Michael Brooks
The Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church have been divided since the East-West Schism, also known as the Great Schism, of 1054. This event marked the formal division between the two churches, which had been growing apart for centuries due to theological and doctrinal disputes, as well as differences in cultural and political practices. The Catholic Church views the split primarily as an ecclesiological issue, with the Eastern Orthodox Church closer to them in theology, while Eastern Orthodox theologians emphasise deeper theological differences, particularly regarding the primacy of the Pope. Despite the formal split, several attempts have been made to reconcile the two churches, and they have issued joint statements affirming their shared beliefs.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of the formal split | 1054 |
| Reason for the split | Theological and doctrinal issues, cultural and political differences |
| Event that triggered the split | Pope Leo IX and Patriarch Michael I excommunicated each other |
| Efforts towards reconciliation | Joint statement issued in 1965 (Balamand Declaration); nullification of the anathemas of 1054; permission for Catholic ministers to administer sacraments to Eastern Orthodox Church members |
| Current status | Catholic Church is the largest Christian denomination with 1.3 billion members; Orthodox Church is made up of smaller, independent churches united by common beliefs and practices |
| Main issues of disagreement | Primacy of the Bishop of Rome or Pope, Trinitarian teaching, Immaculate Conception, purgatory, indissolubility of marriage, procession of the Holy Spirit (Filioque), use of leavened or unleavened bread in the Eucharist, iconoclasm, place of the See of Constantinople |
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What You'll Learn
The role of the Pope
In the Catholic Church, the Pope is the head and has immediate and direct jurisdiction over the whole Church. When he speaks ex cathedra, he is considered infallible. The Catholic Church's unity is expressed through being in communion with the Bishop of Rome, as the successor of St. Peter.
On the other hand, the Eastern Orthodox Church has a conciliar model of the Church. They do not recognize the Pope's authority over all Christians but consider him equal to other bishops, although with a primacy of honour. For the Eastern Orthodox, unity is through the common faith and communion in the sacraments, rather than a centralized authority.
The disagreement over the role of the Pope is closely related to the issue of papal primacy, which is a significant obstacle to reunion between the two churches. The Catholic Church considers the Pope to be infallible and above holy scripture, holy tradition, and holy councils, while the Eastern Orthodox Church does not accept this level of papal supremacy.
The dispute over the Pope's role and authority contributed to the East-West Schism, also known as the Great Schism, which formally split the Catholic and Orthodox Churches in 1054.
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Eucharist and Holy Communion
The Eucharist and Holy Communion are central to the faith and worship of both the Catholic and Orthodox Churches. The Eucharist is derived from the Greek word for 'thanksgiving'. It is also known as the Holy Communion, the Holy Mysteries, the Mystic Supper, and the Blessed Sacrament.
The Eucharist is a sacrament, considered to be the "self-offering of the believer in union with Christ". It is believed that the consecrated bread and wine become the body and blood of Christ. This is a mystery of faith, and the Eastern Orthodox Church has never clarified the exact nature of the transformation, instead referring to it as a "Mystery". The Roman Catholic Church, on the other hand, has a more detailed doctrine of transubstantiation, which was formulated after the Great Schism of 1054.
The Orthodox Church believes that Christ is truly present during the Eucharist, and that it is not just a memorial of the Last Supper. The Eucharist is considered the oldest form of Christian worship and is central to the life of the Church and the spiritual development of its members. The Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom is the most frequently celebrated form of the Eucharist in the Orthodox Church.
In the Catholic Church, the Eucharist is also of utmost importance, considered the foundation and centre of all devotion. Only ordained priests can officiate at the Eucharist, and the matter used must be wheaten bread and grape wine. Catholics may receive Holy Communion outside of Mass, and consecrated hosts are brought to the sick or dying.
While there are some differences in the understanding and practice of the Eucharist between the two Churches, they both share a fundamental belief in the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist and its centrality to the Christian life.
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Original sin
The Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church have had a complex and multifaceted relationship, with their eventual split occurring over several centuries. While the two denominations share fundamental beliefs, there are some key differences in their practices and interpretations of theology. One of the main issues that contributed to their split was the language used in their services, with the Western (Roman) Church using Latin and the Eastern (Orthodox) Church using Greek.
The two churches also differ in their interpretations of original sin. The Catholic Church teaches that every human being is made in the image of God, with both a "powerful surge toward the good" and "darker impulses toward evil" due to the effects of original sin. The Catholic Church explicitly denies that guilt is inherited from anyone, instead holding that humanity inherits its own fallen nature. This view is also held by the Eastern Orthodox Church, which believes that sin originates with the Devil. The Orthodox Church maintains that humanity inherits sin's consequences and a fallen environment, but not the personal guilt associated with the sin.
The Eastern Orthodox Church makes a clear distinction between "fallen nature" and "fallen man". It teaches that Adam's sin changed human nature, resulting in sinful tendencies, sickness, suffering, and death. The goal, according to Orthodox teaching, is to overcome these fallen tendencies with the help of the Holy Spirit and Christ, ultimately gaining union with God. In the Orthodox view, guilt can only arise from a personal act, and one cannot sin for another person.
