author will again examine how accurately Torquemada exegeted the Patristic and liturgical source material he evoked to defend the Latin Church’s doctrine of Eucharistic consecration in the face of the criticisms previously put forward by Mark of Ephesus. The author concludes this chapter by encapsulating the conciliar proceedings preceding the promulgation of Laetentur Caeli on July 6th. This will allow the author to provide some context relating to the subsequent divisions between the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches concerning Eucharistic consecration, alongside the other matters of doctrine and praxis, referred to in this dissertation’s introductory Chapter. To conclude, Chapter Six will summate this dissertation’s findings: The author will aim to conclude that, in contrast to Torquemada’s Eucharistic Cedula and two Sermones, Mark’s doctrine of the nature and moment(s) of Eucharistic consecration offers a relatively firmer basis from which modern-day Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox ecumenists could attempt to establish some form of consensus on this question.

Item Type:	Thesis (MPhil)
Date Type:	Acceptance
Status:	Unpublished
Schools:	History, Archaeology and Religion
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BL Religion B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BT Doctrinal Theology D History General and Old World > D History (General) D History General and Old World > D History (General) > D901 Europe (General)
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	23 November 2023
Date of Acceptance:	September 2023
Last Modified:	23 Nov 2023 16:52
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/164234

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