Joshua Bennett
The Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church have been officially divided since the East-West Schism of 1054. The Schism was caused by a mix of historical, linguistic, political, and theological differences, including disputes over the Pope's authority and the language of services. Despite these differences, the two churches share many similarities, and the theological differences that exist today may seem like hair-splitting to some. Both churches hold to many of the same beliefs, such as the importance of scripture and tradition, the views on the Eucharist, and the virgin birth of Jesus. However, they disagree on certain traditions and the nature of salvation, baptism, and confession. The Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church have had relatively open communication since the Schism and remain friendly toward one another, with efforts being made to heal the rift between the two churches.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of separation | 1054 |
| Reason for separation | Historical, linguistic, and theological differences |
| Nature of separation | East-West Schism or Great Schism |
| Language | Latin (Catholic); Greek (Orthodox) |
| Theology | Emphasis on humanity (Catholic); emphasis on divinity (Orthodox) |
| Iconography | Realistic (Catholic); theoretical (Orthodox) |
| Recitation of Nicene Creed | Includes Filioque Clause (Catholic); excludes Filioque Clause (Orthodox) |
| Belief in purgatory | Yes (Catholic); No (Orthodox) |
| Papal authority | Yes (Catholic); No (Orthodox) |
| Apostolic succession | Yes (both) |
| Eucharist | Same belief, different practices (Catholic and Orthodox) |
| Confession | Done sitting down (Catholic); done standing up (Orthodox) |
| Attendance of Mass | Catholics can attend Orthodox Mass; Orthodox cannot attend Catholic Mass |
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What You'll Learn
The Great Schism of 1054
The Schism occurred due to a mix of religious and political disagreements, including geography, miscommunication, differing theologies, and politics. The Eastern Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church were originally one Christian church, with the latter term meaning "for everyone". However, the separation in 1054 created two branches of medieval Christianity.
The Eastern Orthodox Church, led by Michael Cerularius, the Patriarch of Constantinople, did not trust the Roman Catholic Pope and accused the Western Catholic tradition of being un-Christian. The Roman Catholic Church, led by Pope St. Leo IX, believed that the Eastern Church leaders were political puppets of the Byzantine Empire. The Eastern Church knew little Latin and used even less Latin tradition in their services, instead speaking Greek. The Catholic Church, encompassing Western Europe and the northern and western areas of the Mediterranean, relied heavily on Latin and Roman tradition.
Theologically, the Eastern Church focused on the divinity of Jesus Christ, while the Catholic Church emphasised his humanity. The Eastern Church's theology was more theoretical, while the Catholic Church used realistic iconography and artwork.
Other key differences between the two churches included:
- The recitation of the Nicene Creed: The Catholic Church added the Filioque Clause during the First and Second Ecumenical Council in the 1960s, which the Orthodox Church disagreed with and did not recite.
- Papal authority: The Catholic Church traditionally recognised the Pope as the leader of the whole Church, while the Eastern Orthodox Church denied absolute papal authority, considering the Pope to be the first among equals with the Orthodox patriarchs.
- Eucharist: The Catholic Church used unleavened bread, while the Orthodox Church used leavened bread.
- Language of services: The Eastern Church used Greek, while the Western Church used Latin.
- Coronation of Charlemagne: The Pope's coronation of Charlemagne as Emperor of the Romans in 800 was a point of contention.
- Iconoclasm: The Western Church supported the use of religious images, while the Eastern Church, influenced by the Byzantine Iconoclasm, was against it.
The first step towards the formal schism occurred in 1053 when Patriarch Michael I Cerularius of Constantinople ordered the closure of all Latin churches in the city. In 1054, the papal legate sent by Leo IX travelled to Constantinople to deny Cerularius the title of "Ecumenical Patriarch" and insist that he recognised the Pope's authority as the head of all churches. This led to mutual excommunications by Cardinal Humbert of Silva Candida and Cerularius.
Despite the schism, friendly relations between the East and West continued, and the ordinary Christians in both regions were largely unaware of the dispute. Several attempts at reconciliation have been made over the centuries, and in 1965, Pope Paul VI and Ecumenical Patriarch Athenagoras I nullified the anathemas of 1054 as a gesture of goodwill. However, the fundamental breach has never been fully healed, and the two churches still occasionally accuse each other of heresy and of initiating the schism.
