10 Questions
What was one of the key reasons for the split between the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church?
Disagreement over ultimate authority of the churches
What was a notable difference in theology between the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church?
Focus on the divinity of Jesus Christ rather than his humanity
Who was the leader of the Eastern Orthodox Church who did not trust the Roman Catholic Pope and accused some Western Catholic traditions of being un-Christian?
Michael Cerularius, the Patriarch of Constantinople
What was the outcome of the Second Council of Lyon in 1274 in terms of reuniting the East and the West?
The reunion was not accepted by the Orthodox clergy
What was the primary focus of the Council of Ferrara-Florence in 1438-1445?
Reconciling differences between the Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches
What was the impact of Constantinople's fall in 1453 on hopes of reunification with the West?
Ended hopes of reunification with the West
What remains a point of disagreement between the Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches?
The Filioque Clause in the Nicene Creed
What was the main reason for the Great Schism in 1054?
Language disputes, church organization, and differing religious practices
What led to the end of the Byzantine Empire and further divided the Eastern and Western churches?
The Fourth Crusade in 1204
What was the official establishment of Christianity as the state religion of the Roman Empire attributed to?
Constantine's leadership
Study Notes
The Great Schism and the Fall of the Roman Empire
- The Catholic Church, emphasizing humanity of Jesus Christ, relied heavily on Latin and Roman tradition, unlike the Eastern Church.
- Pope St. Leo IX led the Catholic Church and believed Eastern Church leaders were political puppets of the Byzantine empire.
- The Roman Empire faced economic, social, and political issues, eventually splitting into the Western Roman Empire vs. Eastern Roman Empire.
- The wealthiest 1% of citizens of Rome controlled over 16% of the Empire's wealth, leading to destabilization as they separated from power positions.
- The Roman Empire's military faced issues like poor funding, few recruits, and outside invasions, weakening its forces.
- Roman Emperor Constantine's leadership weakened citizens' belief in Roman traditions and led to the official establishment of Christianity as the state religion.
- In 313 CE, Constantine declared toleration for Christianity, spreading it across the Roman Empire and undermining traditional religious practices.
- Constantine divided the Roman Empire into the Western Roman Empire and Eastern Roman Empire, leading to the establishment of the Byzantine Empire in the East.
- In 1054, the Christian Church split into the Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic churches, known as the Great Schism.
- The Great Schism occurred due to language disputes, church organization, and differing religious practices between the Orthodox vs Catholic churches.
- The Fourth Crusade in 1204, when Western Crusaders sacked Constantinople, led to the end of the Byzantine Empire and strengthened the divide between the Eastern and Western churches.
- After the Great Schism, the two churches remained on friendly terms until 1204, but never reunited, with five major historical events defining their relationship.
Test your knowledge of the Great Schism and the Fall of the Roman Empire with this quiz. Explore the factors leading to the split between the Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic churches, including religious, political, and economic influences. Delve into key events and figures that shaped the division and its lasting impact on the Christian Church.
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