Reincarnation – an original Christian doctrine

63 in Italy against the Ostrogoth (535-554), against the Slavs along the Danube and against the Persians (540-562) in Asia Minor. He rigorously pursued the eradication of paganism and the brutal suppression of theological tenets that did not comply with his own personal views: “Even as a Christian, Justinian remained a true Roman and any ideas about autonomy within the religious sphere was completely alien to him. Whether popes or patriarchs, he treated them like his personal slaves. He governed the affairs of the Church the way he governed the affairs of the state, namely by personally interfering with the Church’s constitution.” 148 Altaner-Struiber makes an even more pronounced statement: “ Justinian , restlessly active as statesman, law-maker and developer went against heretics, Jews and pagans with ruthless legislated sanctions. As he saw himself as the most eminent lord within the Church, he continuously attacked the inner workings of the Church, particularly in regards to Church doctrine. Justinian tried through politically terrorising theology to brand all spiritual stimulators of the past and the present heretics, but he also had an ambition to shine as a theological author.” 149 Caesar Justinian had an easy time of it, because Pope Vigilius resided in Rome and did not only depended on Caesar’s military support against the dangers the Ostrogoths represented, but was also a marionette in the hands of the Imperial Consort Theodora who had virtually handed him his papal office on a plate. The personality of the Emperor, the general bellicose situation in the eastern part of the Roman Empire and the threatening danger in Palestine caused by pro Origen groups of monks adding an extra domestic political-religious front, he had a political motive to remove all knowledge about reincarnation. Justinian’s reaction to the bill of complaints was virtually immediate: He order Patriarch Mennas of Constantinople to convene a Synod of the Eastern Orthodox Church and demanded a very comprehensive letter (Justiniani Imperatoris liber adversus Origenem) and nine imperially presented anathemas confirming that Origen’s doctrine was to be condemned. 150 3. The Synod of the Eastern Orthodox Church 543 A.D. Mannas convened a synod of the Eastern Orthodox Church in January 543 A.D. already, because he saw an opportunity to eliminate his greatest rival at the Imperial Court, the Origen follower Theodor of Askidas , Bishop of Caesarea. The driving motive of Mennas as well as Pelagius was being “jealous of the almighty Theodor of Askidas”. 151 “Their proposition was completely according to the predisposition of Caesar, namely to sit in judgment of ecclesiastical concerns. He issued an edict wherein Origen and all chapters concerned were slapped with an anathema. Mennas and all the bishops present in Constantinople signed it; it was then sent to the rest of the patriarchs, Vigilius in Rome (Pope), Zoilos of Alexandria, Ephraem of Antioch and Peter of Jerusalem and all of them signed it.” 152 As it is not the intension of this script to look at all of Origen’s quashed doctrines I will only render the two anathemas from 543 A.D. that deal with the removal of the “pre-existence of the soul” and 148 Ostrogorsky, see P. 65 149 Altaner/Struiber,P. 513 150 The Greek original and the Latin translation are found in Mansi, see P. 487-534 151 Diekamp, see P. 40, also Ginzel, see P. 377f. 152 Diekamp, see P. 40, also Mansi, see P. 523