Religion in the

Byzantine Empire

The Eastern Orthodox Church

There was The Eastern Roman Empire and the Western Roman

Empire

The Western Roman Empire fell

• Eastern Roman Empire becomes the Byzantine Empire

• Like the Roman Catholics, Byzantines developed their own form of Christianity.

• The Eastern Orthodox church was based on the Byzantine Empire's Greek heritage.

Two Churches Emerge• Church of Rome

survived the fall of the Western Roman Empire.

• The head of the Church of Rome, the pope, became the strongest leader in Western Europe

• All Latin churches were united as the Roman Catholic Church

In the East, Church and Government worked closely together…

Considered Jesus Christ on Earth and was crowned in religious

ceremonies.

Emperor chose the leading church official (patriarch). Because he chose the leader he had control

over the church.

From Emperors to farmers, everyone was very interested

in religious matters.

A Disagreement!

IconsMost honored

them and believed they

worked miraclesGod’s presence in

daily lifeExplain

Christianity

No IconsSome Byzantines

wanted to end the use of idolsIdol worship

forbidden by God

Emperor Leo IIIEmperor Leo III

I order that all icons be removed from

churches! I will assign specific

government workers to fulfill my order. They shall be known as

iconoclasts.

I order that all icons be removed from

churches! I will assign specific

government workers to fulfill my order. They shall be known as

iconoclasts.

Most Byzantines, church leaders, and the Pope

opposed the order.

This dispute damaged the ties between the church in Rome

and the church in Constantinople.

The real fight was over how the

churches were run.

The patriarch

and bishops are equal to

you!

HELP ME!

HELP ME! NO!NO!

There were two churches in an oven….

The Emperor believed he was in control and the Pope believed

he had all the power….

They excommunicatedexcommunicated each other

Caused a schismschism which still exists today

The Great Schism of 1054

• In 1054 the Christian Church split because of disagreements over religious issues.

• Two branches of Christianity form:– Eastern Greek Orthodox Church– Roman Catholic Church

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The Great Schism of 1054– Eastern Greek Orthodox

Church• Based in Constantinople• Official language – Greek• Church led by a Patriarch

referred to as a Bishop• Bishops couldn’t marry.• Priests could marry.• Scriptures were the final

authority on all matters.• Emperor or political ruler

was above the Bishop.• Rejected the use of icons.

– Roman Catholic Church

• Based in Rome• Official language – Latin• Church led by a Pope referred to

as Father.• Church leaders could not marry.• Only Pope and Bishops could

interpret the scriptures.• The Pope was the Supreme

head of Church - above any political ruler.

• Religious icons accepted.

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