The Great Schism The Christian Church splits

The Great SchismThe Christian Church splits

The Great SchismThe schism was NOT the result of only one quarrel in the Church.

1054 – Christianity splits into the Roman Catholic Church in the West and the Orthodox Church in the East.

The leader of the Roman Catholic Church in the West is the Pope.

The leader of the Eastern Orthodox Church in Constantinople is the Patriarch along with bishops of the empire.

Factors that Caused the Great Schism• Language:

– West: Latin– East: Greek

• Church Authority– West: Pope’s interpretation of the Bible– East: Bible final authority on all issues

• Divorce:– West: Pope forbid divorce – East: Patriarch allowed

• Marriage– West: Catholic Bishops could not marry– East: Bishops could marry

• Icon & Power Controversies

• In 730, Emperor Leo III banned the use of icons.

• Iconoclasm—Many Orthodox bishops in the Byzantine Empire rejected this policy, some Eastern bishops cooperated with it, believing the emperor to be God's agent on earth. The bishops of Rome spoke out strongly both against the policy itself and against the emperor's authority over the church

• Iconoclasts – those who opposed the use of icons and saw the practice as idolatry

Icon Controversy

Power Controversies • The primacy of the Bishop of Rome, the Pope, as the head of the

Church.• Clearly, the Eastern Emperors and Patriarchs disagreed

• Caesaropapism—The Eastern policy of tying together the ultimate political and religious authorities. Emperor-ultimate authority

• In 1054, the pope and the patriarch excommunicated each other. Thereafter, the Christian church split between the Roman Catholic Church in the East and the Orthodox Church in the West.