The Greek
Schism
Rivalries
Greeks and Latins, East and West
Caesaropapism had stronger consequences
in the East (heretics like Leo III).
The Filioque Controversy: the Spanish
council of Toledo in 589 added the word
<filioque> to the Creed.
Meant to clarify the procession of the
Holy Spirit from the Father “and the Son.”
By 800, this wording was standard in the
Frankish Empire of Charlemagne.
Patriarch of Constantinople rejected the
wording, saying that the Creed was not be
changed ever!
The Photian Schism (857-867)
•
Photius (815-891)
Father of the Greek
Schism
•
Emperor Michael III replaced
Patriarch Ignatius with Photius.
Ignatius refused to step down. Both
sides wrote letters to the pope.
Pope St. Nicholas I judged in favor
of Ignatius as the rightful Bishop.
Meanwhile, Photius was stirring
anti-Latin sentiments in Byzantium:
Objected to Latin missionaries in
Bulgaria
Charged the papacy with tampering
with the Nicene Creed
Turning Point
867: Pope St. Nicholas I dies; Michael
III assassinated during a revolution
in Constantinople.
New Emperor Basil I wished to
reconcile with the new pope,
Adrian II.
Photius was removed at the Eighth
Ecumenical Council
(Constantinople IV) and restored
Ignatius.
Resentment continued over
Bulgaria (King Boris) and the
Filioque.
King Boris I of Bulgaria
(d. 2 May 907)
The Return of Photius
877: Ignatius dies; Photius becomes
legitimate patriarch.
Photius renewed his anti-Latin
campaign: excommunicated the
entire Latin Church in the west!
the eastern bishops recognized this
stupidity, but were afraid of
Photius’ political power.
886: Leo IV becomes Emperor;
forces Photius to resign.
Relations became normal
again…but not for long.
The Great Schism - 1054
Final split between East and West
Patriarch Michael Cerularius (10431058): Greek monk heavily influenced
by Photius’ anti-Latin polemics.
Closed the Latin parishes in
Constantinople
Took the consecrated hosts from Latin
churches and had them trampled upon.
Pope Leo IX and many bishops saw
this as an attack on the Latin Church.
Sent his legates: Cardinal Humbert and
Cardinal Frederick of Lorraine.
Rift
16 July 1054: Papal Legates attended
the Divine Liturgy at Hagia Sophia.
Promulgated a decree of
excommunication for Patriarch
Cerularius.
The Patriarch incited riots when
Emperor had called for reconciliation
(he needed western help against the
invading Normans)
24 July 1054: Cerularius burns the
excommunication of Cardinal
Humbert and excommunicates the
Latin Church.
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