BYZANTINE STUDIES IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC & SLOVAKIA

BYZANTINE STUDIES IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC & SLOVAKIA

nature of culture and lifestyle", overshadowing the older pejorative
11. Byzantine Studies in the Czech Republic and Slovakia : meaning. On the other hand, the terms "Byzantium" and "Byzantinism"
a historical Review in the public's view, sometimes regain a pejorative meaning in
conjunction with the view on the postwar political development in
.Iozef Matulal Eastem Europe.
It is clear that Byzantine studies, from the very beginning, were a
The history of the development of Byzantine Studies is not only a historical science closely connected with the pressing political problems
part of historiography and philology, but it also constitutes a special of the time. Some scholars see the reason for the growing attention to
chapter in European cultural history and thinking. The evaluation of Byzantium in the second half of the twentieth century as a result of the
Byzantium and the attitude towards this empire on the borders of Europe interest in historical forms of totalitarian states. But there also may be a
and Asia which had claimed to be the inheritor of the Roman Empire, has different reason. Traditional European historiography sprang from
always been connected with a whole set of political, cultural and religious historical issues that started with the Roman Empire and continued via the
factors. With the exception of a rather short episode when Cyril and empire of Charles the Great to the Holy Roman Empire of the German
Methodius led a mission to Great Moravia, the Czech countries have Nation and then to modern national states. Only Roman-Germanic
never been under the direct influence of Byzantine civilisation, but have culture was regarded as an active historical agent: the East, not only the
developed sphere of Western Latin culture. It is therefore
in the Orient, but also the European "Greek-Siavonic" East, stayed as a
understandable that modem historical and philological enquiries have "stagnant" area of the edge of historical interest5. After WWII, the
also been directed towards the study of the Middle Ages in Western and European East came to the historical scene as an important agent. The
Central Europe and that Byzantine studies started to develop relatively deveiopment of its civilisation can fully be understood through a better
late, and have stayed on the periphery ofour research interests. look ai its historical roots and circumstances6. We can say that today's
In the fourth volume of Otto's encyclopaedia, we can read a interest in Byzantine civilisation and culture is connected with the
definition of "Byzantinism" which runs as follows: "it is the state of suppression of a Eurocentric approach to history. In wider circumstances,
things as it was in the Byzantine Empire, ie. depravity, especially of this interest is, in many ways, connected with the actual treatment of the
courtly life, surfeit of luxury and ceremonies at the court, undignified relation between East and West, with efforts for deeper mutual
lickspittle and butteriness towards the sires"'. This fourth volume was understanding and comprehension of historical issues.
published 1891 and ironically, this was the same year in which Karl
in We can trace the development of Byzantology as an independent
Krumbacher wrote the first "scientifically" valuable history of Byzantine historical and philological discipline in Bohemia at the beginning of the
literature3. The founder of Czechoslovakian Byzantology, Jaroslav Bidio twentieth century. The origin of Czech Byzanlology is connected with
(1868-1937), evaluated this work as an key enterprise in the development temporal national cultural interests at a time of national renascence, with
of Byzantine studiesa. What is important, in our new encyclopaedias, is an interest in the development of the Slavonic nations. The foundations
that the meaning of "Byzantine" has advanced towards "the Byzantine of Byzantology were laid by Jaroslav Bidlo, a professor of Eastem
European history and the history of the Balkan peninsula at the Faculty of
I The author is a member of the Centre for Medieval and Renaissance Philosophy at Philosophy at Charles University in Prague. He wrote a lengthy key
the Department of Philosophy, Palackyi University, Olomouc, Czech Republic. He articleT in which he not only referred critically to Krumbacher's works
would like to express his gratitude to Dr. Petr Balc6rek who has given him valuable (which represented the state of Byzantological philological knowledge of
information about contemporary Byzantine studies in the Czech Republic and that time), but also discussed Byzantology as a scientific discipline and
Slovakia.
2
Ottuv slovnik nautnj,,28 volumes (A-Z with supplement), Prague, 1888-1909, vol. s
4. The Ottuv slovnik nautn!,, the second important encyclopaedia published in Czech, In the years 1894-1924, the Byzantine question was dealt with at some oriental
is also the largest and most comprehensive. congresses.
r Krumbacher, K., Geschichte der byzantinischen Litteratur von Justinian bis zum
6
We can see a similar situation with many other areas in the eastem Mediterranean, in
Ende des Ostrbmischen Reiches (527-1453), C.H. Beck, Miinchen, 1891. Cyprus (Greek-Turkish relations) or in Lebanon (the relation between Muslims and
a Bidlo, J., "Studia byzantologick6 a Karla Krumbachera 'Geschichte der Christians): in all these areas we can ltnd the roots of their problems in Byzantine
byzantinischen Literatur"' ("Byzantine Studies and Karl Krumbacher's'Geschichte der history.
7
byzantinischen Literatur"'), Cestq iasopis historiclqt 14 (1902): 129-158, 270-284, see footnote 4.
OdloZilik, O., "Jaroslav Bidlo", Slavonic Review 16, no. 48 (1938): 696-98. 97
96
 II
BYZANTINE STUDIES IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC & SLOVAKIA I
BYZANTINE STUDIES IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC & SLOVAKIA
I

