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East vs. West
The Great Schism of 1054 CE
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?
Reflect!
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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.
Justinian I
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!
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Rivalry between Rome and
Constantinople
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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 Pentarchy
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…
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The rivalry intensifies
The Great Schism of 1054
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.
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The Council of Constantinople and
the filioque dispute
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?
The Nicene Creed
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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.
Reasons for 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.
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After the Great Schism