The Overview
Until 1054, there was simply the Church. No Eastern Orthodox Church, no Roman Catholic Church, no Reformation, and no denominations. There were just two large branches of the same tree: the church in the West and the church in the East.
But in 1054, tension between the two came to a head in what is now known as the Great Schism—a split between the two that has yet to be mended. The result was two broad strands of Christianity: the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church.
Established by Jesus
On a basic level (whole books are written on these matters), the divisions between the East and West boiled down to doctrine, culture, and authority.
Though the schism is complex and any simple explanation is bound to miss much of the nuance, some of the primary issues related to:
- Language differences (broadly speaking, Eastern churches used a Greek rite and sacred text while the church centered in Rome used a Latin rite and the Latin Vulgate)
- The filioque clause, affirmed by the Western church as a part of the creed but denounced by the Council of Constantinople […]1
- The use of unleavened bread in the Eucharist by Western churches
- Ecclesiastical authority
The Split
The issue of ecclesiastical authority underlies and punctuates the specific doctrinal differences. In 553, John IV, Patriarch of Constantinople, adopted the title Ecumenical Patriarch. The pope objected to this title, arguing that it went beyond the authority and position afforded to the see of Constantinople. In 1054, Pope Leo IX sent a delegation led by Cardinal Humbert of Silva Candida, to object to the current Patriarch of Constantinople Michael I Cerularius’ use of the title Ecumenical Patriarch and to insist (among other things) that he recognize the pope as the head of the Church (caput et mater ecclesiarum). Cerularius refused and in response Humbert excommunicated him. Cerularius in turn excommunicated Humbert and the rest of the papal legates (notably, though, not Leo IX himself).
It is worth noting that though 1054 is generally held to be the formal date of the schism, there were many subsequent events (such as the crusades) that drove the two sides further apart. Though there were further attempts at reunification (such as the Council of Florence), nothing has been successful.
Constantinople
The official meetings of the Primates of the Churches have always been ecclesiastical events of great importance, for the reinforcement, and hopefully, the restoration of the unity of faith in the nexus of love. Such visits are in accordance with the commandment of the Divine Founder of the Church, our Lord Jesus Christ.
His All Holiness
On 2 July 2019, it was announced that Pope Francis had given Bartholomew possession of nine bone fragments believed to belong to St. Peter and which were publicly displayed by Pope Francis in November 2013 during a Vatican 'Year of Faith' Mass.[45]
Bartholomew, who also gained possession of the bronze reliquary in which they are displayed,[45] described the Pope's gesture as "brave and bold".[45]
Roman Cardinal establishes an Oasis
Cardinal Slipyj can be known as the "Bridge Builder" in uniting East and West. He worked to unite the challenges between the Ukrainian Catholics and Ukrainian Orthodox. He set up an "Oasis" for the Ukrainians to have a "neutral" place to learn about each other and understand more about the traditions of both east and west. The Roman Cardinal strategically established this "oasis" as an independent, autocephalous jurisdiction.
Upon his retirement years, Cardinal Slipyj commanded Metropolitan Archbishop +Amvrosij to continue the ministry as "Bridge Builder." The Archbishop founded the Institute for Eastern Christian Studies in 1976 as a way to continue the dialogue and conversation from the "oasis" to both East and West.
Bridge Builder (Pontifex)
His Beatitude, Archbishop Metropolitan +Amvrosij received the monastic Great Schema on the Holy Mountain, Mount Athos, as foretold by Archbishop St. John Maximovitch, who had tonsured him a Riassaphore monk.
Archbishop +Amvrosij has over 80 priests throughout the world and continues to assist the Church in bringing VALID Sacraments to every corner of the world.
Graduate of the John XXIII Institute for Eastern Christian Studies at Fordham University and have doctoral degrees in Theology and in Psychology. www.uogcc.com