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!
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The Photian Schism (857-867)
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Photius (815-891)
Father of the Greek
Schism
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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.