The East-West Schism was a major split in Christianity that occurred in 1054 AD. It resulted from centuries of growing differences between the Eastern Orthodox and Western Catholic churches in theology, politics, and culture.

The schism led to two distinct branches of Christianity with separate hierarchies and practices. While efforts at reconciliation have been made, the division persists today, shaping the landscape of global Christianity.

Origins of the schism

• The East-West Schism, also known as the Great Schism, was a gradual process of estrangement between the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Western Catholic Church that began in the 9th century and culminated in 1054 AD
• The schism was the result of a combination of theological, political, and cultural differences that had been building up over centuries
• The split between the two churches had far-reaching consequences for the development of Christianity and the relationship between Eastern and Western Europe

Theological differences

• Disagreements over the doctrine of the Holy Spirit, specifically the Filioque clause, which states that the Holy Spirit proceeds from both the Father and the Son (Catholic view) rather than just the Father (Orthodox view)
• Differences in understanding the nature of Christ, with the East emphasizing the distinction between Christ's human and divine natures, while the West stressed their unity
• Divergent views on the use of unleavened bread in the Eucharist, with the East using leavened bread and the West using unleavened bread

Political factors

• The decline of the Byzantine Empire and the rise of the Franks in the West led to a shift in the balance of power and increased tensions between East and West
• The Papacy's growing claims to universal authority and jurisdiction over the entire Church were met with resistance from the Eastern patriarchs
• The coronation of Charlemagne as Holy Roman Emperor by Pope Leo III in 800 AD was seen as a challenge to the authority of the Byzantine Emperor

Cultural distinctions

• Language barriers between Greek-speaking East and Latin-speaking West hindered communication and understanding
• Different liturgical practices and traditions developed in the East and West over time, reflecting their distinct cultural and historical contexts
• The East's closer ties to Greek philosophy and the West's increasing reliance on Roman law and feudal structures contributed to divergent worldviews and approaches to theology and church governance

Key figures in the schism

Patriarch Michael I Cerularius

• Michael I Cerularius was the Patriarch of Constantinople from 1043 to 1059 and played a crucial role in the events leading up to the Great Schism
• He was a strong defender of the Eastern Orthodox Church's traditions and autonomy and resisted the growing claims of papal authority
• In 1053, Cerularius ordered the closure of Latin churches in Constantinople that used unleavened bread in the Eucharist, escalating tensions with the West

Pope Leo IX

• Pope Leo IX was the head of the Catholic Church from 1049 to 1054 and was known for his efforts to reform the Church and assert papal authority
• He sent Cardinal Humbert of Silva Candida to Constantinople in 1054 to negotiate with Patriarch Cerularius and resolve the growing differences between the churches
• When negotiations broke down, Cardinal Humbert, acting on behalf of Pope Leo IX, excommunicated Cerularius and his supporters, which Cerularius reciprocated, marking the formal beginning of the schism

Major events leading to the schism

Filioque controversy

• The Filioque controversy centered on the addition of the phrase "and the Son" (Latin: Filioque) to the Nicene Creed, which describes the procession of the Holy Spirit
• The Western Church had gradually adopted this phrase, while the Eastern Church rejected it as an unauthorized change to the original creed
• The dispute over the Filioque reflected deeper theological differences between East and West and became a major point of contention in the lead-up to the schism

Excommunications of 1054

• In 1054, Cardinal Humbert, acting on behalf of Pope Leo IX, entered the Hagia Sophia in Constantinople during a liturgy and placed a papal bull of excommunication on the altar, excommunicating Patriarch Cerularius and his supporters
• Cerularius responded by excommunicating Humbert and the other papal legates, as well as Pope Leo IX himself (although Leo had died by this time)
• These mutual excommunications marked the formal beginning of the East-West Schism, although the process of estrangement had been ongoing for centuries

Doctrinal differences

Authority of the Pope

• The Western Church, centered in Rome, emphasized the primacy and universal jurisdiction of the Pope as the successor of Saint Peter and the Vicar of Christ on earth
• The Eastern Church, while acknowledging the Pope's primacy of honor, rejected the idea of papal supremacy and insisted on the autonomy and equality of the five ancient patriarchates (Rome, Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch, and Jerusalem)
• This disagreement over the extent and nature of papal authority was a major factor in the schism and remains a point of contention between the Catholic and Orthodox churches today

Role of the Holy Spirit

• The Filioque controversy, as mentioned earlier, centered on the procession of the Holy Spirit and reflected different understandings of the Trinity in the East and West
• The Eastern Church maintained that the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father alone, as stated in the original Nicene Creed, and saw the Filioque as an unauthorized addition that upset the balance of the Trinity
• The Western Church, by including the Filioque, emphasized the unity of the Father and the Son in the procession of the Holy Spirit and saw it as a necessary clarification of the doctrine of the Trinity

Liturgical practices

• The East and West developed distinct liturgical practices and traditions over time, reflecting their different cultural and historical contexts
• One major difference was the use of leavened bread in the Eastern Church and unleavened bread in the Western Church for the Eucharist
• Other differences included the language of the liturgy (Greek in the East, Latin in the West), the style of church architecture and iconography, and the practice of clerical celibacy (more common in the West)

Attempts at reconciliation

Council of Lyon (1274)

• The Second Council of Lyon was convened by Pope Gregory X in an attempt to reunite the Eastern and Western churches
• The council addressed the Filioque issue and other doctrinal differences and reached a temporary union between the churches
• However, the union was short-lived and met with resistance from many in the Eastern Church who saw it as a submission to papal authority

Council of Florence (1439)

• The Council of Florence was another attempt to heal the schism and reunite the Catholic and Orthodox churches
• The council reached an agreement on the Filioque, the primacy of the Pope, and other doctrinal issues, and a decree of union (Laetentur Caeli) was signed by representatives of both churches
• However, like the Council of Lyon, the union was met with opposition in the East and ultimately failed to bring about lasting reconciliation

Lasting impact of the schism

Development of distinct churches

• The East-West Schism led to the development of two distinct branches of Christianity: the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church
• Each church developed its own hierarchical structure, theological traditions, and liturgical practices, and the schism allowed for the emergence of national churches in the East (e.g., Russian Orthodox, Greek Orthodox)
• The schism also had political consequences, as the division between East and West contributed to the weakening of the Byzantine Empire and the rise of Western European powers

East vs West Christianity

• The schism solidified the cultural, linguistic, and theological differences between Eastern and Western Christianity
• The East continued to be influenced by Greek philosophy and maintained a more mystical and apophatic approach to theology, while the West developed a more rationalistic and scholastic tradition
• The division between East and West also had implications for the spread of Christianity, with the Catholic Church becoming dominant in Western Europe and the Orthodox Church remaining prevalent in Eastern Europe and the Middle East

Ecumenical efforts in modern times

• In recent decades, there have been significant efforts to promote dialogue and understanding between the Catholic and Orthodox churches
• The Second Vatican Council (1962-1965) encouraged ecumenical outreach and recognized the validity of the Eastern churches' sacraments and traditions
• Meetings between Popes and Orthodox Patriarchs, such as the historic encounter between Pope Paul VI and Patriarch Athenagoras I in 1964, have helped to improve relations and foster a spirit of reconciliation
• Despite these efforts, the East-West Schism remains a reality, and full communion between the Catholic and Orthodox churches has not been restored, although both sides continue to work towards greater unity and understanding