History of World Christianity Week 4 part 2

Turning Point: The Great Schism (1054 AD)

Key People

Pope Leo IX (1002–1054): Roman pontiff who sent legates to Constantinople.

Cardinal Humbert (c. 1000–1061): Papal legate who excommunicated the patriarch.

Patriarch Michael Cerularius (c. 1000–1059): Patriarch of Constantinople who opposed Roman claims and was excommunicated.

Earlier Influences: Photius (9th century) and earlier disputes foreshadowed the schism.

The Great Schism formally divided Christianity into the Roman Catholic Church (West) and the Eastern Orthodox Church (East).

Factors Leading to the Great Schism

A Different Tradition: Eastern Orthodoxy

Ancient Byzantine Heritage

· The Christian heritage of Constantinople is the Eastern Orthodxy Church

· Constantinople known as the second Rome.

· Difference arose between the Greeks speakers and Latin Speakers where they eventually split.

· Eastern Orthodoxy never recognized the bishop of Rome as the boss.

o Today they see themselves as the original church handed down by the apostles.

o They see themselves as the original apostolic church that never changed

Underlying causes of the 1054 schism

Tension between east and west get so bad that the pope’s delegation excommunicates the eastern church. The Eastern excommunicates the Western church.

Cultural and Linguistic Differences

Latin-speaking West vs. Greek-speaking East.

Different political, social, and theological emphases.

Ecclesiastical Rivalry

Disputes over papal primacy (universal authority of the pope vs. collegial leadership of patriarchs).

The East favored a “conciliar” model, while Rome emphasized central authority.

In the West the Pope (bishop of Rome) was a pope that was practically an emperor

In the East the patriarch of Constantinople was the head of the church but subservient to the political emperor.

Theological Disagreements

Filioque Clause: The West added “and the Son” to the Nicene Creed regarding the procession of the Holy Spirit—rejected by the East.

Different emphases in theology and liturgy (use of leavened vs. unleavened bread in the Eucharist, clerical celibacy, etc.).

East

Anything below a bishop can be married

Normal bread for Lord Supper

East uses yeast

Clergy had to have beards

West

Everyone in leadership had to be celibate

Unleavened bread had to be used

Insignificant in the west, it was an option

The iconoclast controversy

· Icons are religious themes

· This happens because of a Muslim presence

Muslims think idolatry is the worst thing in the world.

· East are critical over icons due to Muslim criticism

Decided not to have any 3-D art only 2-D art.

· Relic has historical importance. Icon is religious art.

Political Context

Growing distance between the Byzantine Empire and the rising powers in Western Europe.

The crowning of Charlemagne (800 AD) deepened rivalry between Rome and Constantinople.

Church had power over the government

Government was more powerful than the church and heavily influences the church.

Bishop never saw himself under the emperor of Rome

West more concerned about organization and authority (no theological debates)

The East more concerned with theology. (Antioch, Nicea, Chalcedon)

Immediate causes of the 1054 schism

A.  Crisis in Southern Italy

· Normans invaded southern Italy

· There were some Greeks in the west and Latin churches in the east

· Normans get rid of Greeks and replace them with Latin people.

B.  Issues

· Unleavened Bread or Leavened Bread in the Eucharist

C.  Michael Cerularius (Constantinople) & Leo IX (Rome)

· Pope Leo IX sent Cardinal Humbert to Constantinople to address disputes.

Patriarch Michael Cerularius closed Latin churches in Constantinople and rejected papal claims.

July 16, 1054: Humbert placed a bull of excommunication on the altar of Hagia Sophia.

Cerularius responded by excommunicating Humbert and the Western church.

The mutual excommunication stayed until 1965 (Roman Vatican 2)

Aftermath

Permanent Division

Formalized the separation between the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches.

Despite attempts at reconciliation (e.g., Council of Florence, 1439), the schism endures.

Distinct Development

The West: centralized papal authority, Latin theology, and scholastic tradition.

The East: conciliar governance, emphasis on mysticism and liturgy, continuation of Byzantine heritage.

Modern Efforts

1965: Pope Paul VI and Patriarch Athenagoras I lifted the excommunications.

Ongoing ecumenical dialogue, but full communion remains unrealized.

Discussion Questions

What were the deeper issues behind the Great Schism—cultural, political, or theological?

How did the question of papal authority shape the division?

What can the modern church learn about unity and division from the Schism of 1054?