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Great Schism (1054)

Ryan Reeves・2 minutes read

The Orthodox Church is a significant branch of Christianity with varied languages and leadership structures, being the second-largest single unit Church globally. The Great Schism of 1054, caused by political, theological, and leadership issues, led to the lasting separation between the Eastern and Western Churches.

Insights

  • The Orthodox Church, with around 250 million followers, is the second-largest single unit Church globally, distinct from the Catholic and Protestant branches.
  • The Great Schism of 1054, triggered by political, theological, and leadership issues, led to the separation of the Catholic Church from the Eastern Orthodox Church, highlighting tensions over the role of the Pope, the use of icons, and the Filioque controversy.

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Recent questions

  • What caused the Great Schism of 1054?

    Political, theological, and leadership issues between East and West led to the Great Schism.

  • How many Christians are there worldwide?

    Approximately 2.5 billion Christians globally.

  • What is the Orthodox Church?

    A significant branch of Christianity with diverse languages and leadership structures.

  • What was the Filioque controversy?

    A theological dispute over the Nicene Creed phrase "and the son."

  • What led to the compromise between the East and West in 2004?

    The patriarch of Constantinople and the Pope agreed not to say the Filioque together.

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Summary

00:00

Orthodox Church: Global Influence and Schism

  • The Orthodox Church is a significant branch of Christianity, often mistakenly referred to as Greek Orthodox or Byzantine Church.
  • It is geographically diverse and has varied languages and leadership structures.
  • The Orthodox Church is the second-largest single unit Church globally, with around 250 million followers.
  • There are approximately 2.5 billion Christians worldwide, with 1.5 to 1.7 billion Catholics and 800 million Protestants.
  • The Great Schism of 1054 led to the separation of the Catholic Church from the Eastern Orthodox Church.
  • The schism was influenced by political, theological, and leadership issues between the East and West.
  • The Byzantine Emperor's influence over the papacy and church appointments created tensions.
  • The rise of the Holy Roman Empire under Otto I in 962 marked a shift towards Western autonomy.
  • The role of the Bishop of Rome, or Pope, in relation to other patriarchs was a key point of contention.
  • The refusal of the Pope to submit to the authority of Eastern patriarchs led to the Great Schism in the 11th century.

16:13

The Great Schism: East vs West Divide

  • The Emperor of the East condemned the use of images and icons in the church, backed by the eastern patriarchs, while the church out west, led by the papacy, refused to remove their art and statues used for worship.
  • The Filioque controversy, originating from the Council of Nicaea, revolves around the phrase "and the son" in the Nicene Creed, which the Western Church includes but the Eastern Church does not.
  • The Western Church added "and the son" to the Creed due to concerns about Arianism, emphasizing the equality of the father and the son, leading to the doctrine of the double procession of the spirit.
  • The East criticized the West for altering the Creed without a council's approval, leading to tensions over the papacy's authority and the right to modify the Creed.
  • In 2004, the patriarch of Constantinople and the Pope agreed not to say the Filioque together, symbolizing a compromise between the East and West on this theological issue.
  • The conflict between East and West escalated in 1054 when Humbert of Silva Candida, a papal advisor, and others were sent to Constantinople to address disputes over practices in the Western Church, resulting in mutual excommunications.
  • The excommunications of each other by Humbert and Michael, the patriarch of Constantinople, in 1054 marked the beginning of the Great Schism between the Eastern and Western Churches.
  • Initially perceived as a dispute between two individuals, the Great Schism solidified over centuries, exacerbated by events like the crusades, leading to a lasting separation between the East and West.
  • The Great Schism, sparked by the excommunications in 1054, evolved from a personal conflict into a long-standing division between the Eastern and Western Churches.
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