In 1054, the split between the Western Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church completely altered the practices and beliefs of the Church that still resonate today.
The impactful split between the churches is known as the Great Schism, which is composed of several disagreements between the two branches. The churches eventually separated and could not make peace until centuries later.
In the West during the Middle Ages, particularly leading up to the 1050s, Rome centralized authority, while Constantinople, Alexandra, Antioch and Jerusalem distributed authority in the Eastern region. The Pope led the West, whereas the Patriarch of Constantinople held authority in the East, according to The Collector.
The East and West had different views on theology, primarily on the nature of the Holy Spirit. This was demonstrated in the Nicene Creed, a Christian statement of belief that addressed the theological disputes surrounding Arianism and affirmed the beliefs of both churches. The disputes initially arose when Arius, who is described as a priest, disagreed with Christ’s divinity, which then caused him to reject the Holy Trinity, according to The Collector.
Arius stated that if Christ was God’s creation, then there would be a time when Christ did not exist and was not of the same divine essence. Arius was denounced as a heretic by both churches for his rejection of Christianity, according to The Collector.
Even though both churches were quick to condemn Arius, theological differences emerged when it came to the nature of the Holy Spirit. These differences between both churches were reflected in their particular versions of the Nicene Creed, according to Ancient Origins.
One of the significant terms in the Nicene Creed was the use of “filioque,” which means the Son in Latin. The term explained the position of the Holy Spirit and that the Holy Spirit proceeded from both the Father and the Son, according to Ancient Origins.
This term was added to the Nicene Creed by the West, as the Western church was influenced by Latin theology, according to Ancient Origins.
The Eastern Orthodox Church’s version of the Nicene Creed used the original text without adding the “filioque” term. The Eastern church regarded the use of the “filioque” term as an unethical modification of a creed that was established by an ecumenical council, according to Ancient Origins.
Additionally, language would become another dispute between the two churches. The Eastern church, centered in Constantinople, adopted Greek as their language, whereas the Western church, centered in Rome, adopted Latin, according to Ancient Origins.
Languages played a crucial role in the worship services of both the Western and Eastern churches. The West was influenced by Latin, which helped shape their liturgical rites and contributed to the cultural and religious divergence. The East was influenced by Greek culture, and the East had a strong belief in mysticism and theosis, the process of becoming one with God, according to Ancient Origins.
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Furthermore, theological differences played a significant part in the conflict between the religious leaders. In the 1050s, the Patriarch of Constantinople declined to accept orders and decisions from the Pope in Rome, according to Accelerate Education.
The Pope intervened in the decisions of other patriarchates in the Eastern church. On the Eastern church side, the Pope was not accepted, and the Patriarchate of Constantinople wanted a more council-based governance model, which would include self-governance, according to Ancient Origins.
The Pope tried claiming jurisdiction and Supremacy over the entire Christian Church. His attempt to have authority over the Patriarchates led to tension between both churches.
Ultimately, the Pope became suspicious of the independence of the Eastern church. By 1054, he sent a representative to Constantinople to meet the patriarch and attempt to fix the rift, but the language barrier was too much and tempers clashed. The East and the West decided to excommunicate each other, according to Accelerate Education.
The West and East each viewed themselves as the rightful church. The West became known as the Roman Catholic Church and the East became known as the Eastern Orthodox Church. The permanent split of both churches resulted in distinct differences in religious beliefs.
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After centuries of division and tension, things began to shift when the two churches finally acknowledged each other.
In 1965, Pope Paul Vl and Patriarch Athenagoras l lifted the longstanding mutual excommunication decrees made by their respective churches, according to National Geographic.
Now, the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches have grown significantly since splitting from each other. The Roman Catholic Church is one of the largest denominations, with over a billion followers around the world. At the same time, the Eastern Orthodox church is the second largest denomination with over 260 million followers, according to National Geographic
The churches have not reunited, staying steady in their beliefs and deep, traditional values. However, hope remains for the future with unity and community around all denominations, fostering a deep understanding of love and respect.
Destiny Dickerson is a recent graduate of Regent University. She received her bachelor's degree in Communications with a concentration in Journalism and a minor in International Relations and Foreign Policies. She loves the Arts field and can't wait to share more of her gifts with the world.