introduced the main issues. Byzantology, in the Czech inteliectual Pavel Josef Safaiik, had not neglected the study of Byzantine history and
environment, sprang from Slavonic studies, the studies of the history of letters. These historians realised that without knowledge of the Byzantine
Slavonic nations for whom Byzantine civilisation formed the basis for world, it would not be possible to understand fully and rightly the
their own cultural developments. In this, Jaroslav Bidlo added to the medieval development of the southem and eastem Slavs, and that
works of the former Czech historians, especially to those of the great knowledge of Byzantine-Slavonic relations would provide a key to the
1.
Balkan historian, Konstantin Jiredek (1854-1918) who, however, did not understalding of southem- Slavonic and Russian culturel
directly influence the Czech scene, since he was a professor at the The real development of Byzantine studies in Czechoslovakia came
University of Viemae. Another historian of the Balkan nations and their after the First World War. An impofiant impulse for this development
relations with Byzantium was Bidlo's younqer contemporary, Karel was the arrival of a group of excellent Russian historians and experts in
Skorpil (1859-1944). However, he lived abroau and, as the first leader of Byzantine and old Slavonic art to Prague; the leading figure was Nikodim
the archaeological excavations in Plisca and Preslav, he is deservedly Paviovid Kondakov (1844-lg2rt2. The great emigration wave after the
named "the father of Bulgarian archaeology"r0. An impo(ant Slavist and Bolshevik revolution in 1911 brought to the host countries a large number
Byzantinologist, Miloi Weingarl (1890-1939), in the introductory part of of Russian academics who tried to continue their research on an
the first volume of Byzantinoslavica (1929), pointed out that Czech individual as well as on a collective basisr3. Prague became one of the
Slavonic studies, from the very beginning since Josef Dobrovsky and most important centres for Russian intellectuals in the prewar period'
Kondakov founded an institute that remained active after his death in
8 1925 andprovided administrative and practical.help to many Russian and
Already in the study Byzantine Culture fiom 1917, he came to the conclusion that
eastem Europe forms a special whole, given the differences of religious conceptions
other Slavonic schoiars who settled in Praguela. Kondakov's successor,
of the eastem-Greek and Roman church. This opinion was accepted by J. Bidlo as the
basis for his synthesis of the history of eastem Europe which he outlined in 1933 at
the VIIth Intemational Historical Congress in Warsaw (Was ist die osteuropiiische t' At the time of the founding of Byzantinoslaylca, czechoslovakia was
interested in
Geschichte?, Slawische Rundschau i933. Ce qu'est I'histoire de I'orient europden, the southern Slavonic countries and Balkans also from the point of view of
quelle en est l'importance et quelles furent ses dtapes, Bulletin d'information des contemporary foreign politics. Hauptovd 2., "Milo5 Weingart - 21 11.1890 -
sciences historiques en Europe orientale, t. VI, 1934) and r.r'hich he later discussed in 12.1.1939", Byzantinoslavica 6017 (1999): 1-8. Miloi Weingart was a prominent
his book History of Mankind,III vol., 1937. czech scholar, a professor of Slavonic philology at the Faculty of Philosophy,
e Konstantin (Josef) Jiredek, Czech politician, diplomat and historian, founder of
Komensky university, Bratislava (FF uK), a member of the comitd intemational des
Czech Balkanology and Byzantolgy. After changes in the Balkans, he heiped, 6tudes byzantines and an editor of Byzantinoslavica. His literary and scholarly
together with other Czechs, to build administration, school education and the interests were dedicated towards ecclesiastical Slavonic literature, Byantine-Slavonic
economy of the newly founded Bulgarian state, with which he remained closely culturai relations, and the history and structure of Slavonic philology. At FF UK in
connected. In 1879, he entered the govemment service and even became the minister Bratislava, he not only lectured, but also organised and built the library of the
of education. During this time, he was involved not only in politics, but also with seminary. He published Byzantskd lrroniky v literatuie cirkevndslovanskd, IJI (.1922'
Balkan and Byzantine studies on which he wrote many studies and treatises. His 1923'1 (Byzantine chronicles in the ecclesiastical-Slavonic literature, I-il).
t2
voluminous and, in many ways, groundbreaking work was almost always connected Nikodi- pavlovii Kondakov, a graduate of Moscow university, a disciple of F.
with the history ofthe Balkan nations and states (especially Bulgarians and Serbians). Buslajev and K. Gerce, was one of the best experts in old Russian and Byzantine art
The first monographs dedicated to Bulgaria were Ddjiny bulharskdho ndroda (1876) and related questions on the Near East, Balkan and Caucasus. He isjustly regarded as
(History of the Bulgarian Nation), the important encyclopaedic handbook Das the founder of Russian modern archaeology and pioneer of the iconographic method.
Ftirstentum Bulgarien, seine Bodengestaltung, Natur, Bevdlkerung, wirtschaftliche 13
vludimi. Lossky (who emigrated to czechoslovakia in 1922) was one of the most
Zustande, geistige Cultur, Snanerfas sung, Staatsvenraltung und neueste Ge s chichte important orthodox theologians of the twentieth century. He studied in Prague under
(1891). To southem-Slavs, he dedicated many works concentrated especially on the N.P. Kondakov and here he published his first study in 1929, Negativni teologie v
history of Dubrovnik (for example, Poselsn! republiky Dubrovnicki k cisaiovnd uieni Dionysia Areopagity (Negative theolog,t in the teachings of Dionysius
Katelind v roce l77l (1893) (Mlsslon of the Dubrovnik republic to empress Katherine Areopagite) (in Russian it was published in Seminarium Kondakovianum III., 1929
in 1771). His best works were dedicated to the history of the Serbians (Staat und (138-14?)). This work reveals all his theological preoccupations. Vladimir's father,
Gesellschaft im mittelalterlichen Serbien, 1916, Geschiclxte der Serben, 1911-18, Nitotu.l o. t osstij, was a christian philosopher - intuitivist and author of many books
unfinished). that wire published in our county as well. He worked in Prague and later at Bratislva
l0
The archaeological works in Plisca were started by Czech Archaeologists - amatuer university almost until his death.
brothers Hermenegilds, Karel Skorpil and the academic Uspensky at the end of the la They.published a regular volume,0very year until 1941, which was named
nineteenth century. Seminiriim Kondakovianum (altogether i 1 volumes - publication was intemrpted in
99
 BYZANTINE STUDIES IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC & SLOVAKIA BYZANTINE STUDIES IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC & SLOVAKIA

