The church of Istria from Justinian’s condemnation of the Three chapters to the Outburst of the Schism

Abstract

At the time of Justinian’s condemnation of the Three Chapters the Church of Istria was divided into the dioceses of Pola, Parentium, and Tergeste; there was possibly also the fourth diocese, namely the diocese of Cissa. The arrival to istria of the Byzantines resulted also in the arrival of the (arch) diocese of ravenna and in the suppression of the arianistic church community. The bitter conflicts following Justinian’s condemnation surfaced also in Istria where there was no concord among its dioceses. Bishop’s euphrasius’s diocese in Parentium, and potentialy also the dioceses in Pola and in Cissa, opted against the condemnation, remaining faithful to Constantinople and Ravenna.