By History And Culture Media

5/19/2024

The Great Schism: The Split Between the Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches

The Great Schism, also known as the East-West Schism, was the formal division between the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church in 1054 CE. This split created a lasting religious, cultural, and political divide in Christianity that continues today.

Historical Background

Early Tensions

From Christianity’s early centuries, tensions grew between:

• The Latin-speaking West, centered in Rome.
  
  

• The Greek-speaking East, centered in Constantinople.
  
  

Key sources of conflict included theological disputes, differences in liturgy and language, and Rome’s claims of papal supremacy, which Eastern leaders rejected.

The Filioque Controversy

One major theological issue was the Filioque clause:

• Western churches added “and the Son” (Filioque) to the Nicene Creed, declaring that the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son.
  
  

• Eastern churches rejected this, maintaining that the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father alone.
  
  

This addition, made without an ecumenical council, deepened mistrust.

The Schism of 1054 CE

Immediate Causes

In 1054 CE, tensions culminated over:

• Papal Primacy: Pope Leo IX asserted Roman authority over all Christians.
  
  

• Liturgy differences: The use of leavened (East) vs. unleavened (West) bread in Eucharist.
  
  

Mutual Excommunications

The crisis peaked when:

1. Cardinal Humbert, representing Pope Leo IX, traveled to Constantinople to negotiate with Patriarch Michael Cerularius.
   
   

2. Talks failed, and insults followed.
   
   

3. On July 16, 1054 CE, Humbert laid a bull of excommunication on the altar of Hagia Sophia, excommunicating Cerularius.
   
   

4. Cerularius responded by excommunicating Humbert and his delegation.
   
   

This formalized the split between the Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches.

Aftermath

Attempts at Reconciliation

• 1274 CE (Council of Lyons): Temporary union rejected by Eastern clergy.
  
  

• 1439 CE (Council of Florence): Another short-lived union attempt, also rejected.
  
  

The Fourth Crusade

The sack of Constantinople in 1204 CE by Western Crusaders deepened hatred between East and West, making reunion even less likely.

Differences Between Eastern Orthodoxy and Roman Catholicism

Here is a simplified comparison:

Roman Catholic Church

• Believes the Pope has supreme authority over all Christians.
  
  

• Accepts the Filioque clause (“and the Son”) in the Nicene Creed.
  
  

• Requires clerical celibacy (priests cannot marry).
  
  

• Uses unleavened bread for the Eucharist.
  
  

• Uses Latin in liturgy (historically; now often local languages post-Vatican II).
  
  

Eastern Orthodox Church

• Rejects papal supremacy; views patriarchs as equal leaders.
  
  

• Rejects the Filioque clause, maintaining the original creed.
  
  

• Allows priests to marry (bishops remain celibate).
  
  

• Uses leavened bread for the Eucharist.
  
  

• Uses Greek and local languages in liturgy.
  
  

Modern Relations

In 1965 CE, Pope Paul VI and Patriarch Athenagoras I lifted the mutual excommunications of 1054 CE, beginning ecumenical dialogue. Despite improved relations, the churches remain separate.

Significance

The Great Schism:

• Created two major branches of Christianity.
  
  

• Influenced geopolitical and cultural alignments in Europe.
  
  

• Continues to shape Christian theology, diplomacy, and identity.
  
  

Conclusion

The Great Schism of 1054 CE was a landmark event that cemented a centuries-long division between East and West, leaving an enduring legacy in Christian and world history.

Sources

• East-West Schism, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East%E2%80%93West_Schism, 5/19/2024