another Russian emigrant, Nikolaj Lvovi6 OkunEv (1886-1949), was an relations". Its managing editor and real creator was, until his early death
important figure for Czechoslovakian Byzantology and related subjects. in 1939, the aforementioned excellent Czech scholar, Miloi Weingart,
The aims of the society were to publish the research inherited from who managed to persuade almost all the leading scholars in
Kondakov, and to continr"re the scientific enquiry in the directions started Czechoslovakia to contribute to the joumal and also many other scholars
by Kondakov, that is archaeology and Byzantology't. The activity of the from Slavonic countries, and even some westem scholars, who dealt with
Institute also touched on other related theses, including Byzantine, old various aspects of this question. In this way they created a journal of high
Russian and Balkan art and general eastem European culture, the art of professional quality; important and essential articles and studies were
late antiquity, and art of the Near East and of migrant nations. Among published here, often presenting original and sometimes even
those who attended these Czech lectures were Josef Myslivec and Karel revolutionary discoveries and opinions. At the same time, it played an
IV Schwarzenbergl6. Kondakov's Institute has now become tod,ay's 1stuv important and informative role providing a forum in which scholars could
ddjin umdni Akademie vdd Ceskd republilqt (The Institute of the History comment critically on new and important issues in the field of
of Art at the Czech Academy of Sciences). Here we can find an intemationai Byzantine studies. It was only natural that the main
institutional archive, parts of the personal inheritance of individual specialisation of the journal was Slavonic studies and that great emphasis
members including Kondakov, an extraordinary library containing about was placed on the diffusion of Byzantine culture among Slavonic nations.
t
10,000 volumes. An extensive collection of icons is loaned as a deposit I Much attention was paid to studies on Cyril and Methodius'mission and
I
in the National Gallery in Praguel7. to old-Slavonic literature in generalle. In this connection, we must
An important act was the foundation of the Slavonic Institute in mention Franti5ek Dvomik (1893-1975) who based the study of
Prague in 1928 that has become the administrative basis of all Czech Byzantine-Slavonic relations on the all-embracing research of the power
Slavonic studiesr8. In 1929, it started to publish the joumal and political concerns throughout Europe in the ninth century. He
Byzantinoslavica - it was published until the beginning of the Second approached the question ofthe origin ofold-Slavonic hagiography and its
World War as a regular "Symposium for the study of Byzantine-Slavonic relationship to contemponry Byzantine literature in a completely new
*ayto. His later work led him to a complete re-evaluation of the so-called
1930, 1934 and 1939). It was well regarded as an academic joumal and is still Photian schism2r, and after the Second World War, when he was a
valuable. even todav. professor at Harvard University and a member of the Byzantine Institute
15
The name of tie Institute is still associated with its voluminous and important
publishing activities. at Dumbarton Oaks in Washington, he studied political theories in
l6
Karel VI Schwarzenberg, a great lover of the Christian East, belongs together with Byzantium and wrote several monographs on this topic22' He continued
Josef Myslivec, among the small number of Czechs who became eminent among to work on the question of Byzantine missions among the Slavonic
Kondakovians. Hlav6dkovS, H., "Josef Myslivec and his catalogue of icons from the nations, and his last monograph on this topic, summarising the results of
collection of the former N.P. Kondakova Institute in Prague", in Josef Myslivec, his life-long studies, was published in 1910, both in Engiish in America
Catalogue of icons from the collection of the former N.P. Kondakova Institute in
and in Czech in Prague23.
Prague, ed. H. Hlavddkov6, Artefactum, Prague, 1999,7-11: Hlaviidkov6, H.: Josef
Franti5ek Dvornik was not the only Czech scholar interested in
Myslivec (Zamldovand osobnosti)" ("Josef Myslivec (Suppressed Personages)"),
Umdnialemesla 3 (i991): 95. Byzantium. We must also mention Karl Mijller, who was a translator of
r7
Kondakov's Institute was closed on 2nd January, 1953 and this Institute, one of the
first specialised institutions in the world, slowly fell into oblivion. te Cvrillomethodiana; in honorem Aemiliae Bldhovd et Venceslai Koznal, ed Z.
t*
Toduy the Slavonic Institute at the Czech Academy of Sciences (AVdR) is a part of ttauptova et E. Slaufovd, Slovanskli ristav AV iR./Euroslavica, Praha, 2001.
the Section of Humanities and Philological Sciences. It deals with Paleoslavonic and 'o This pt"occupation led him more and more
towards his own approach to Byzantine
Byzantine research (V6clav ierm6k, Jan Bemli, Emilie Bl6hov6, Franti5ek Cajka, Zoe Studies. He started his academic career by publishing an important hagiographic text
Hauptovd, Lubomira Havlikov6, V6clav Konzal, Pavel Milko, Zdeika Ribarova, - A Life of Gregory of Dekapolis. See Dvornik, F., La vie de s. Grdgoire le
Jarmila Vaiekovri, Vladimir Vaviinek, Luk65 Z6branskli, Ludmila Pacnerov6, Kyriaki Ddcapolite et les Slaves mocddoniens au IXe sidcle, Paris 1926.
2r
Ch6bov6, Marina Lupt6kov6) and with the lexicography of contemporary Slavonic Dvomik, F., The Photian Schism, history and legend, Cambridge University Press
languages, history of Slavonic studies, literary studies of Slavonic literature and 1948.
22
publishing activity connected to all these topics. An important work of the group is Dvornik, F., Earty Christian and Byzantine Political Philosophy. Origins and
Psalterii Sinaitici pars nova: (monasterii s. Catharinae codex slav.2A.,l) / ad editionem ound, Washington DC, 1 9 66.
B ackgr
23
praeparaverunt Petra Fetkov6, Zoe Hauptov6, Vriclav Konzal et al. sub redactione Dvomik, F., Byzantine missions among the S/avs. SS Constantine-Cyril and
Francisci V. Mares, Osterreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften, Wien 1997. Methodius, Rutgers University Press, New Brunswick, N.J., 1970.

