Setting the Zographou Monastery on Fire: Religion, Diplomacy, and Propaganda

Abstract

The unionist policy of Byzantine Emperor Michael VIII Palaiologos and Patriarch John
Bekkos of Constantinople led to the conclusion of the Union of Lyons on July 6, 1274. This event was
met with extreme hostility by the majority of monks on Mount Athos. The resistance of the Zographou
Monastery was particularly strong. For this reason, it was attacked, looted, and burned down. In the
name of the Orthodox faith, 26 martyrs died – 22 monks and 4 laymen. Initially they locked themselves
in the monastery tower, but it was set on flames, and in the course of the fire, in addition to the victims,
193 books, church utensils and vestments were destroyed. This tragedy occurred on October 10, 1275.
This is the shortest summary of a very interesting story that has reached us in several different versions.
There are heated debates in historiography concerning various issues around it: genre, authenticity,
authorship, dating, and origin. Additional problem is the lack of contemporary sources that reflect this
event. This is precisely what raises well-founded doubts among a number of researchers, some of
whom categorically reject its authenticity. Nevertheless, its widespread circulation in the Orthodox
world is puzzling, which raises a whole set of questions. The aim of this work is to summarize and
systematize the individual opinions of the various authors who have worked on the issue and to offer a
comprehensive view of the information in the context of religion, diplomacy, and propaganda in the
Middle Ages.