INTRODUCTION mi
history the East Roman not only handed down to posterity
the chronicle of the Empire's achievement, he also recorded
the actions of neighbouring peoples before they had any
thought of writing their own history. Thus it is that the
Slavs owe to East Rome so great a debt; (iv) the Orthodox
Church was a Missionary Church, and from its work of
evangelization the Slav peoples settled on its frontiers derived
their Christianity and a vernacular Liturgy; (v) it was in an
eastern province of the Empire—in Egypt—that monasti-
cism took its rise. Here was initiated both the life of the
solitary and the life of an ascetic community. It was by a
Latin translation of St. Athanasius' Life of St. Antony, the
first monk, that monasticism was carried to the West, and
what monasticism—Egypt's greatest gift to the world—has
, meant in the history of Europe cannot easily be calculated.
It was the ascetics of East Rome who fashioned a mystic
theology which transcending reason sought the direct
experience of the vision of God and of union with the God-
head (theosis). Already amongst the students of western
Europe an interest has been newly created in this Byzantine
mysticism, and as more documents are translated that interest
may be expected to arouse a deeper and more intelligent
comprehension; (vi) further, the Empire gave to the world a
religious art which to-day western Europe is learning to
appreciate with a fuller sympathy and a larger understanding.
Finally, let it be repeated, there remains the historic function
of Constantinople as Europe's outpost against the invading
hordes of Asia. Under the shelter of that defence of the
Eastern gateway western Europe could refashion its own
life: it is hardly an exaggeration to say that the civilization
of western Europe is a by-product of the Byzantine Empire's
will to survive.
N. H. B.