t00 101
 BYZANTINE STUDIES IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC & SLOVAKIA BYZANTINE STUDIES IN THE CZEC}I REPUBLIC & SLOVAKIA

ordinary Byzantine literature, especially novels and epics, into Czech, and with a much wider scope which dealt with all areas of Byzantine studies,
who wrote the first (and so far, only) Czech overview of the history of rvithout neglecting its original aim. The journal also now contained a
Byzantine literature2a. Another scholar, Theodor Satumfk (1888-1949), bibliographic section which included up-to-date information on the
dealt with Byzantine law and the Slavonic nations. His follower, Josef development of Byzantine studies on an international basis and the study
Va5ica (1884-1968), continued his work in an original way. We must of Byzantine influence on the Slavonic nations. Among the contributors
also mention the contribution of other scholars, such as Josef Vajs (1865- were many scholars from both Slavonic and Westem countries with the
1959) who, through their work on old-Slavonic literature, contributed result that the journal gained intemational recognition. The publication of
considerably to the knowledge of its Byzantine models. In the period Byzantinoslavica was assured in 1953 when the slavonic Institute was
between the wars, the study of Byzantine art and oid-Slavonic art reached incorporated into the new Czech Academy of Sciences. Milada Paulov6
a very high standard in Czechoslovakia: despite the leading role of the led the journal until the mid 1950s when a Slavonic schoiar, Antonin
Russian scholars living in Prague (led by N. L. OkunEv), Czech scholars Dost6l (1906-1997) took over. For the organisation of the redaction
did make a great contribution as well. We must mention especiaily Josef work, Bohumila Zlstdrovir (1915-1987) was responsible and for a long-
Cibulka (1886-1968), the prominent expert in early Christian time she worked with Milan Loos, a great authority in the field of
of his disciples, Josef Myslivec (1907-1971) whose
archaeology, and Byzantine religious history and Medieval heresies26' Some time later,
career was, however, forcibly intemrpted by long years of unjust Vladimir Vaviinek joined them and he took over the editorship of the
imprisonment in the 1950s. ioumal after their deaths. He was the chief editor of Byzantinoslavica
The period between the wars also saw signihcant scientific and until the mid 1990s27. Vladimer Vaviinek started with the study of
cultural contacts made between Czechoslovakia and Greece and the study ancient history and later on, tumed his attention towards the question of
of the history and culture of Byzantium was of particular importance, change in late antique society and Medieval Byzantium. He was most
encouraged by the work of Jaroslav Bildo, Milada Paulov6, FrantiSek interested in the study of the history of the Byzantine missions towards
Dvomik and others, and the publication of Byzantinoslavica. Modern the Slavs, the Christianisation of Great Moravia, and the relationship
Greek research became one of the main topics in the Centre for Greek, between old-Siavonic and Byzantine literature, a topic in which he
Roman and Latin studies CSAV, which was founded in 1953. The Head followed FrantiSek Dvomik to a certain extent28. The scholars working
of this Institute was the classicai archaeologist Antonin Salai (1885- on Byzantinoslavica were not, however, the only group of Byzantinists.
1960) who was a member of the expedition which carried out They kept close relations with czechs working on paleoSlavonic
archaeological research on the island of Samothraki and in the ancient research, especially a group who published (from 1958) the monumental
S I ovn{k j azyka s t ar o s I ov d n s kd h o (D i c t i onary of O I d - S I av o n i c L an gua
ge)'
Kym6 in the interwar period.
The Second World War was a great landmark in the development The chief editor was Josef Kurz and the dictionary is now almost
of Byzantine and Slavonic studies in Czechoslovakia. Opportunities to completed under the editorship of Zoe Hauptov62e who co-operated with
research and publish results were repressed and intemational relations Kuri for a long time. As the continuation of this dictionary, the Greek -
disrupted. Some of the prominent experts died at that time and some had old-Slavonic Dictionary is being prepared, an idea initiated by Ilona
to emigrate. After this forced break, however. there was a time of P irclav 6 (now deceased).
intensive development. Shortly after the end of the Second World War,
Milada Paulov6 (1891-1970), a follower of Jaroslav Bidlo at Charles
University25, together with the art historian, Nikolaj Lvovid Okundv and 2u
Loos, M., "Gnosis und Mittelalterlicher Dualism.*", Listy flologickd 90' 1967'
the paleoslavonic scholar, Bohuslav Havr6nek, continued to publish the 116-127; Loos, M., "Le mouvement paulicien d Byzance [II]", Byzantinoslavica 25,
Byzantinoslavica. She tumed this journal into an international joumal 1964,52-68; Loos, M., Dualist Heresy in the Middle lges, Academia,Prague 1974
21
Today the chief editors are Pavel Milko and Lubomira Havlikov6'
2a t' Stnforot; studia byzanlinq ac slayica; ad tr4rtdimiro Vaviinek ad annu sexagesimum
Miiller, K., Ilvod do byzantslEch ddjin, kultury a literatury s ukizkou z lileratury
byzantskd (Introduction to Byzantine Hislory, Culture and Literature with an example quinium dedicata, ed. R. Dost6lov6 et Y.
Konzh1 L.
Havlikov6 adiuvante,
Bvzantinoslavic a 1 -3, 56, Praha 1 995.
from Byzanl ine I i t e rat ure\. Praha | 927
.

