Entertainment in the twelfth-century canonical commentaries: were standards the same for Byzantine clerics and laymen?. (4th September 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Perisanidi, Maroula
• Is Part Of: Byzantine and modern Greek studies. Volume 38:Number 2(2014)
• Page Start: 185
• Page End: 200
• Publication Date: 2014-09-04
• Subjects: Byzantine Empire -- Study and teaching -- Periodicals; Greece -- History -- 323-1453 -- Periodicals; Greece -- Periodicals; Byzantine Empire -- Civilization -- Periodicals; 949.5005
• DOI: 10.1179/0307013114Z.00000000044
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0307-0131

Abstract

Abstract : In this article I analyse the twelfth-century commentaries of Aristenos, Zonaras, and Balsamon on canons that prohibited certain forms of entertainment to clerics and/or laymen. Only when their commentaries are studied as a whole, does a pattern in their treatment become clear: they sought to minimize any distinctions between laity and clergy found in the original canons. This gives us a rare glimpse into lay and clerical interactions and reinforces the view that the Byzantine Church did not wish to maintain clear boundaries between clerics and laymen.