Grace Thompson
The Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church formally split in 1054, in what is known as the East-West Schism or the Great Schism. The split occurred due to a series of ecclesiastical differences and theological disputes between the Greek East and Latin West. The mutual excommunications by Pope Leo IX and Patriarch Michael I Cerularius of Constantinople in 1054 became a watershed moment in church history. The excommunications were not lifted until 1965, when Pope Paul VI and Patriarch Athenagoras I, following their historic meeting in Jerusalem in 1964, presided over simultaneous ceremonies that revoked the excommunication decrees.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of Catholic split | 1054 (East-West Schism) or 1378 (Western Schism) |
| Date of excommunication decrees | 1054 |
| Date of excommunication decrees being lifted | 1965 |
| Date of nullification of anathemas of 1054 | 1965 |
| Date of Western Schism ending | 11 November 1417 |
| Reason for East-West Schism | Ecclesiastical differences and theological disputes |
| Reason for Western Schism | Rivalry for the position of the Pope |
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What You'll Learn
The East-West Schism of 1054
The Eastern and Western churches had significant theological, political, cultural, and geographical differences. The Eastern theology was rooted in Greek philosophy, while Western theology was largely based on Roman law. This led to differing views on important doctrines, such as the procession of the Holy Spirit from the Father or from the Father and the Son. The Roman churches added "and the Son" (in Latin, "Filioque") to the Nicene Creed without consulting the East, causing resentment among the Eastern churches. Additionally, the Eastern churches disagreed with the Roman enforcement of clerical celibacy, the limitation of the right of confirmation to the bishop, and the use of unleavened bread in the Eucharist.
Political factors also played a role in the schism. The Western Church, following the eleventh-century reform, sought to strengthen the authority of the pope, asserting his direct jurisdiction over the entire church, including the East. In contrast, the Eastern churches, or the Byzantines, viewed their church within the context of the imperial system, with their sources of law and unity being the ecumenical councils and the emperor, whom they believed God had placed over all things, spiritual and temporal. The coronation of Charlemagne as emperor of the Romans in 800 also caused tension between the two churches.
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, a papal legate was sent by Pope Leo IX to Constantinople to deny Cerularius the title of "ecumenical patriarch" and insist that he accept the Roman position on various theological and liturgical issues. When the leader of the legation, Cardinal Humbert, learned that Cerularius refused to comply, he excommunicated him, and Cerularius responded by excommunicating Humbert and the other legates.
The mutual excommunications of 1054 became a pivotal moment in the history of Christianity, solidifying the split between the Eastern and Western churches. While relations between the churches improved following the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965), which recognised the validity of the sacraments in the Eastern churches, the schism has never been officially healed.
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The Great Schism
The Eastern Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church had been part of one religion on paper until 1054, when they formally split. However, tensions had been rising between the two churches for centuries. From the 5th to the 11th century, the relationship between the Byzantine church and the Roman church grew increasingly strained. Several ecclesiastical differences and theological disputes between the Greek East and Latin West preceded the formal split. These included the procession of the Holy Spirit (Filioque), whether leavened or unleavened bread should be used in the Eucharist, iconoclasm, the coronation of Charlemagne as emperor of the Romans in 800, the pope's claim to universal jurisdiction, and the place of the See of Constantinople in relation to the pentarchy. The first action that led to the formal schism occurred in 1053 when Patriarch Michael I Cerularius of Constantinople ordered the closure of all Latin churches in Constantinople.
The schism has never been healed, although relations between the churches improved following the Second Vatican Council (1962-65), which recognized the validity of the sacraments in the Eastern churches. In 1979, the Joint International Commission for Theological Dialogue Between the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church was established to further foster ecumenism. Dialogue and improved relations have continued into the early 21st century.
It is worth noting that there is another event referred to as the "Great Schism", also known as the Western Schism or the Papal Schism. This was a split within the Catholic Church lasting from 1378 to 1417, in which bishops residing in Rome and Avignon simultaneously claimed to be the true pope. This schism was driven by international rivalries, personalities, and political allegiances, with the Avignon Papacy closely tied to the French monarchy.
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The Pope's authority
The Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church separated in 1054, in what is known as the East-West Schism or the Great Schism. This event was precipitated by a series of ecclesiastical differences and theological disputes between the Greek East and the Latin West. The Pope's authority was a central point of contention.
The Roman idea of papal primacy or preeminence was never acknowledged in the East. The Western Church, led by Pope Leo IX, asserted the Pope's claim to universal jurisdiction. This was not recognised by the Eastern Church, led by the Patriarch of Constantinople, Michael Cerularius. The mutual excommunications by the Pope and the Patriarch in 1054 became a watershed moment in church history.
The doctrine of papal primacy was further developed at the First Vatican Council. This council declared that "in the disposition of God, the Roman church holds the preeminence of ordinary power over all the other churches". The council also affirmed the dogma of papal infallibility, stating that the Pope himself is infallible when defining a doctrine concerning faith or morals for the whole Church. These doctrines were unequivocally rejected by the Eastern Church as heretical.
