The Council of Lyons (1274)

everal anti-unionist views such as those expressed in the discourses of Nicholas Mesarites, metropolitan of Ephesos, had been voiced before the Council of Lyons. But the strong opposition and fiery anti-unionist propaganda emanating from all sides (clergy, laity and monks) was mainly manifested after the signing of the treaty of Union. Representative anti-unionist writings were those of Patriarch Gregory II of Cyprus, and this propaganda was countered by treatises in favour of union such as those composed by the Emperor Michael VIII Palaiologos, the Patriarch John XI Bekkos and the member of the Byzantine delegation to Lyons, George Akropolites.