Unbroken Church

The Unbroken Church is a term referring to the orthodox, conciliar, Emunite church which existed under the undisputed reign of the Metropolitans of Berytus from the appointment of Iban Acacias in 41 IB until the Enetoi Schism in 717. Both the Haugrkirk Emuna and Imperial See claim to be the true Unbroken Church, though it is generally understood that both have somewhat legitimate claim, on the basis of theology if not ecclesiology.   The Unbroken Church held four Theological Councils: Berytus I (90 IB), Salon (170), Berytus II (380), and Apannina (470–483). All of these councils are recognized by the Haugrkirk and Imperial See. The first real theological crisis arose not even ten years after Acacius died: the church was split between Semelism and Simonian orthodoxy. Semelism was the opinion of about 70% of the Church, and had wide popular support. Simonianism was far more complex, and had the backing of Iban Acacias and the urban Elders of Berytus. Paul Simon's decisive election as Metropolitan in 90 IB and his immediate calling of the First Council of Berytus is credited with preventing the victory of Semelism. Using the urban Elders to outnumber the provincials (and vesting some forty Presbyters in the space of a week before the Council) Paul Simon had Semelcar's popular teachings anathematized and forced the Unbroken Church into the orthodox position. The Council also declared the "coessentiality" of the Heliand and Ancient of Days, asserting both to be "instantiations" of the Monad.   The second major crisis arose in 165 out of a marital dispute between Emperor Iban III and Empress Privia. Privia had held to the position that the Heliand came about at a point in time, while Iban III insisted that he was eternally existent. What began as a domestic argument spiraled into a total political crisis, with Privia's position backed by powerful Malandras and Iban's backed by the urban Elders. Most of the population (and a great many clerics) held that the debate was ultimately meaningless and vain, but Iban III convoked the Council of Salon in 170 to settle the issue. The Council sided with the emperor, holding that the coessentiality of the Heliand and Ancient of Days (a matter not in dispute) necessitated that the Heliand was eternal, and anathematizing Privia's position.