East vs. WestThe Great Schism of 1054 CE

Reflect!

What do you think it might have been like to walk into a place like that, with all these sounds and smells?

How do you think it might’ve influenced people in their beliefs?

How do you think the gigantic castles and nobleman’s manors might have also influenced their beliefs?

Justinian I

Eastern Roman Emperor 527-565 CE.

Known as Justinian the Great.

Reconquered much of the Roman Empire. His general Belisarius even retook Rome itself, but struggled with the Papacy.

Set up the Pentarchy.

Rivalry between Rome and Constantinople

At the height of Justinian’s conquests he had much influence over Rome.

However, the Byzantines could not maintain the Empire.

Rome came under attack from the Lombards.Pope Stephen II invited the Franks into Italy,

offering to crown Pepin the Short as King of the Romans.

The Franks conquered the region and donated land to the Papacy, establishing the Papal States.

Naturally, this was not liked by Constantinople. Remember this, as it is the start of a long rivalry!

The Pentarchy

Initially the Bishop of Rome (the Pope), had supreme authority in the church.

By the time of Justinian I, the Bishop of Constantinople had almost as much power.

The Pentarchy declared Rome as ‘first amongst equals’ with Constantinople.

The Bishops of Alexandria and Antioch were recognised as lesser.

The Bishop of Jerusalem was given a ceremonial place as the fifth.

Hence the name Pentarchy, coming from the Greek word for five, pende, and the word for ruler, archon. Hence, meaning rule by five.

The rivalry intensifies

The Pentarchy was accepted eventually by the Quinisext Council of 692 CE, but Rome rejected the council’s decision.

The West therefore never accepted the Pentarchy, and never recognised the authority of the other bishops.

The East did accept it, and the Bishop of Constantinople would often conflict with the Bishop of Rome over their authority.

Eventually these differences lead to…

The Great Schism of 1054

The Council of Constantinople and the filioque dispute

One of the reasons cited for the dispute was the filioque dispute.

This was a change made to the Nicene Creed.

A council was held in Constantinople in 867 CE where the Byzantine Emperor deposed the Patriarch.

Rome tried to fight back, but the council excommunicated the Pope.

The Nicene Creed

Read the Nicene Creed, and the revised Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed.

Can you spot the differences?

Do you really think that these differences are what eventually caused the Great Schism in 1054?

Can you think of any other reasons that this split eventually occurred?

Reasons for the Great Schism

Political differences between Rome and Constantinople.

Power shared between dioceses in the East, whereas Rome demanded to be the leader.

Strong Roman presence in the East, other cultures in the West.

West spoke/wrote in Latin, East in Greek.Different interpretations of theological

issues.

After the Great Schism

Even though the churches had officially separated, with Constantinople refusing to acknowledge Rome’s authority and vice versa, little changed for the people.

It took centuries for meaningful differences in religious practice to develop between the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churces.

Most continued to simply call themselves Christians and not really see much difference between Christians in the East and West until much later.