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Differences in beliefs and practices
The Eastern Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church share many similarities, but also have some differences in beliefs and practices. Both churches hold to truths like the Trinity, the deity of Christ, the resurrection of Jesus, and that salvation is found in Christ. They also agree on the importance of scripture and tradition, the views on the Eucharist, the virgin birth, and the affirmation of its sacrificial nature as identical with the sacrifice of Christ. However, there are some key differences to note.
One significant difference lies in their understanding of the Pope's authority. The Catholic Church recognises the Pope as the traditional leader of the whole church, attributing to him "full, supreme, and universal power over the whole Church". In contrast, the Orthodox Church considers the Bishop of Rome as "first among equals", without effective power over other churches. They deny absolute papal authority and do not recognise the Pope's ecclesiastical authority, which is a key point of contention between the two churches.
Another difference is their recitation of the Nicene Creed, a foundational statement of Christian belief. The disagreement centres on the Filioque Clause, which refers to whether the Holy Spirit proceeds from both God the Father and Jesus Christ or from God the Father alone. The Catholic Church includes the Filioque Clause in the Creed, while the Orthodox Church does not.
The two churches also differ in their beliefs about purgatory. The Catholic Church holds to a satisfaction model, which states that God requires payment even after forgiving sins. In contrast, the Orthodox Church objects to this idea, asserting that there is either forgiveness or punishment, without the need for additional satisfaction.
Additionally, there are differences in their liturgical practices. Orthodox churches are known for their use of icons, which are images reminding the faithful of Jesus, the apostles, and various saints. They also perform Confession while standing up, whereas Catholics typically do so while kneeling. Furthermore, while Catholics can attend an Orthodox Mass to fulfil a Sunday obligation, the Orthodox Church does not permit its followers to attend Catholic Masses, demonstrating a resistance to intermingling practices.
Lastly, historical and linguistic differences have also played a role in their divergence. The Eastern Orthodox Church, encompassing Asia Minor, the Middle East, and North Africa, used Greek as its primary language, while the Roman Catholic Church in Western Europe and the Mediterranean relied heavily on Latin. These language differences led to variations in their theological traditions and emphases, with the Eastern Orthodox focusing more on the divinity of Jesus Christ and the Catholic Church emphasising his humanity.
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The role of the Pope
The Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church were originally one Christian church. The two branches of Christianity have much in common, including their worship of Jesus, the apostles and saints, and their beliefs in the importance of scripture and tradition, the Eucharist, the Trinity, the resurrection of Jesus, and the virgin birth.
However, the two churches have been divided since the Great Schism in 1054, which was caused by a mix of religious and political disagreements. One of the key differences between the two churches is their view of the Pope.
The Pope is the bishop of Rome and the leader of the Roman Catholic Church. The Pope is regarded as the successor of St. Peter and Jesus Christ's representative on Earth. As such, the Pope is the Supreme Pastor, or the Prime Witness to Faith, and has supreme power and jurisdiction over the Roman Catholic Church in matters of faith, morals, church discipline, and government. The Pope is the final decision-maker on issues of faith and morality for Catholics around the world, and it is his role to preach and teach Christ's message.
The Pope is also the Unifier of the People of God, and it is his role to guide and inspire the Central Synod of Bishops to work out agreements and general Church policies. While the Pope has supreme authority, each bishop has his own legitimate authority over his flock, and can perform the sacraments.
The Orthodox Church does not recognise the Pope's ecclesiastical authority, although it does accord the bishop of Rome the primacy of honour given to patriarchs. Orthodox Christians deny absolute papal authority, seeing the Pope as the first among equals with the Orthodox patriarchs.
In summary, while the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church share many similarities, their views on the role of the Pope are significantly different. The Pope's role in the Catholic Church is seen as that of the supreme leader with universal power over the whole church, while the Orthodox Church sees the Pope as having a more limited role, with authority shared with other patriarchs.
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The nature of baptism
Catholicism and Orthodox Christianity have more similarities than differences. They share many of the same beliefs, such as the importance of scripture and tradition, the views on the Eucharist, and the Trinity, the deity of Christ, and the resurrection of Jesus. However, they disagree on certain traditions and the nature of baptism.
