Christianity— East vs. West: The Great Schism Honors World Studies I

Christianity—Christianity—East vs. West:East vs. West:

The Great SchismThe Great Schism

Honors World Studies I

Setting the SceneTwo main Apostles…

– Paul focused on the East (Judea)– Peter focused on the West (Rome)

Each major city had a religious leader called a Bishop– Rome, Constantinople, Antioch,

Alexandria…– Peter was the first Bishop of Rome

Cultural Diffusion led to differences in how Christianity was practiced

“Main” City / Seat of Power

West–Rome

East–Constantinople

Amount of Influence on Emperor

West–Little (Far away)

East–Lots (Right next door)

“Spiritual” Leader of Church

West–The Pope (Bishop of Rome)

East–The Patriarch (Bishop of

Constantinople)

“Actual” Leader of Church

West–The Pope (Bishop of Rome)

East–The Emperor

Language of the Church

West–Latin

East–Greek

Marriage of the Clergy

West–NO marriage; priests practiced celibacy

East–Marriage allowed

Major Religious Holiday

West–Christmas

East–Easter

Worship of Icons

West--Allowed– Most people were illiterate;

needed pictures to understand Bible

East--Not Allowed– Population more literate– Believed it violated Ten

Commandments

The Great Schism

Emperor in Constantinople banned use of icons

Pope issued Petrine Doctrine–Bishop of Rome was head of

church, not emperor–Excommunicated Emperor

Church officially split in 1054

What are they now?

Roman Catholic Church–Pope

Orthodox Church– Each country /

culture has own version

– Greek, Russian, Ukrainian, etc.

– Each has own patriarch

The Great Irony

West–No longer

worships icons

East– Worships

icons