Sarah Mitchell
The Eastern Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church are two distinct Christian denominations that share historical roots but differ in several theological and spiritual aspects. The two churches have been in a state of official schism, known as the East-West Schism or the Great Schism, since 1054 AD. This schism was caused by historical, linguistic, and theological differences, primarily concerning the authority of the Pope, the filioque clause, and differing views on the Holy Spirit and original sin. While the Eastern Orthodox Church does not accept the absolute authority of the Pope, it acknowledges the primacy of the Bishop of Rome as first among equals. The Eastern Orthodox Church also differs from Catholicism in its understanding of the Holy Spirit and its rejection of the Catholic doctrine of original sin and the Immaculate Conception. These differences have led to varying practices and beliefs between the two denominations, with the Eastern Orthodox Church emphasizing the mystery of God and the emulation of Jesus' life, while Catholicism focuses on redemption through the crucifixion and Jesus' sacrifice. Despite their differences, both churches share a similar liturgical and cultural heritage, and efforts towards reconciliation have been made by leaders of both groups.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of Schism | 1054 A.D. |
| Reason for Schism | Historical, Linguistic, and Theological Differences |
| Theological Differences | Papal Primacy, Filioque Clause, Holy Spirit, Immaculate Conception, Original Sin, Purgatory |
| Approach to Doctrine | Orthodox: Development of Expression; Catholic: Codification of Speculation or Systematic Imagination |
| Approach to God | Orthodox: Emulate Jesus; Catholic: Focus on Crucifixion and Original Sin |
| Approach to Transubstantiation | Orthodox: No Absolute Papal Authority; Catholic: Apostolic Succession |
| Clergy | Orthodox: Married Priests; Catholic: Celibate Priests |
| Holy Scripture | Orthodox: Gospels are Highest Esteem; Catholic: Gospels are Highest Esteem |
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What You'll Learn
The East-West Schism of 1054
The East-West Schism, also known as the Great Schism, was the break of communion between the Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church in 1054. The schism was the culmination of a series of ecclesiastical differences and theological disputes between the Greek East and the Latin West. The Eastern Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church have been in a state of official schism from one another since the East-West Schism of 1054.
The Eastern Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church have several differences. Firstly, the Eastern Orthodox Church does not accept the authority of the Pope, while Catholics do. The Eastern Orthodox Church views the Pope as "first among equals" with the Orthodox patriarchs, while the Catholic Church attributes to the primacy of the Pope full, supreme, and universal power over the whole Church. Secondly, the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church differ in their beliefs about Purgatory, with the Eastern Orthodox Church not believing in Purgatory as the Catholics do.
Theological differences also contributed to the East-West Schism. One key difference was the procession of the Holy Spirit, also known as the Filioque clause. The Western church added "and the Son" (Filioque in Latin) to the Nicene Creed, which the Eastern churches strongly disagreed with as it seemed to diminish the individual properties of the Trinity. Another difference was the use of unleavened bread in the Eucharist, which was rejected by the Eastern churches.
In addition to theological differences, historical and linguistic differences also played a role in the East-West Schism. The Byzantine Empire's withdrawal from Rome in 751 ended the Byzantine Papacy and led to the mutual alienation of the Greek-speaking East and the Latin-speaking West. The Eastern Church and the Western Church used Greek and Latin as their respective media of communication, and translations did not always correspond exactly, leading to misunderstandings.
The East-West Schism was formalised in 1054 with the mutual excommunications of Patriarch Michael I Cerularius of Constantinople and Cardinal Humbert of Silva Candida, the leader of the papal legate sent by Pope Leo IX. Despite the schism, friendly relations between the East and West continued, and the ordinary Christians in both sides were largely unaware of the dispute.
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Papal primacy
The Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church have been in a state of official schism since the East-West Schism of 1054. The schism was caused by historical, linguistic, and theological differences between the Western and Eastern churches. One of the main theological differences is the matter of papal primacy, also known as the "primacy of the Bishop of Rome". This doctrine concerns the respect and authority that is due to the pope from other bishops and their episcopal sees.
