The Great Schism

The Great Schism of 1054 formalized the growing cultural, political, and theological divide between the Latin-speaking West (centered in Rome) and the Greek-speaking East (centered in Constantinople). Tensions over papal authority, the insertion of the Filioque clause into the Creed, and liturgical differences culminated in mutual excommunications between papal legates and the Patriarch of Constantinople. This tragic fracture divided Christendom into the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church. Despite numerous attempts at reconciliation, the schism remains a primary ecumenical challenge today.