Sarah Mitchell
The Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church broke communion during the East-West Schism of 1054, also known as the Great Schism. While there were internal disputes prior to the split, it was only after the formal schism in the 11th century that the two churches were considered distinct. The primary cause of the schism was the growing claim to universal jurisdiction by the Bishop of Rome, or the Pope, which the Eastern Orthodox Church did not recognize. Other theological disputes included the procession of the Holy Spirit, the use of leavened or unleavened bread in the Eucharist, iconoclasm, and the place of the See of Constantinople in relation to the pentarchy.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of split | 1054 (Great Schism) |
| Reason for split | Theological and ecclesiological differences |
| Nature of split | Catholics say Orthodox split, Orthodox say Catholics split |
| Relation to heresy | Catholics do not consider Orthodox heretical; Orthodox consider some Catholic teachings heretical |
| Reconciliation attempts | Pope Paul VI and Ecumenical Patriarch Athenagoras I nullified the anathemas of 1054 as a gesture of goodwill |
| Ancestral sin | Eastern Orthodox Church accepts ancestral sin; Catholic Church holds that sin is inherited but is not an act committed |
| Current relations | Push towards ecumenism and dialogue, but many Orthodox remain hesitant |
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What You'll Learn
The East-West Schism, or Great Schism, of 1054
The East-West Schism, or the Great Schism, refers to the break in communion between the Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church in 1054. This event is considered the culmination of a process of distancing between the Greek East and the Latin West, which began around the year 900. While an informal divide existed prior to the schism, these were internal disputes within the recognised "one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church" of the Nicene Creed.
The schism was preceded by a series of ecclesiastical differences and theological disputes. Some of the prominent issues included:
- The procession of the Holy Spirit (Filioque): This dispute centred around the addition of the word "Filioque" (meaning "and the Son") to the Nicene Creed, indicating a difference in belief about the procession of the Holy Spirit.
- Eucharist: There was disagreement over whether leavened or unleavened bread should be used in the Eucharist.
- Iconoclasm: The destruction of religious images, or icons, was a contentious issue between the two branches of Christianity.
- Coronation of Charlemagne: The coronation of Charlemagne as emperor of the Romans in 800 was controversial and contributed to the growing divide.
- Papal supremacy: The Pope's claim to universal jurisdiction and the question of the See of Constantinople's place in relation to the pentarchy was a significant point of contention. The Eastern Orthodox Church did not recognise Papal supremacy.
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 Constantinople. In 1054, the mutual excommunications issued by the papal legate sent by Pope Leo IX and the Eastern Patriarch cemented the divide.
It is important to note that the idea of a definitive break in 1054 has been questioned by some scholars, who view the schism as a gradual process of separation rather than a single event. Additionally, while the Catholic Church characterises the split as a schism, the Eastern Orthodox Church considers the theological issues to be deeper and more complex. Despite the schism, both churches have engaged in ecumenical efforts in recent decades to restore Christian unity and improve relations.
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Ecclesiological differences
The East-West Schism, also known as the Great Schism, marked the break of communion between the Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church in 1054. However, the schism was the culmination of a process of separation that unfolded over several centuries. The primary cause of the schism was ecclesiological differences, specifically the Bishop of Rome's growing claim to universal jurisdiction.
From the Catholic Church's perspective, the ecclesiological issues are central, and they characterise the split as a schism. They do not regard the Eastern Orthodox beliefs as heretical but maintain that the Orthodox are schismatic because they do not recognise Papal supremacy. For Catholics, the primary issue is one of authority, which relates to ecclesiology.
In contrast, Eastern Orthodox theologians point to theological issues that run deeper than just the primacy of the Pope. The Orthodox often diagnose the problem as primarily theological, considering Catholic dogmatic teachings on the Immaculate Conception and Papal Infallibility as heretical. They argue for a real distinction between God's essence and energies, in opposition to Thomas Aquinas' "divine simplicity" explanation of a virtual distinction.
Another key ecclesiological difference is the understanding of original sin. The Eastern Orthodox Church accepts that ancestral sin corrupted the existence of humanity and the environment, resulting in a corrupted state of birth. They believe that original sin is hereditary and flows from Adam's sin to all his descendants. In contrast, the Catholic Church holds that the sin of Adam that we inherit is called "sin" in an analogical sense, as it is not an act committed like a personal sin.
The emergence of competing Greek and Latin hierarchies in the Crusader states further highlighted the schism. The mutual excommunications issued in 1054 and the closure of all Latin churches in Constantinople by Patriarch Michael I Cerularius in 1053 were significant steps towards the formal schism.
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Theological disputes
The East-West Schism, also known as the Great Schism, marked the break of communion between the Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church in 1054. However, the schism was the culmination of a process of separation between the Greek East and the Latin West that began around the year 900. Several ecclesiastical differences and theological disputes preceded the official split.
One of the key theological disputes between the Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church centres around the concept of original sin and ancestral sin. The Eastern Orthodox Church holds that ancestral sin corrupted the existence of humanity and the environment, resulting in a corrupted state of being for all descendants of Adam and Eve. In contrast, the Catholic Church teaches that the sin of Adam is inherited and is called "sin" in an analogical sense, as it is not a personal act like an individual's sin.
Another significant point of contention is the authority of the Pope. For Catholics, the primary issue is one of authority and ecclesiology, as they do not recognise the Orthodox rejection of Papal supremacy. On the other hand, Orthodox theologians emphasise the theological differences, considering Catholic dogmatic teachings on the Immaculate Conception and Papal Infallibility as heretical. The Orthodox view the problem as primarily theological rather than merely a matter of church structure.