The Catholic Church attributes to the primacy of the Pope "full, supreme, and universal power over the whole Church, a power which he can always exercise unhindered". This power is also attributed to the entire body of bishops united with the pope. In contrast, some in the Eastern Orthodox Church understand the primacy of the Bishop of Rome to be merely one of greater honour, regarding him as "first among equals" without effective power over other churches. They do not accept the absolute authority of the Pope, and they do not recognise his ecclesiastical authority.
The doctrine of papal primacy is based on the primacy among the apostles that Jesus gave to Peter in Matthew 16:16-19:
> Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
The historical roots of papal primacy can be traced back to the early centuries of Christianity, when the bishop of Rome, commonly referred to as the Pope, gradually accrued increasing authority and recognition. Some of the earliest references to the primacy of the bishop of Rome can be found in the writings of renowned Christian figures such as Ignatius of Antioch and Irenaeus of Lyon. In their writings, these Church Fathers recognised the unique position of the church in Rome, which was believed to have been founded by Peter and Paul. Therefore, the bishop of Rome was regarded as the successor of Peter, who, in accordance with the New Testament, was designated by Jesus as the leader of his church.
The doctrine of papal primacy was further developed in 1870 at the First Vatican Council, where ultramontanism achieved victory over conciliarism with the pronouncement of papal infallibility and supremacy. The council's dogmatic constitution, Pastor aeternus, declared that "in the disposition of God the Roman church holds the preeminence of ordinary power over all the other churches". This council also affirmed the dogma of papal infallibility, deciding that the pope himself was infallible when he appeals to his highest authority in defining matters of faith.
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Orthodox rejection of original sin
The Eastern Orthodox Church, officially the Orthodox Catholic Church, is one of the three major doctrinal and jurisdictional groups of Christianity, with approximately 230 million baptised members. The Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church have been in a state of official schism since the East-West Schism of 1054, caused by historical, linguistic, and theological differences.
The Eastern Orthodox Church does not have a central authority like the Pope in the Catholic Church. However, they recognise the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople as "primus inter pares" ("first among equals"), a title previously held by the patriarch of Rome before 1054.
Now, onto the topic of original sin and its rejection by the Orthodox Church. Original sin is a doctrine in Roman Catholic theology that asserts that all mankind is guilty before God due to Adam's sin in the Garden of Eden. This doctrine is rejected by some Orthodox Christians, who argue that each individual is accountable for their sins and not guilty because of Adam's transgression.
In Orthodox theology, the fall of Adam and Eve is understood as a rejection of the life offered by God, resulting in death and corruption entering creation. This death is not inflicted by God but is seen as the natural consequence of turning away from God. The Orthodox fathers, such as Cyril of Alexandria, teach that our nature became "diseased" through the sin of one, but it is not guilt that is passed on. Instead, it is a condition or a disease that affects humanity.
The rejection of original sin in Orthodoxy is often attributed to an exaggeration of the teachings of Fr. John Romanides, who did not reject the concept of original sin but rather specific interpretations that tied it to original guilt. Orthodox Christians instead emphasise the concept of ancestral sin, which acknowledges the spiritual effects of original sin, such as concupiscence, without equating it with inherited guilt.
The distinction between original sin and ancestral sin is nuanced, and there is a lack of consensus within Orthodoxy regarding the interpretation of original sin. Some Orthodox Christians argue that there are no differences between the teachings of St. Augustine and the Greek Fathers on original sin, while others exaggerate the differences between Eastern and Western theology.
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Orthodox rejection of the Immaculate Conception
The Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church have been in a state of official schism since the East-West Schism of 1054. This was caused by historical and linguistic differences, and the resulting theological differences between the Western and Eastern churches. The main theological differences are papal primacy, the filioque clause, neo-Palamism's essence-energy distinction, and the Immaculate Conception.
