What major difference between the eastern and western churches led to their schism
They disagreed about the use of icons
They disagreed about the divinity of Christ
They disagreed about church leadership and authority
They disagreed about the language in which scripture should be written and read
The major difference between the eastern and western churches that led to their schism was their disagreement about church leadership and authority. The Eastern Church, also known as the Orthodox Church, believed in a decentralized form of church authority, with power shared among multiple patriarchs. The Western Church, on the other hand, upheld the authority of the Pope, who held a more centralized and hierarchical position. This difference in views on church leadership and authority eventually led to the schism between the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church in 1054.
The major difference between the eastern and western churches that led to their schism was their disagreement about church leadership and authority. The eastern church, also known as the Eastern Orthodox Church, believed in a decentralized form of church leadership, with each patriarch having equal power and authority. On the other hand, the western church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, believed in the authority of the Pope as the supreme leader and had a more centralized form of church governance.
Although there were several other theological and cultural differences between the eastern and western churches, such as the use of icons, the divinity of Christ, and the language of scripture, it was the dispute over church leadership and authority that ultimately led to the schism in 1054 AD. This division created the Eastern Orthodox Church in the east and the Roman Catholic Church in the west.
The major difference between the eastern and western churches that led to their schism was the disagreement about church leadership and authority. Both sides had strong and differing opinions on who should have ultimate authority within the church.
To understand this difference, it is helpful to know a bit of historical context. The eastern churches, also known as the Eastern Orthodox Church, were centered in Constantinople (present-day Istanbul) and had close ties to the Byzantine Empire. On the other hand, the western churches, known as the Roman Catholic Church, were centered in Rome and had closer ties to the Latin-speaking Western Roman Empire.
The dispute about church leadership and authority had several aspects. Firstly, the Papacy, or the authority of the Pope, became a contentious issue. The eastern churches did not recognize the Pope as having universal jurisdiction or supreme authority over all Christians. They believed that the leadership of the church should be more decentralized, with authority distributed among the various regional bishops. In contrast, the Roman Catholic Church upheld the authority of the Pope as the successor of Saint Peter and believed in his ultimate authority over all bishops and Christians.
Secondly, there was a disagreement regarding the way church councils and decision-making should occur. The Eastern Orthodox Church relied on the consensus of the bishops and a conciliar model of governance. They believed that major decisions should be reached through the agreement of all the bishops, rather than relying solely on the authority of the Pope. In contrast, the Roman Catholic Church emphasized the authority of the Pope to make authoritative decisions on behalf of the entire Church.
These differing views on church leadership and authority eventually led to a series of disputes and conflicts between the eastern and western churches. In 1054, the formal schism occurred, known as the Great Schism, with the mutual excommunication of the Pope and the Patriarch of Constantinople. This event marked the official split between the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church.
It is important to note that while other differences, such as the use of icons, the divinity of Christ, and the language of scripture, existed between the eastern and western churches, the primary and most significant difference that contributed to the schism was the disagreement about church leadership and authority.