25
As the professor of Slavonic history and Byzantology, Milada Paulov6 became
2E
Hauptov6, Z. - Bechyf,ov 6, Y ., Zlar! vdk bulharskdho pisemnictvi: Vi'bor texti od
known especially for her detailed works on the history of Czech and southem X. do poidtku XV. stoleti (The Gotden Age of Bulgarian Letters: a collection of texts
Slavonic relations. from the Xh till the beginning of the Wth century), Vy3ehrad, Praha 1982.
t02 103
 BYZANTINE STUDIES IN THE CZECrl REPUBLIC & SLOVAKIA BYZANTINE STUDIES INTHE CZECII REPUBLIC & SLOVAKIA

Apart from paleoSlavonic studies, which in Byzantinoslavica were pursued by Franti5ek Hejl, and today especially by Ivan Dorovskj, whose
represented by Emilie Bkihov6, CzechByzantinists in the postwar period interest is directed towards modern history and Balkan philology. Czech
directed their attention towards the study of classical antiquity. The historians have aiways been interested in the history of the southern
foundations of this work had been laid by two eminent professors of Slavonic countries. In this connection, we must mention Czech
classical philology at the Faculty of Philosophy at Charles University. Balkanists and Yugoslavians; the aforementioned Konstantin Jiredek and
The first, Karel Svobada (1888-1960), concentrated his studies on the Milada Paulov6, as well as Frank Wollman and V6clav LiUU' After the
Byzantine novel and the work of Michael Psellos3o, and the other, Second World War, several scholars attempted to produce complete
Antonin Salad (1885-1960), published some source material for descriptions of the development of the southem-Slavonic nations35.
Byzanline history, especially the charter of the law school of Czechoslovakian archaeology was connected with Byzantine art,
Constantinople. He also dealt with the relations between Hussite although only in a marginal way; especially the findings from the period
Bohemia and the Constantinopolitan church, and in his archaeological of the migration of nations and of Great Moravia. Two scholars gained
excavations in Greece, he was interested not only in antique objects, but intemational fame in this field: Josef Poulik (1910-1998) and Vil6m
also in finds from the Byzantine period. Karel Svobada's follower, who F{ruby (1912-1985). Josef PoSmoumy and Josef cibulka dealt with the
also worked with Antonin Salad, RriZena Dost6lov6, edited the Byzantine influence of Byzantine architecture on Great Moravia, while Zdendk
anci Greek part of Slovnik ieclqtch spisovatelfi (Dictionary of Greek Klanica and Klement Benda were interested in virtu (little art objects).
lI/riters) and she founded a series of translations of the rvorks of In Slovakia, the scholar who dealt with the artistic side of Byzantium was
Byzantine historians3r. At the same time, she seeks to cultivate modem- J6n Dekan and the scholar who was interested more in the historical point
Greek studies as a logical continuation ofByantology and pays attention of view was Alexander Avenarius (1942'2A0q, especially Byzantine-
to Greek-Czech relations in history32. Avar and Byzantine-Slavonic relations36. At the university in Bratislava,
Byzantine studies form a natural part of Balkan studies which, the Byzantine andlVledieval Slavonic archaeology and the history ofart is
especialiy from the 1960s, constitute an independent subject. In taughl by Tatiana Stefanovidov63?.
Czechoslovakia, Balkan studies are based especially at Masaryk There is no independent department of Byzantine Studies (common
University in Bmo, where the discipline was founded there by Professor in other Slavonic countries) at aCzech University, but Byzantine history
Josef Macrirek (1901-1992), the author the work, Ddjepisectvt evropskdho is taught within general history. At Charles University, Milada Paulov6
vychodu33, and where Josef Kabrda (1906-1968), an expert on the early was followed by her disciple, Vdra F{rochov6, who specialised in late
Turkish period, also lectured3a. In the 1970s, this subject in Bmo was Byzantine towns and the period of the crusades3s, while in Bmo, the
Lecturer in Byzantine history was Lubomir Emil Havlik (1925-2000),
30
Svoboda, K., La d,lmonologie de Michel Psellos, Filosolick6 Fakulta, Brno 1927. who became known for his work on early Slavonic history. The history
Among his other important works, it is necessary to mention Svoboda, K.,
L'esthdtique d'Aristote, Filosofick6 Fakulta, Bmo 1927 and Svoboda, K., L'esthdtique
de saint Augustin et ses sources, Filosofick6 Fakulta, Brno 1933.
35
Of great value is also the voluminous monograph Cdi a Jihoslovand v minulosti od
ir Vaviinek, V., "RtiZena Dostdlov6 octogennaria", Byzantinoslavica LXII (2004):7- neistiiich dob do roku 1918 (Czechs and Southern Slavonics in the past from the
10: Psellos, Michael, Byzantsfu! letopisy (Chronografia), trans. by R. Dost6lov6, oidest times tilt lgis), Academica, Praha1975. Among others, we canname Ddjiny
Odeon, Praha 1986; Theofylaktos Simokattds, Na plelomu vdtri (Oikumenikd Jugosldvie (History ofYugoslavia) which was published in Prague in 1970 and which
historia), trans. by V. Bahnik, Odeon, Praha i986; Zosimos: Steslqt posledniho surveys the history ofYugoslavia until 1945.
Rimana (lJea hlstoria), trans. by A. Hartmann, Odeon, Praha 1983.
36
Avenarius, A., Die byzantinische Kultur und die Slawen. Zum Problem der
32
Slovnik spisovatulrt; Reckoantickd, byzantskd a novolecki (Dictionary ofwriters; Rezeption und Transformation (6. bis 12. Jahrhundert), Verdffentlichungen des
ancient Greek, Byzantine and modern Greek literature), B. Moreckj and R. Instiiuts fiir dsterreichische Geschichtsforschung, 34, R. Oldenbourg, Vienna, 2000;
Dost61ov6, Odeon, Praha 1975 (Ptaha 1984). Avenarius, A., Byzansky ikonoklazmus 726-843. Storoiie zdpasu o ikonu (Byzantine
33
Macrirek, J., Ddjepisectvi evropsklho vychodu (Historiography of the European IconoclTsm 726-843. Century ofthe struggle for icons), Veda, Bratislava 1998.
31 Taliana Stefanovi6ov6 lectures at the Faculty of Philosophy at Komensky
East), Nakladatelstvi Historickdho klubu, Praha 1946; Lubomira Havlikov6, "O
Caiihradu, Francii a byzantsk;ich dEjindch odima profesora Josefa Macfirek" ["On University in Bratislava and she is one of our eminent expert archaeologists
Constantinople, France and Byzantine History through the eyes of Professor Josef specialising in the most ancient history ol Slovakia.
Macrirek" j, SI avic Surv ey LXXXD?4 (2003): 549 -5 60.
,0
Hro.hou7, y ., Byzantskd mdsta ve 13. a 15. stoleti (Byzantine towns in the I 3th and
3a
Kabrda, J.,Le systdmefiscal de l'dglise orthodoxe dans I'dmpire ottoman. Sous le 15th centuries), praha gel; Hrochov6, Y., Aspects des Balkans mddidvaux, Praha
jour de.s documents turcs,Bmo 1969. r 989.

