What Does “Byzantine” Mean?

What does Byzantine mean? Well, it was the name of a city, Byzantium, that got renamed to Constantinople, and then it got renamed again to Istanbul! But there’s much more to the name Byzantine that where a city was located. Let’s find out more with this lesson! I’m your host Shalone Cason and let’s begin in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

A city named for its founder

The chief of the Megarian expedition was Byzas, after whom the city was naturally called Byzantion (Lat. Byzantium).

— Catholic Encyclopedia, “Constantinople”

Byzantium began as a Greek colony on the Bosporus, the narrow strait where Europe meets Asia, about six hundred and fifty years before Christ. Its position made it a natural crossroads for trade by land and sea. Centuries later, its name would be given to an empire, an art, and a whole way of Christian worship. When we say “Byzantine,” we are pointing back to this city.

Constantine’s new capital

the solemn inauguration of the new city did not occur until 11 May, 330

— Catholic Encyclopedia, “Constantinople”

Constantine was the first Christian emperor. He rebuilt Byzantium as Constantinople, the city of Constantine, a “New Rome” in the east. As the western half of the empire broke apart, the eastern half went on for more than a thousand years, until Constantinople fell in 1453. Historians call it the Byzantine Empire, though its people simply called themselves Romans. Its great church was Hagia Sophia, Holy Wisdom.

Its worship spread across the East

the Church of Constantinople, which is now, after the Roman Rite, by far the most widely spread in the world.

— Catholic Encyclopedia, “The Rite of Constantinople”

From Constantinople, missionaries carried the Gospel to the Slavic peoples. Saints Cyril and Methodius brought the liturgy to the Slavs in their own language, and in 988 Prince Volodymyr of Kyiv was baptized with his people. Greeks, Slavs, Arabs and others came to pray the same Byzantine liturgy. That is why “Byzantine” describes a tradition of worship, not one nation.

Through the split, communion with Rome

Born in the Baptism of Saint Volodymyr, the Metropolitanate of Kyiv became the Daughter-Church of the Church of Constantinople, and through her remained in communion with the Church of Rome

— Christ – Our Pascha 307

Over the centuries, Rome and Constantinople drifted apart, and in 1054 their break became open. Most of the Byzantine Churches went with Constantinople and are today the Orthodox Churches. In 1596, at the Union of Brest, the Church of Kyiv reconfirmed its communion with Rome while keeping its Byzantine tradition. Other Byzantine communities, including the Ruthenians, did the same. Their descendants are the Byzantine Catholics.

Close to the Orthodox

With the Orthodox Churches, this communion is so profound “that it lacks little to attain the fullness that would permit a common celebration of the Lord’s Eucharist.”

— Catechism 838

Byzantine Catholics and Orthodox Christians pray the same liturgies, venerate the same icons, and keep the same feasts and fasts. What differs is communion with the Pope. So what does “Byzantine” mean? It names a city, an empire and, above all, a way of worship that grew in Constantinople. Byzantine Catholics keep that way of worship, in full communion with Rome, and pray for the day East and West share one table again.

So, what does Byzantine mean in a nutshell? It was a city named for Byzas and became Constantinople under the Emperor Constantine. It is also the name for a Liturgical Rite that started near there and spread all across the Eastern Christan Church. Many Byzantine Rite Christians are in communion with Rome, but others, like Eastern Orthodox Christians aren’t in full communion. I’ve been your host, Shalone, and Thanks for learning with us and until next time, stay holy my friends.

Sources

• Catholic Encyclopedia (1908): Constantinople
• Catholic Encyclopedia (1908): The Rite of Constantinople
• Christ – Our Pascha: Catechism of the Ukrainian Catholic Church, 307
• Catechism of the Catholic Church, 830–838

Written and narrated by Shalone Cason, who chose the topic, selected the points, and reviewed every line. Researched and drafted with AI assistance (Claude) from the sources above. Every quotation is checked word for word against its source.