The issue of the Pope's authority was also a factor in the Western Schism, a split within the Catholic Church that lasted from 1378 to 1417. During this period, bishops residing in Rome and Avignon simultaneously claimed to be the true Pope. The Council of Constance, convened in 1414 by the Pisan Pope John XXIII, issued a decree stating that the council had the authority to remove popes. This decree is considered invalid by the Catholic Church, which recognises the line of Roman popes as the sole legitimate line during the Western Schism.
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Mutual excommunications
The East-West Schism, also known as the Great Schism, was the event that marked the final separation between the Eastern and Western churches in 1054. This event is characterised by the mutual excommunications enacted by the Pope and the Patriarch of Constantinople.
The mutual excommunications of 1054 were the culmination of a variety of political, cultural, and theological factors that had transpired over centuries. The Eastern and Western churches had differing views on the authority of the Pope and the applicability of the canon law of the Latin Church to the Eastern patriarchates. The Western church, led by Pope Leo IX, asserted the preeminence of the Roman Pope and the applicability of canon law to the Eastern patriarchates, while the Eastern church, led by Patriarch Michael Cerularius, rejected these claims.
The specific events leading up to the mutual excommunications of 1054 are not entirely clear, but it is known that Pope Leo IX struck Patriarch Michael Cerularius and his followers with an excommunication, and the patriarch retaliated with a similar excommunication. These mutual excommunications were a watershed moment in church history and resulted in a permanent schism between the two churches.
The excommunications enacted in 1054 were not lifted until 1965, over 900 years later. In that year, Pope Paul VI and Patriarch Athenagoras I presided over simultaneous ceremonies in Jerusalem that revoked the excommunication decrees. While the schism has never fully healed, relations between the churches have improved significantly in recent decades. In 1962-65, the Second Vatican Council recognised the validity of the sacraments in the Eastern churches, and in 1979, the Joint International Commission for Theological Dialogue Between the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church was established to further foster ecumenism.
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Reconciliation attempts
The East-West Schism, or the Great Schism of 1054, marked the first major split in the history of Christianity, separating the Orthodox Church in the East from the Roman Catholic Church in the West. The mutual excommunications by the Pope and the Patriarch of Constantinople, Michael Cerularius, became a watershed moment in church history. The excommunications were not lifted until 1965, when Pope Paul VI and Patriarch Athenagoras I, following their historic meeting in Jerusalem in 1964, presided over simultaneous ceremonies revoking the excommunication decrees.
The Second Council of Lyon in 1274 was an early attempt at reconciliation between the two churches, but the accord was rejected by the Eastern bishops. In the 20th century, relations improved, and the adoption of the Catholic-Orthodox Joint Declaration of 1965 by both the Second Vatican Council in Rome and a special ceremony in Constantinople recognised the validity of the sacraments in the Eastern churches and pronounced a desire for continued reconciliation.
In 1979, the Joint International Commission for Theological Dialogue Between the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church was established by the Holy See and 14 autocephalous churches to further foster ecumenism. Dialogue and improved relations have continued into the 21st century, with both churches embracing a dialogue of charity.
In 2001, Pope John Paul II expressed regret for the actions of Latin Christians during the Fourth Crusade, which had a profound impact on the relationship between the Orthodox and Catholic churches. In 2004, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I formally accepted the apology during a liturgy attended by Roman Catholic Archbishop Philippe Barbarin of Lyon, France, stating, "The spirit of reconciliation is stronger than hatred."
In 2005, Pope Benedict XVI reaffirmed his commitment to working toward reconciliation, and in 2006, he became the first Greek Orthodox Church Archbishop to visit the Vatican. In 2014, Pope Francis and Patriarch Bartholomew signed a Joint Declaration affirming their commitment to seeking unity between their churches. At a prayer service marking the 50th anniversary of the Catholic-Orthodox Joint Declaration, Pope Francis emphasised the importance of unity, saying, "We need to believe that, just as the stone before the tomb was cast aside...".
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Frequently asked questions
The Catholic Church formally split from the Eastern Orthodox Church in 1054, in what is known as the East-West Schism or the Great Schism.
The split was caused by a series of ecclesiastical differences and theological disputes between the Greek East and Latin West. These included the procession of the Holy Spirit, 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 1053, Patriarch Michael I Cerularius of Constantinople ordered the closure of all Latin churches in Constantinople.
No, the mutual excommunications of the Pope and the Patriarch in 1054 did not constitute a full schism. While the excommunications were not lifted until 1965, they were nullified for a few individuals as a gesture of goodwill in 1964. The absence of full communion between the Churches is explicitly mentioned in the Code of Canon Law.
No, the Catholic Church did not consider the Eastern Orthodox beliefs to be heretical. However, Eastern Orthodox theologians believed there were theological issues that ran deeper than just the theology around the primacy of the Pope.
