Saints LightWhy Did East and West Split?
East and West drifted apart over language, politics, papal authority and the Creed, broke in 1054, were embittered by 1204, and have been working toward healing since 1965.
What this lesson teaches
- The East-West Schism grew over centuries; 1054 is the symbolic date.
- Causes included language, politics, papal authority and the filioque in the Creed.
- The 1204 sack of Constantinople by crusaders made the division bitter.
- In 1965 the excommunications were lifted, and Catholics and Orthodox share a deep though incomplete communion.
Catechism paragraphs this lesson cites
- CCC 247-248
- CCC 817-818
- CCC 838
CCC means the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Saints Light teaches it in its own words and never quotes it. Look up any paragraph in a printed copy or at vatican.va. See every lesson by paragraph in the Catechism index.
Scripture read in this lesson: John 17:21.
A sample question from this lesson
Which is the most accurate description of the 1054 schism?
- A single quarrel on one day that no one could have seen coming
- A long drift apart that came to a symbolic break in 1054
- A split caused only by the date of Easter
- A break that the Orthodox and Catholics both forgot about by 1100
Show the answer
A long drift apart that came to a symbolic break in 1054. The lesson explains that language, politics, authority and the filioque built up over centuries; 1054 is the symbolic date.
The lesson in the app has three questions, each with an explanation.
Words to know
- Filioque
- Latin for 'and the Son', added to the Creed in the West to say the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son.
- Eastern Catholic Churches
- Churches with Eastern rites and traditions that are in full communion with the Pope.
More terms in the Catholic glossary. More passages in the Scripture index.
Read the full lesson in the app
"Why Did East and West Split?" is lesson 6 of Two Thousand Years in Twelve Lessons. In Saints Light you get the whole teaching, the Scripture quoted in full, all three questions and a step to live it this week.
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- I believe in the Holy Spirit (The Creed, free)
- Are Non-Catholics Saved? (Hard Questions)