104 105
 BYZANTINE STUDIES IN THE CZECII REPUBLIC & SLOVAKIA BYZANTINE STUDIES IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC & SLOVAKIA

of Byzantine art and the art of the Slavonic nations was taught at the In 1992, under the supervision of Bohumila Zfsrlrovit, the book
University in Prague by Vladimir Fiala, who specialised in the art history Ddjiny Byzance (History of Byzantium) was published. The authors were
of Bulgaria, now studied by Jana HlavSdkovd, who works especially on prominent Czechoslovakian Byzantinists - Alexander Avenarius (t),
Byzantine iconography. RrjZ"nu Dost61ov6, Vladimir Fiala, V6ra Hrochov6 (f), Milan Loos (t),
An important way of making international contacts is to hold Oldiich Trima, Vladimer Vaviinek and Bohumil a Zdstdtov| (t)a2. The
conferences. In Czechoslovakia, there have been several Byzantine publication had to provide a modem picture of the historical development
Symposia. ln 1977, in Liblice, a symposium entitled "Byzantium in the of th" Byru.rtine Empire. Due to the importance of Byzantium for the
height of its power", was held and attended by thirty-six scholars from six history of centrai Europe, especially for eastern-Slavonic and southem-
socialist countries. The papers were published in the volume Beitrage zur Slavonic nations, a chapter dealing with Byzantine-Slavonic relations was
byzantinischen Geschichte in 9.- I I . Jahrhundert3e. In September 1982, at added to the book. This publication attempted to provide a response to
the sixteenth intemational conference EIRENE, traditionally dedicated to the view that Byzatium means constrained absolutism and formalistic
classical studies only, the first Byzantine symposium dedicated to the splendour without life and creative power. In the introductory part,
question of continuity or discontinuity of historical development in the
Vladimir Vaviinek points to the fact that often, in general, Byzantium
time of transition from late antiquity to early Bzyantium was held. This means arrogance and servility at the same time. Byzantine culture is alien
symposium was attended by sixty-seven scholars from thirteen countries,
to everyone who has been brought up in the tradition of western culture
eastem as well as westem, and its proceedings were published in the
based on Latin foundations. The book represents a summary of
volume from Late Antiquity to Early Byzantiumaa. The importance of this scholarship of one generation of Byzantine schoiars in Czechoslovakiaa3"
symposium internationally is indicated not only by the number of It is important to mention the work of lhe Institute af Classical
participants and papers delivered, but also by the fact that the publication
sntdies at the Faculty of Phiiosophy at Masaryk university in Bmo which
of the volume was sponsored by LTNESCO. In September 1990, there deals with almost all aspects of the study of the ancient world: the
was another conference in BechynE on the topic: "Byzantium and its language, social and cultural background of the ancient Greeks and
neighbours from the second half of the ninth century until the twelfth Romani; the development of ancient Greek and Latin, ancient literature'
century". This conference was attended by over sixty scholars from philosophy and religion, ancient Greek and Roman history, and the
fourteen countries.
lvolution-of ancient social institutions, archaeology, development of the
Intemational co-operation has widened recently. In the manuscript
arts etc. Apart from these activities, the Institute pays attention to
department of the State Library in Prague, there is a collection of Greek
scholarship in Byzantine Studies and modern Greek language'
papyri from the Hellenistic period until the conquest of Byzantine Egypt Among imporlant centres Byzantine studies in the Czech
of
by the Arabs: among these papyri are some from the early Byzantine Republic, rve must nafre the Institute of saint John the Theologian for
period. On the basis of an agreement between the Czech Academy of Eastern Christian Studies in Olomouc under Petr Balcarek and his wife,
Sciences and the Florentine Bibliotheca Laurentiana, an Italian and two
Manuela E. Gheorghe. The aim of the Institute is the presentation,
Czech scholars have become responsible for publishing them: Rosario diffusion, strengthening and deepening of orthodox christianity and its
Pintaudi, RriZena Dost6lov6 and Ladislav Vidmanal.
Pragensis I, Firenze 1988 (Pap. Flor. 16) and in the brochure ofR. Pintaudi, I
papiri
tn sreii ll/esselv rlella Biblioteca Nazionale detla Repubblica Ceca-Praga,200t'
Btitrog" zur byzantinischen Geschichte im 9.-1 1. Jahrhundert; Akten,Hrgs. vonY. 7,
Daiiry Byzarce (History of Byzantium), Academia, Praha 1992 (2nd edition 1994'
Vaviinek, Academia, Praha 1978.
oo
Fro* Late Antiquity to Early Byzantium; proceedings of the byzantological lra eaition-1996). Apart from the relevant chapters in Melantrich's Ddiiny lidsna
(History of Uaniindl irom the end of the 1930s, by Jaroslav Bid1o, Milada Paulov6
symposium in the 16th International Eirene Conference, ed. V. Vaviinek, Academia, the
and Feii*'Tauer, that were left unfinished, this is the first attempt to synthesise
Praha 1985. in Czech'
ar history and civilisation of Byzantium written
A history ofthe collection with references can be found in the first volume (p.3-7) il W" rftoufO also add that one of the authors, Milan Loos, one of the best experts of
of the edition of Prague Greek papyri, published in 1 988 by Rosario Pintaudi with the
Byzantine history in czechoslovakia, died before he could complete his chapters;
collaboration of R. Dost6lovd andL. Vidman (P.Prag.I : Pap.Flor.XVI). For a first the manner
these chapters were finished by Oldiich Tfima who tried to finish them in
overview on the matter, it is essential to refer to Dostdlov6, R., Vidman, L., "Der group'
drafted by Loos. Bohumilazitstdtovit,who co-ordinated the work of the whole
Heutige Stand der Sammlung Papyri Wessely Pragenses", Firenze 20 (1983): 101-
did the last redaction of the book, but also became ill; she managed to submit the
109. A general introduction to the collection is given in Papyri Graecae Wessely manuscript to the publisher but she did not live to see it published'
106
t07
 BYZANTINE STUDIES IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC & SLOVAKIA BYZANTINE STUDIES IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC & SLOVAKIA

