The Great Schism of 1054: A Tale of Two Churches

What was a basic cause of the schism between the Catholic and Orthodox churches in 1054?

Can you explain the primary disagreement that led to the final split between the Catholic and Orthodox churches in 1054?

The Great Schism of 1054

The basic cause of the schism between the Catholic and Orthodox churches in 1054 was a primary disagreement between the two branches of the church. The main issues revolved around the use of leavened bread in the East and the removal of the Holy Father's name from the diptych.

The Great Schism of 1054 marked a significant event in the history of Christianity, as it resulted in the permanent split between the Western (Catholic) and Eastern (Orthodox) branches of the Christian church. The seeds of the schism were sown over centuries of theological disputes, cultural differences, and power struggles between Rome and Constantinople.

One of the key issues that led to the schism was the use of leavened bread in the East. The Latin-speaking West used unleavened bread in the Eucharist, while the Greek-speaking East used leavened bread. This may seem like a minor detail, but it became a symbol of the broader cultural and theological differences between the two branches of Christianity.

Another major point of contention was the removal of the Holy Father's name from the diptych, which was a list of the names of patriarchs and important bishops read aloud during the liturgy. The Patriarch of Constantinople, Michael Cerularius, took offense when the Pope of Rome, Leo IX, sent delegates to Constantinople who refused to recognize the authority of the Eastern patriarchs.

These disagreements eventually reached a breaking point in 1054, when the Pope's legates excommunicated Cerularius and his followers, and Cerularius retaliated by excommunicating the legates. The mutual excommunications were the final straw that led to the formal split between the Catholic and Orthodox churches.

From that point on, the two branches of Christianity developed separately, with their own hierarchies, liturgical practices, and theological beliefs. The Great Schism of 1054 had lasting consequences for the history of Christianity, shaping the religious landscape of the world for centuries to come.