The Catholic Church, on the other hand, holds that original sin entails inheriting the burden of Adam's sin, referring to the penalty of sin rather than guilt. This belief is reflected in the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary, which has become a dogma in the Catholic Church. To reconcile the belief that Mary gave birth to God with the idea that she bore the sin of Adam, the Catholic Church developed the theology of the Immaculate Conception, which asserts that Mary was cleansed of Adam's guilt and sin.
While the two churches have different interpretations of original sin, they have made efforts to bridge their differences and work towards unity. In 1965, they issued the "Balamand Declaration", affirming their shared beliefs and committing to fostering closer ties.
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Language and cultural differences
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. This event, known as the Great Schism, marked the formal division between the two churches. However, the schism was not a sudden event but rather the culmination of long-standing cultural, linguistic, and theological differences that had been developing over the preceding centuries.
The Eastern Church, later known as the Eastern Orthodox Church, primarily used Greek and had strong ties to the Byzantine Empire centered in Constantinople. On the other hand, the Western Church, which became the Roman Catholic Church, used Latin and was centered in Rome. This linguistic divide exacerbated other cultural and political differences between the two churches. For example, the use of different languages led to misunderstandings in theological and ecclesiological developments, as translations did not always correspond exactly.
One of the main issues that contributed to the split was the concept of papal authority. The pope claimed authority over all other bishops, including those in the Eastern Church, which they saw as an attempt by the Western Church to exert control over them. The Roman Catholic Church considers the pope as the supreme leader of all Christians, while the Eastern Orthodox Church sees the patriarchs of different regions as equals in authority, with the patriarch being a symbolic head. This led to a series of disputes over the power and authority of the pope, which eventually resulted in the mutual excommunication of Pope Leo IX and Patriarch Michael I in 1054, formally splitting the two churches.
Another specific theological issue was the Filioque Controversy, regarding the phrase in the Nicene Creed about the Holy Spirit proceeding from both the Father and the Son, which the Eastern Church rejected. The word ἐκπορεύεσθαι in Greek indicates a primary or ultimate cause, while the Latin word procedere indicates a procession but not from an ultimate cause. This dispute may be a problem of language rather than theology, as the Latin version may be more accurately retranslated into Greek as προϊέναι.
In summary, the split between the Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church was a complex and multifaceted event that occurred over several centuries. While there were many factors, cultural and linguistic differences played a significant role in creating division and exacerbating other disagreements. These differences, along with theological disputes, ultimately led to the Great Schism of 1054, formally dividing the two churches.
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Reconciliation attempts
The East-West Schism of 1054 resulted in a formal divide between the Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church. However, there have been several attempts at reconciliation between the two churches over the centuries.
One notable attempt at reconciliation was the Second Council of Lyon in 1274, convened by Pope Gregory X. The council, which was attended by over 300 bishops, discussed the union of the East and the West. The council was able to reach a momentary reunification, with the Greeks conceding the contested Filioque clause. However, this reunification was short-lived as the Eastern clergy were largely opposed to the council's decisions.
Another significant effort towards unity was the Council of Ferrara-Florence in 1438-1445, also known as the Council of Florence. During this council, most of the Eastern bishops signed off on papal claims and agreed to the Church's formulations on disputed topics such as the Filioque and purgatory. However, the agreement was repudiated by the Orthodox bishops and laity, sealing the schism between East and West.
In recent times, there have been gestures of cooperation between the two churches. For example, the Russian Orthodox Church, despite its historical wariness of the Vatican, has sent its young Metropolitan Hilarion to explore practical ways of working together. Additionally, Pope John Paul II, the first Slav Pope, brought new energy and interest to the matter with his appreciation for the riches of Orthodox mysticism, liturgy, and sacred music. He felt that both sides were impoverished by the separation and had much to learn from each other.
Despite these attempts at reconciliation, there remain several obstacles to unity. One of the principal causes of division is the understanding of the proper exercise of primacy in the leadership of the Church. For Catholics, maintaining communion with the bishop of Rome is considered essential, while for Orthodox Christians, the pope's historic claims to authority are at variance with the image of the Church presented in the New Testament and early Christian writings. Additionally, there are still tensions over the existence of Eastern-rite Catholicism, which is regarded with hostility by many Orthodox.
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Frequently asked questions
The main reason for the split was a series of ecclesiastical and theological disputes between the Greek East and Latin West. The Eastern Orthodox Church believes that ancestral sin corrupted their existence, while the Catholic Church holds that the sin of Adam that we inherit is called "sin" in only an analogical sense. Other issues of disagreement include the procession of the Holy Spirit (Filioque), the use of leavened or unleavened bread in the Eucharist, iconoclasm, the Pope's claim to universal jurisdiction, and the place of the See of Constantinople in relation to the pentarchy.
In 1054, Pope Leo IX and Patriarch Michael I excommunicated each other, which officially split the two churches. This event is known as the Great Schism.
The Western (Roman) Church used Latin, while the Eastern (Orthodox) Church used Greek.
