Church council on Christ's words, "My father is greater than I": sessions in early MarchCertainty: 3
Council of 1166: sessions from mid-March till MayCertainty: 3
1170
Certainty: 3 Manuel held a second council on John 14.28, to solve problems remaining from 1166
The Council of 1166 ended in unanimity and the church was quiet. Manuel I thought that problems over John 14.28 had ended, but they began again at the death of the patriarch Loukas Chrysoberges. Konstantinos, metropolitan of Kerkyra, who had publicly retracted his heretical views, now proclaimed them again, and even spoke of Loukas as a heretic. Manuel therefore, with the new patriarch Michael III of Anchialos, called another council in the Great Palace, first in the new throne room as before, then in the pronaos of the church in the Great Palace. The emperor presided over the two main sessions, but this time he left most of the business of the council to Michael III and the other clerics. On January 30 the heretic Konstantinos made an address, but was unanimously condemned. Another suspect, Ioannes Eirenikos, had been disappointed by the conclusions of the council of 1166 and began to spread opposing views in his monastery; he told his neighbouring hegoumenos Paulos of Hagia Triada that those who had imposed these conclusions would regret it - obvious treachery. He was brought to the capital by the emperor and interviewed by the patriarch, then confronted by the evidence of Paulos the hegoumenos. A heretical tract he had written was found by enquiry in his cell and read (in part) before the council on February 18. As concealment was impossible, Ioannes defended himself boldly. But under questioning by the patriarch, the emperor and the other churchmen he became confused and spoke obvious heresy. Michael of Anchialos postponed punishment, hoping for repentance. Besides the emperor, sixteen distinguished laymen and 55 senior churchmen are recorded as having taken part in at least one session of the council
1172
Response of the synod to a question from Manuel I on matrimonial lawCertainty: 2