The procession of the Holy Spirit (Filioque) was also a notable dispute. This controversy centred around the nature of the Holy Spirit and its procession from the Father and the Son, which was a point of divergence between the two traditions.
Additionally, there were disagreements about the Eucharist. The Latin West and the Greek East disagreed on whether leavened or unleavened bread should be used in the Eucharist, reflecting deeper theological and liturgical differences between the two traditions.
Furthermore, the coronation of Charlemagne as emperor of the Romans in 800 by the Pope caused tension between the East and West, as it was seen as a challenge to the authority of the Byzantine Empire and the Patriarch of Constantinople. This incident contributed to the growing divide between the two churches.
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Reconciliation attempts
The East-West Schism, also known as the Great Schism, refers to the break of communion between the Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church in 1054. While an informal divide between the East and West existed prior to the split, these were internal disputes under the umbrella of the recognised "one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church". Several attempts have been made to reconcile the two churches, but none have been successful so far.
The Second Council of Lyon (1274)
The council, attended by over 300 bishops, discussed the union of the East and the West. The Greeks conceded the contested Filioque clause, which allowed for a momentary reunification. However, the Eastern clergy were largely opposed to the council's decisions, and when Emperor Michael VIII Palaeologus' son Andronikos II Palaiologos succeeded him, he repudiated the union.
The Council of Ferrara-Florence (1438-1445)
The most notable historic effort towards achieving ecumenical unity was the Council of Ferrara-Florence. The Western Church sent letters to their Greek counterparts expressing enthusiasm for future unity.
Nullification of Anathemas (1965)
Pope Paul VI and Ecumenical Patriarch Athenagoras I nullified the anathemas of 1054, though this only applied to a few individuals and was a gesture of goodwill rather than a reunion.
Meeting in Cuba (2016)
Pope Francis and Patriarch Kirill of the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) met in Cuba and signed a joint declaration expressing hope for reconciliation between Greek Catholics and Orthodox. They acknowledged that past methods of "uniatism" had failed and emphasised the need for mutually acceptable forms of co-existence.
Despite these attempts, the primary obstacle to reunification remains the role of the Bishop of Rome, or the Pope, and the extent of their authority over other churches. While the Catholic Church views communion with the Bishop of Rome as necessary to be considered a Church in the full sense, the Orthodox Church disagrees with the Pope's historic claims to authority, seeing it as contrary to the image of the Church presented in the New Testament and early Christian writings.
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Relations and reunification efforts
The East-West Schism, also known as the Great Schism, refers to the break of communion between the Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church in 1054. However, there were ecclesiastical differences and theological disputes between the Greek East and Latin West before the formal schism. These included the procession of the Holy Spirit (Filioque), the use of leavened or unleavened bread in the Eucharist, iconoclasm, the coronation of Charlemagne as emperor of the Romans, the pope's claim to universal jurisdiction, and the place of the See of Constantinople.
Despite the split, relations and reunification efforts between the two churches have continued over the centuries. The Council of Ferrara-Florence in the 15th century was a notable attempt at achieving unity. The Greeks accepted the Filioque clause, the Latin perspective on the Eucharist, purgatory, and papal primacy. This resulted in a bull of unity, and there was evidence of unity, such as participation in each other's liturgies. However, this reunification was short-lived due to anti-Western sentiments and the fall of Constantinople to the Turks in 1453.
In the 20th century, the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965) marked a significant shift in relations, with the Catholic Church describing the Orthodox as "separated brethren" with valid sacraments and an apostolic priesthood. In 1965, Pope Paul VI and Ecumenical Patriarch Athenagoras I jointly lifted the mutual excommunications of 1054, a symbolic gesture towards restoring full communion. This period also saw a dialogue of charity between the two churches, transitioning into a dialogue of doctrine with reference to the early Church.
The Orthodox Church has engaged in several ecumenical efforts with the Vatican in recent decades, including Patriarch Bartholomew I's attendance at the Assisi Prayer Meeting. In November 2019, Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople reaffirmed his belief in an inevitable reunion between the Orthodox and Catholic Churches.
While there is a push towards ecumenism and dialogue, several theological and structural differences remain unresolved. The Orthodox Church, for instance, does not accept the Catholic Church's view of the pope's authority. The issue of Uniatism, or the effort to bring about unity by separating Orthodox communities, is also a significant problem in the dialogue between the two churches.
Despite these challenges, there are potential steps towards a reunited church. These include a common mission, special liturgical services, and new structures of authority that would regulate the relationships of local and regional primates.
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Frequently asked questions
The Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church formally split in 1054, in what is known as the East-West Schism or the Great Schism.
There were several ecclesiastical differences and theological disputes between the two churches, including the procession of the Holy Spirit, the use of leavened or unleavened bread in the Eucharist, iconoclasm, the coronation of Charlemagne as emperor, the pope's claim to universal jurisdiction, and the place of the See of Constantinople in relation to the pentarchy. The main issue, however, was the extent of the Roman Pope's authority over other churches.
Yes, there have been several attempts to reconcile the two churches, including the Second Council of Lyon and the Council of Florence, which were ultimately unsuccessful. In 1965, the two churches issued a joint statement, known as the "Balamand Declaration", affirming their shared beliefs and committing to working towards unity. More recently, in 2019, the Patriarch of Constantinople stated his belief that a reunion between the two churches is inevitable.
Following the split, the Catholic Church became more centralized and hierarchical, while the Orthodox Church maintained a more decentralized and autonomous structure. Today, the Catholic Church is the largest Christian denomination in the world, with over 1.3 billion members, while the Orthodox Church is made up of smaller, independent churches united by their common beliefs and practices.
