The Papacy and Missionary Activity in the Early Middle Ages
Richard E. Sullivan
^ p H E era in Western European history extending from 590 to about 900 perhaps had no more prominent feature than the gains won by missionaries for Christian faith. Beginning with pontificate of Gregory Great frontier was pushed steadily forward until new barbarian invasions, collapse Carolingian empire, and secularization church temporarily interrupted this progress at end ninth century. These were made face great odds. Great, writing Emperor Maurice 595, dramatically posed following picture task facing world: “Behold, all things Europe are given over rights barbarians. Cities destroyed; castles tom down; provinces without people. No farmers inhabit land. The worshippers idols rage domineer murder faithful. And still priests who ought throw themselves weeping onto pavement cinders, seek vain names glory profane words.”1 did not live witness burdens heaped upon Christendom Moslems, Avars, Saxons, Norsemen, Bulgars, Magyars, whom sought often succeeded circum­ scribing realm. Neither he an internal western political ecclesiastical structure so serious that one his successors, John VIII (872-882), forced beg rulers West assist protecting Rome herself against invasions infidel Saracens their allies.1 2 Nor see gradual bifurcation what seemed think as a single into eastern during three centuries which followed pontificate, creating near schism sometimes impeded missionary work.3 developments only highlight magnitude achievement early Middle Ages. labor required extend shared many groups. Among those papacy. In view repeated appearance papacy record, certain questions arise, each having bearing on How extensive papal contribution struggle paganism? What exact nature conversion pagans?
Mediaeval studies