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So... what's this all about?
The Great Schism sometimes referred to as the Schism of 1054 or the East-West Schism involves the religion of Christianity. The Schism itself refers to the separation of the Churches in Europe. The east side of Europe became predominately Eastern Orthodox Christians. The west side of Europe became comprised of mostly Roman Catholics. The schism was a long time coming. Prior to it there had been many political and theological differences between Pope Leo IX and Michael I Cerularius. Click below to learn more about the reasons behind the Great Schism.
Timeline of the Church's History
ORIGIN STORY
The UndividedÂ
Church
Up Until 1054
Church remained unified under the Orthodox Christian Church
The Great Schism of 1054
1054
Due to the Papacy altering the creed, the schism was initiated which ended the unity of the Churches. The Catholic Church split off into its own denomination with the papacy and the orthodox remained unchanged.
Protestant Reformation
October 31st, 1517
Martin Luther publishes the Disputation on the Power of Indulgences separating from the Catholic Church creating a new christian denomination: The Protestants.
Eastern Orthodox Church
Origin
Along with other Christian Denominations the Orthodox believe the founder of the religion to be Jesus Christ. The Eastern Orthodox Church was able to develop rapidly throughout the golden age of the Byzantine Empire and throughout Ukraine and Russian.
Practice
No central authoritative figurehead
Do not use the Filioque clause in the Nicene Creed or at all
Bishops are successors of Christ's apostles
Recognizes the seven major sacraments
Today
Today, there are more than 220 million members of the Eastern Orthodox Church. Making this denomination the second largest of the Christian Faith. There are more than 2,000 Orthodox Churches in the United States today.
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Roman Catholic Church
Origin
Roman Catholicisim is also founded by Jesus in the 1st century of the Roman Empire (Present day Palestine). Origins are also traced to Jesus Christ's Apostles. Who are widely held responsible for the spread of Catholicism
Practice
- Central Figurehead of Catholicism known as the Pope
- Longest standing Monarchy in history
- Attend Mass on Sunday and every holy day of Obligation
- Confess sins once a year
- Contribute to the Church
- Fast and abstain on certain days
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Today
Today, Roman Catholicism is the largest practicing religion worldwide with an estimated 1.2 billion practicing. There are almost 3,500 dioceses across the globe which are different branches consisting of a Bishop who is in charge of different churches (for example the Diocese of Raleigh). Along with this, there is the Vatican City which is where the Pope lives and where Cardinals who are appointed for life meet when it is time to elect a new Pope.
Sources
GILBERT, PHILIP ALEXANDER. "THE PREROGATIVES OF THE PAPAL OFFICE AS THE PRIME PERPETUATING CAUSE OF THE EAST-WEST SCHISM IN THE MODERN DAY." (2014).
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Benz, Ernst. The eastern orthodox church: Its thought and life. Routledge, 2017.
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Clark, Margaret. "Government, religion and society in northern England, 1000–1700. Edited by John C. Appleby and Paul Dalton. Pp. xiii+ 224. Stroud: Sutton Publishing, 1997.£ 40. 0 7509 1057 7." The Journal of Ecclesiastical History 49.4 (1998): 702-743.
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“Roman Catholicism.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., https://www.britannica.com/topic/Roman-Catholicism.
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“East-West Schism.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., https://www.britannica.com/event/East-West-Schism-1054.
Robinson, I. S. "The life of Pope Leo IX." The Papal Reform of the Eleventh Century. Manchester University Press, 2013.
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Odom, Robert Leo. "The Sabbath in the Great Schism of AD 1054." Andrews University Seminary Studies (AUSS) 1.1 (1963): 74-80.
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National Geographic Society. “Great Schism.” National Geographic Society, 5 June 2014, https://www.nationalgeographic.org/thisday/jul16/great-schism/.
“Pope St. Leo IX.” NewAdvent: Leo IX, https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/09160c.htm.
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“Orthodox Christianity in the 21st Century.” Pew Research Center's Religion & Public Life Project, 17 Aug. 2020, https://www.pewforum.org/2017/11/08/orthodox-christianity-in-the-21st-century/.
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