The Immaculate Conception is the belief that Mary, the mother of Jesus, was conceived without the stain of original sin. This dogma was defined by Pope Pius IX in 1854 and is accepted by Catholics worldwide. However, it is rejected by the Eastern Orthodox Church and remains a divisive issue among non-Catholic Eastern Christians.
The Orthodox rejection of the Immaculate Conception is based on the belief that it is a "vain deceit" and a lie that blasphemes the Virgin Mary. They argue that Jesus himself never discussed his mother in this manner, and that the teaching exalts Mary to an equality with Christ, which is not acceptable in Orthodox theology. Instead, they believe that Mary was "prepared" by God before she was conceived to be the Mother of God. This is supported by Orthodox patristic teachings and prayers, hymns, and other liturgical texts of the Orthodox Church.
Some scholars argue that the Orthodox rejection of the Immaculate Conception is not based on a firm theological foundation. Alex Roman, for example, has found evidence of the doctrine being embraced within sectors of Eastern Orthodoxy prior to the mid-19th century. He and others attribute the rejection to disputes over the meaning of original sin and the rise of nationalism and ecclesiastical politics, which led to the perception of the Catholic Church as a "Western institution" to be opposed. Fr. Lev Gillet, a French Catholic who converted to Russian Orthodoxy, also argues that the Orthodox hostility toward the dogma represents a misunderstanding of Eastern Christian history.
Despite these arguments, the rejection of the Immaculate Conception by the Eastern Orthodox Church persists to this day, and the theological dispute between the two traditions remains unresolved.
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Orthodox views on the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is the third Person of the Holy Trinity in Orthodox Christianity. He is co-equal and eternal with the Father and the Son, and proceeds from the Father. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God and the Spirit of Christ, and is divine, eternal, and uncreated. Orthodox doctrine holds that God the Father is the eternal origin and source of the Spirit, just as He is the source of the Son.
The Holy Spirit is the Power of God, or His Grace, and is believed to be the "breath of life" for all living things. He is the one who makes everything alive and upholds and sustains the universe. The Holy Spirit is also the one who inspires the saints to speak God's word and do His will. He anoints the prophets, priests, and kings of the Old Testament, and it is He who descended and remained on Jesus of Nazareth, making Him the Messiah. The Holy Spirit is often depicted as a dove, based on the account of His descent on Jesus during his baptism in the Jordan River.
In Orthodox Christianity, the purpose of life is to acquire the Holy Spirit, as this is how believers participate in the life of God and become gods through the indwelling of His Spirit. The Holy Spirit dwells inside every true Christian, and guides them in the way of truth. The Spirit is believed to give gifts, or abilities, to Christians, and is seen as the promised "Comforter".
Experiencing the Holy Spirit in Orthodoxy is not limited to subjective feelings, but it can involve a sense of overwhelming love and joy for all of creation, or a feeling of smallness and meaninglessness that drives one to seek shelter in God's love. The Holy Spirit's work can also be felt in turning towards holiness and recognizing one's sins, as well as in sustained spiritual discipline.
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Frequently asked questions
The Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church have been in a state of official schism since the East-West Schism of 1054. This schism was caused by historical and linguistic differences, and the ensuing theological differences between the Western and Eastern churches. The main theological differences are the papal primacy and the filioque clause.
The East-West Schism, also known as the Great Schism, was the break of Rome and Constantinople from each other in 1054 AD. Each side blamed the other for the rupture, sometimes accusing the other of heresy. The schism was partly over 'papal supremacy', which is the notion that the Roman Bishop has some sort of authority over all other bishops.
Catholicism is a redemptive religion that focuses on the crucifixion of Jesus and original sin. Orthodoxy is more of a path where one emulates the life of Jesus and moves closer to God as they make improvements in themselves. The Orthodox Church is not obsessed with dogma and christology and believes in the mystery of God.
Catholics consider the Pope to be Jesus Christ's representative on Earth and the successor of the Apostle Peter. The Pope has "full, supreme, and universal power over the whole Church". The Orthodox Church does not accept the authority of the Pope.