According to Catholicism, baptism is one of the Seven Sacraments of the Christian Church and is frequently called the 'first sacrament' or the 'door of the sacraments and the Church'. It is necessary because it is believed that "by baptism, all sins are forgiven, original sin and all personal sin". Baptism is also believed to be a gift of God's grace, and Catholics practice infant baptism, which is considered "baptized in the faith of the Church". However, this practice is not explicitly mentioned in the Bible, and some Catholics believe that children who have died without baptism go to Limbo, a place on the border of heaven and hell, although this is not an official church teaching.
Catholics teach that baptism is an act of obedience and a necessary step towards salvation. It is preceded by a "proclamation of the Lord, acceptance of the Gospel entailing conversion, profession of faith, and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit". The baptized person is believed to begin participating in eternal life at the moment of baptism, but they can lose that eternal life and the Holy Spirit if they sin.
In the Orthodox Church, baptism is also considered essential. It is seen as "for the remission of sins" and for entrance into the Church. The person being baptized is cleansed of all sins, including ancestral sin, and is united with Christ in his death, burial, and resurrection. This belief is derived from the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed, which states, "for as many as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ".
Orthodox baptism is often considered a fundamental Christian experience, symbolizing "starting anew" and being born again into a new way of life in Christ. It is typically done through full immersion, symbolizing the person's death to the old way of life and their resurrection into eternal life with Christ. The baptismal experience is connected with repentance and a moral conversion, as mentioned in the Gospel of John, where John the Baptist baptized people as a sign of repentance before the coming of Christ.
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Views on the Eucharist
Catholicism and Orthodox Christianity share many similarities, but there are also key differences. The two denominations have distinct views on the Eucharist, which is considered holy by both.
The Eucharist is considered a sacrament by Catholics. It is believed to be the memorial sacrifice of Christ's body and blood, presented under the form of bread and wine. This is based on the interpretation of the Bible, where Jesus says, "I am the bread of life [...] This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that a man may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven; if any one eats of this bread, he will live for ever; and the bread which I shall give for the life of the world is my flesh." Thus, Catholics believe in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist, meaning that what appears to be bread and wine is, in fact, Jesus' body and blood.
The Eucharist is considered the "source and summit of the Christian life", and all other sacraments and ecclesiastical ministries are oriented towards it. It is also referred to as "the Lord's Supper" or "The Breaking of Bread", commemorating the Passover meal that Christ held with his disciples before his crucifixion.
In the Orthodox tradition, the Eucharist is also considered a sacrament, and it is called the "sacrament of sacraments" or the "sacrament of the Church". It is believed to be the completion of all the Church's sacraments and the source and goal of all its doctrines and institutions. While the Orthodox Church does believe in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist, their theological tradition does not use substance theory to describe it. They believe that the bread and wine offered during the Eucharist are the real Body and Blood of Christ, and not merely symbolic or intellectual representations.
The Eucharist is celebrated every Sunday in the Orthodox Church, as well as on feast days. It is given to all members of the Church, including infants who are baptized and confirmed, and it is always given in both forms - bread and wine.
While there are some differences in the specific doctrines and practices surrounding the Eucharist between the Catholic and Orthodox Churches, both denominations agree on the fundamental belief in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist and its central importance in their respective faiths.
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Frequently asked questions
The Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church have been in a state of official schism from one another since the East-West Schism of 1054. The schism was caused by historical and linguistic differences, and the ensuing theological differences between the Western and Eastern churches. The Eastern Orthodox Church does not recognise the Pope's authority, whereas the Catholic Church attributes to the primacy of the Pope "full, supreme, and universal power over the whole Church".
The two churches disagree on the exact recitation of the Nicene Creed and opinions on divorce. The Orthodox Church does not believe in purgatory, disagreeing with the Catholic satisfaction model, which states that God requires payment even after forgiving sins. The Orthodox Church also does Confession standing up, whereas Catholics do it sitting down.
The Catholic Church, which means "for everyone", relied heavily on Latin and Roman tradition, and unlike the Eastern Church, spoke little to no Greek during the services. Its theology emphasised the humanity of Jesus Christ and used realistic iconography and artwork rather than emphasising his divinity as the Eastern Church did.