spiritual and cultural traditions on the basis of academic study and Avenarius worked and lectured, and it is important to mention an
scholarly research. Petr Balcarek delivers lectures on Early Christian and intemational conference held here in 2001, The Byzantine trqdition in the
Byzantine lconography up to the I 5th century at the Theological Faculty context of European civilisationas, In PreSov, under Vaclav JeZek and
ai Palackv Universitv in olomoucaa. Eduard i.l"rrpuu"., the joumal synergi.T was founded, dedicated to
In Slovakiaai activities in the area of Byzantine studies are Byzantine history, culture and theologyo'. Byzantine subjects are also
concentrated mostly in Bratislava and Pre5ov. At the Faculty of inclua"d in the orthodox Revue, a journal for orthodox theology
Philosophy at Komensky University in Bratislava under Martin Hurbanid, (published in Prague) where the studies are published in czech-and
there are efforts currently to establish a joumal, Byzantinoslovaca. The s'lorrak. Many important translations were published here, such as those
first issue should be dedicated to the prominent scholar, Alexander of G. Palamas, B. Krivoch6ine, J' Meyendorff, G' Florovsky'
Avenarius. According to Matin Hurbani6, this journal will continue The most recent important event concerning Byzantine studies was
Byzantine studies in Slovakia, following the work of A. Avenarius' The 10th Colloquium on Gregory of Nyssa (Gregory of Nyssa, Contra
Another centre of Byzantine studies is the Department of Eunomium II, Phitosophy and Theotogt of Language, 15th-18th
Byzantologt at the Orthodox Theoiogical Faculty, Pavol Jozef Safririk Sepf_ember, 2004)50 which was organised by the prominent Czech
expert
University in PreSova6. It is not necessary to stress the main subject of the on the work of Gregory of Nyssa, Lenka Karfikovdsl'
department - the spiritual value and inheritance of the Byzantine state. From what has been said above, we can say that czechoslovakian
The Byzantine mission of Cyril and Methodius also enlightened the Byzantology has a long tradition, supported by names such as Konstantin
beginnings of our national history and therefore influenced the way Jiredek, Jiioslarr Bidio, Milada Paulov6, Milo5 Weingart, Franti5ek
Czechs and Slovaks look at Christianity. Byzantology in our Dvomik, Milan Loos, RiiZena Dost6lov6, Alexander Avenarius, Vladimir
interpretation means mostly the church history of the Christian Roman Vaviinek, Vladimir Fiala, V6ra F{rochovd, Oldiich Trima, Bohumila
empire, and later on, of only its eastern part. Special attention is paid to Z6sldrov6 and others.
spiritual themes and theological disputes which influenced the life of the
church as well as of the whole of society. The results of theological Appendix
controversies, for example, iconoclastic or paiamistic, define specific Selected Bibliography on Byzantine Studies in the Czech Republic
Orthodox theologies and are often the object of liturgical doxologies. and Slovakia
Another aim of the department is to introduce Bzyantine Studies to
university students of theology, and to show that Byzantine Studies is a The works of czech Byzantinists until 1965 ate registered in
scientific discipline which is taught at a number of universities and Bibliographie de la byzantinologie tchdcoslavaque l-il, Praha,. 1966' A
Orthodox theological schools. The Department concentrates on the study basic Jverview of the Byzantine period or of particular issues is covered
of Greek and Russian worksaT. It is at this department that Alexander in several arlicles by Czech authors: J. Bidlo, 'studia byzantologick6 a

