What did Jesus Establish?
The beginning of the Church both East and West
The Christian church began in the 1st century with Jesus’ followers meeting in house churches in Jerusalem and beyond, led initially by the apostles and elders. By the end of the first century, over 40 communities existed, including in Asia Minor, Rome, Alexandria, and beyond (Wikipedia). Worship was simple: prayer, Scripture reading, teaching, fellowship, and the Lord’s Supper, with baptism as the main sacrament (Bible Hub).
Early Christianity was a Jewish sect until the Council of Jerusalem (c. 50 AD) decided that Gentiles did not need to follow the Mosaic Law, allowing the Gospel to spread widely (Christian Educators Academy). This shift was crucial for its survival and growth.
Development of the Roman Catholic Church
For centuries, Christians were persecuted under Roman law, especially during the reign of Nero (AD 54–68), when they were scapegoated for the Great Fire of Rome. Despite this, the faith persisted through underground worship, martyrdom, and the resilience of small communities.
By the 2nd century, Christianity had spread across the Roman Empire, but it also became diverse, with competing theological views. The Council of Nicaea (325 AD) sought to unify doctrine, affirming the divinity of Christ and establishing the Nicene Creed.
Emperor Constantine I’s conversion and the Edict of Milan (313 AD) ended state-sponsored persecution, allowing Christianity to flourish. Under Theodosius I, it became the state religion of the Roman Empire.
By the 8th century, the Catholic Church had become a stabilizing institution in Western Europe as the Roman Empire collapsed. Monasteries preserved knowledge, and bishops became central to both spiritual and political life (History Skills).
The Churches of the East
The Divine Liturgy, central to Eastern Christian worship, has its roots in early Christian practices and has evolved significantly over the centuries, reflecting theological, cultural, and liturgical developments.
The Divine Liturgy, known in Greek as "Θεία Λειτουργία" (Theía Leitourgía), is the Eucharistic service in most Eastern Christian rites. Its origins can be traced back to the adaptation of Jewish liturgical practices by early Christians. The structure of the Liturgy is traditionally divided into two main parts: the Liturgy of the Catechumens, which includes scripture readings and a sermon, and the Liturgy of the Faithful, which focuses on the Eucharist, commemorating the Last Supper.
Three primary forms of the Divine Liturgy are widely used in the Byzantine Rite:
The Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom (5th century): This is the most commonly celebrated liturgy throughout the year.
The Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great (4th century): Used on specific occasions, including the Sundays of Great Lent and the feast of St. Basil.
The Divine Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts: A unique liturgy celebrated during Lent, focusing on the Eucharist that has been consecrated previously.
1054 Split
The Great Schism of 1054 was the formal split between the Roman Catholic Church in the West and the Eastern Orthodox Church in the East, driven by theological, cultural, and political differences.
The division between East and West had deep historical roots, dating back to the split of the Roman Empire into Eastern and Western halves in the 3rd and 4th centuries. Over time, differences in language, culture, and theology emerged: the West used Latin, emphasized legalistic and hierarchical structures, and recognized the Pope as supreme authority, while the East used Greek, favored a more mystical approach, and upheld the Patriarch of Constantinople as a leading figure. Key theological disputes included the Filioque clause (the procession of the Holy Spirit), the use of leavened versus unleavened bread in the Eucharist, and disagreements over papal authority. Political tensions, such as the coronation of Charlemagne as emperor in 800 and rivalry between the Byzantine and Holy Roman Empires, further strained relations.
Key Events of 1054
The immediate cause of the schism occurred when Pope Leo IX sent a legate, Cardinal Humbert, to Constantinople to negotiate with Patriarch Michael I Cerularius. The legate demanded recognition of the Pope’s authority and criticized Eastern practices. When Cerularius refused, Humbert excommunicated the Patriarch, and in response, Cerularius excommunicated Humbert and the other legates. This mutual excommunication is traditionally marked as the formal split, though both sides continued some contact afterward.
Lifting of the Excommunication
The schism solidified the division of Christianity into Western Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy, with each developing distinct liturgical practices, theological emphases, and ecclesiastical structures. Subsequent events, such as the Latin-led Crusades, the Massacre of the Latins in 1182, and the Sacking of Constantinople in 1204, deepened animosity and made reconciliation difficult.
Although the excommunications were lifted in 1965 by Pope Paul VI and Patriarch Athenagoras I as a gesture of goodwill, full communion has never been restored.
Uniting East and West
As His Holiness Pope Leo XIV and His All-Holiness Bartholomeus continue to dialogue and speak with each other about uniting East and West, we are working behind the scenes as well.
The main thing that we are doing at the Institute is providing retreats for Roman Catholic priests to learn how to offer the Divine Liturgy of the East (St. John Chrysostom liturgy). We are also working with the clergy of the East to invite them to help teach the Roman Catholic priest how to offer the Divine Liturgy. This will automatically inspire both priests (East and West) to share information with their parishioners so we are all learning about each other and honoring the traditions of both.
West learning from East
We are providing retreats for Roman Catholic priests to learn about Eastern Rites and also learn how to celebrate the Divine Liturgy. We are encouraging priests to become bi-ritual so that they will have at least an "equal" appreciation for the Divine Liturgy as they do for the Mass.
The Orthodox priests, parishes and sketes are open to helping the Roman Catholic priest to learn about the mysteries of the Orthodox faith. As we know, Sacraments in the East and West are both valid and accepted by both.
Ecumenism between Roman Catholics and Orthodox is a very powerful thing to do because we both have Jesus Christ from Nazareth on our altars.
Pope & Ecumenical Patriarch
We are working with the Vatican and the Phanar to acquire the necessary permissions and support to give Roman Catholic priests the permission to become bi-ritual and work with the Orthodox to learn from each other and to have the clergy receive permission to become bi-ritual.
The Orthodox have parishes throughout the world and we are working with His All-holiness to give permission for the Orthodox to be open to this idea if they are interested in cooperating with this opportunity.
Opportunities for Roman Catholic priests
The Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, has a challenge in uniting the West with the East especially when most of the West is not familiar with the East or hold the East in equal validity with Sacraments and Apostolic Succession.
We provide retreats for priests to get away for relaxation, meditation, prayer and to learn and experience the Divine Liturgy (and other Eastern Rite Sacraments). If a Roman Catholic priest is able to be bi-ritual, this will help him to further understand the Eastern Rites in a deeper way and allow him to share the treasures of the Eastern Churches with parishioners and people who have very little knowledge and experience with the East.
In order for East and West to unite, we need to come to know each other in a closer way and the Institute for Eastern Christian Studies guides Roman Catholic priests to connect with the Greek Orthodox Church and other Eastern rite Churches to learn about the sacred traditions and share them with the people of the West. Ecumenism starts here as we both have valid Sacraments.
Opportunities for Orthodox priests
The Orthodox priests are in a perfect postion throughout the United States (and the world) to help train the Roman Catholic priests how to offer the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom.
One reason why this would be a great apportunity for the Orthodox is because they will be the teachers of the liturgy to the Roman Catholic priests who are inspired to learn from them. This is a wonderful opportunity to be opening the doors of the Orthodox Churches to Roman Catholic priests who desire to become bi-ritual and they can invite their parishioners to visit the Orthodox parish as well. This will allow more of the West to learn about the East.
The Orthodox priest has a tremendous amount of information that the West knows very little about. The more synergy that the two priests have in learning from each other, the more His Holiness Pope Leo XIV and His All-Holiness Bartholomeus will be able to bring East and West together.