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:''This article is regarding the schism between what is now called Catholicism and Orthodoxy. For the schism between Rome and Avignon, see the Wikipedia article, '[[w:Western Schism]]'. ''
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The '''Great Schism''' is the historic sundering of eucharistic relations between the [[Church of Rome|See of Rome]] (now the [[Roman Catholic Church]]) and the Eastern sees of Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch and Jerusalem (now the Orthodox Christian patriarchatesChurch). This division is the subject of many talks between Western and Eastern Christianspeople on both sides.
== Terminology ==
In Western circles, the term ''Great Schism'' is often used to refer to the 14th century schism involving the Avignon [[Papacy]] (an event also sometimes called the "'Western Schism" or "', 'Papal Schism" ' or "'Babylonian Captivity"').
To distinguish from that event, some historians prefer the term ''Great Ecumenical Schism'' to explain succinctly what happened and to capture the complexity of the event itself.
== Doctrinal issues: the ''Filioque'' ==
: ''Main article: [[Filioque]]''
While there were many other factors at work in the split, the conventional view has been that the central cause of the separation was [[dogma]]tic. It is asserted by many Orthodox that as soon as Rome endorsed the idea of the [[Filioque]], there was a split between the true faith and a schismatic faith. Further, as long as Rome continues to make this its official [[dogma]], there is still a schism.
So the Creed was changed by the local [[synod]] of [[bishop]]s at Toledo with the justification that it asserts the divinity of Christ (refuting Arianism), and asserts the unity of the [[Holy Trinity|Trinity]] and the equality of each [[hypostasis]] of the Trinity.
It should also be noted that St.Leo the Great, Pope of Rome, and many of the Orthodox Preother pre-Schism schism Popes disagreed with the decision of the Toledo Council, one even going so far as to engraving the Creed without the Filioque on the doors of St. Peter's Basilica.
== Ecclesiological issues: The Papacy ==
For the Pope of Rome to change the Creed unilaterally without reference to an Ecumenical Council was highly considered by the Eastern bishops to be offensive to the other four patriarchates and to all the Eastern bishops, as it undermined the collegiality and right of the episcopacy.It demeaned all the other bishops.
<!--- == Other doctrinal issues ==
== Extra-ecclesial factors == --->
== Dating the schism ==
The Great Schism was a gradual estrangement to which no specific date can be assigned , although it has been conventionally dated to the year 1054. This date is misleading since it seems to imply that there was peace and unity before 1054, animosity and division afterward.
The schism actually took centuries to crystalize. Some place the split in the time of Saint [[Photiosthe Great|Photios]], for example—or even earlier—or 1204, with the sack of Constantinople by the Fourth Crusade, or even 1453, the fall of Constantinople, when the Latins gave no help to prevent it.
<!--- == Attempts at reconciliation and continuing divergence ==
== Current situation == --->
== An alternate view Quotes == 'If one wishes to find a villain on the Orthodox side for the development of the schism, [Absentee Greek Patriarch of Antioch] Balsamon is a far stronger candidate than either [Patriarchs of Constantinople] Photius or Cerularius. Hitherto the chief asset of the Orthodox in the controversy had been their doctrine of Economy, the charity that enabled them to overlook and even to condone divergences in the interest of peace and goodwill. But Balsamon was a lawyer; and lawyers like things to be cut and dried. Charity is not one of their characteristics.'
'If one wishes to find a villain on the Orthodox side for the development of the schism, [Absentee Greek Patriarch of Antioch] Balsamon is a far stronger candidate than either [Patriarchs of Constantinople] Photius or Cerularius. Hitherto the chief asset of the Orthodox in the controversy had been their doctrine of Economy, the charity that enabled them to overlook and even to condone divergences in the interest of peace and goodwill. But Balsamon was a lawyer; and lawyers like things to be cut and dried. Charity is not one of their characteristics.' — [[Steven Runciman]], ''The Eastern Schism'', Wipf & Stock, Oregon, 3/3/2005, p138
== See also ==