state in five periods. The second part, Byzantologie II (Byzantologt II)

aa
Petr Balcarek wrote about the activities ofthe Institute in BBBS 29 (2003): 53.
which is
b.ing pr"pur"d, deals with a more detailed analysis ofByzantine theological thinking
a5
We must distinguish between Czech and Slovakian Byzantology from 1993 when
czechoslovakia divided into two countries, the czech Republic and the Slovak and spiritual themes.
Republic.
I{-niiittni ftadica y kontexte eurdpskej civilizdce, Zbomik prispevkov z vedeckej
context of
konierencie s medzin6rodnou ridasttu (The Byzantine tradition in the
a6
The department of Byzantology deals with the theology, liturgical and spiritual
scientific
richness of Byzantium which was brought to Slovakia by the apostolic missions of European civilisation. A volume of papers delivered at the intemational
Cyril and Methodius. At the department, subjects such as the general history of 26-27.10.2001, ed. by J. Zoi,i'6k, Acta Facultas Theologie Universitatis
conference)
the conference are
Byzantium, Byzantine theology, Byzantine culture, literature, philosophy and art are Presoviensis, Byzantskli zbomik i, Pre5ov 2003' The papers from.
taught. th. ,"rult of ttre scieniific project under the name: "The Byzantine tradition in the
ot
Bishop IGyStof wrote a treatise Byzantologie (Byzantolog) that was published in context of European civilisation"
PreSov. The treatise describes the thousand years ofhistory ofthe Christian East from The last volume of Synergia 314 was published in 2004'
ae
Renaissance
the establishment ofconstantinople in 300 until its fall in 1453. PBF PU v PreSove, The colloquiu. *ur hosted by the Centre for Patristic, Medieval and
s0

Presov, 1995. It looks at the tradition ofByzantine studies in the Czech Republic as lexts. Palack'i University. Olomouc. Czech Republic'
I
well as in Slovakia. The content of Byzantologie (Byzantology /) serves as an ;l-r-*ritora, L., Rehof'z Nyssy Boii a lidska nekonefrosl (Cregory of Nyssa: Divine
introduction into Byzantine studies and an overview of the history of the Byzantine and Human Infiniteness), Oikirmen6, Praha 1999.

108 109
 BYZANTINE STUDIES IN THE CZECrl REPUBLIC & SLOVAKIA

Karla Krumbachera "Geschichte der byzantinischen Literatur"'

('Byzantine Studies and Karl Krumbacher's "Geschichte der
byzantinischen Literatur"), Ceslry iasopis historiclry 14 (1902), 129-158,
270-284; M. Paulov6, "Die Tschechisch-Byzantinischen Beziehungen
und ihr Einfluss", Byzantinoslavica l3l2 (1958): 195-205; V. F{rochov6,
"Zhkladni probl6my studia byzantskych dEjin" ("Basic problems of the
study of Byzantine history"), Ceslqt iasopis historiclry \2 (1964), 153-
170; B. Z6stdrov6, "Piehled ryvoje a dneSniho stavu byzantologie" ("An
overview of the development and contemporary state of Byzantology")
Cesky iasopis historiclqt 14 (1966) 161-178; volume Vybrand probl1my
s ouiasnd byz antologie (Sel ected prob lems of contemporary byzantol ogy),

Praha 1978 (authors of individual articles: R. Dost5lov6, V. Hrochov6, M.

Loos, V. Vaviinek). In 1992, Ihe chapter "Byzantskd studia v
ieskoslovensku" ("Byzantine studies in Czechoslovakia") was published
in Ddjiny Byzance (History of Byzantium), Academia, Praha 1992, 472-
475. Lubomira Havlikov6 wrote the article "iesk6 byzantologie a
archeologie (199i-2000)" ("Czech Byzantology and archaeology (1991-
2000)") where she presents the development of Czech Byzantine studies
(including history, archaeology, linguistics, literary studies, history of
arts) between the years |ggl-2000s2. In Byzantinoslavica (Prague) there
is systematic information on new Byzantine publications in annotated
bibliography. The latest evaluation of Czech Byzantology is a dictionary
entry "Czechoslovak Byzantology" by Petr Balc6rek and Vladimir
Vaviinek which should be published by Libri pubiishers, Prague, in 2005.

52
Havlikov6, L., "Klasickd studia a podatky deskd byzantologie (Z korespondence A.
Salade a J.Bidla)" ("Classical studies and the beginnings ofCzech Byzantology (from
the correspondence ofA. Salad and J. Bidlo)"), Listy Filologickd l-2 (2002):102-109.
Havlikov6, L., " iesk6 byzantologie archeologie (1991-2000)" ("Czech Byzantology
and Archaeology (1991-2000)") in: Ceskd a slovenskd odbornd prdce o jihovychodni
Evropd. Bibliografie za ldta 1991-2000 (Czech and Slovak scholarly works on
Southeast Europe. Bibliography from 1991-2000), Masarykova Univerzita, Bmo
2003.223-230.

110