East–Wast Schism

The East–Wast Schism is the break o communion atween whit is nou the Eastren Orthodox an Roman Catholic Kirks which began in the 11t century.^[1]

Thare haed lang been ecclesiastical differences an theological disputes atween the Greek East an Laitin Wast.^[2][3][4] Prominent amang thir war the issues o the soorce o the Holy Spirit ("Filioque"), whether leavened or unleavened bread should be uised in the Eucharist,^[a] the Pape's claim tae universal jurisdiction, an the place o Constantinople in relation tae the Pentarchy.^[8]

In 1053, the first step wis taken in the process which led tae formal schism. Patriarch o Constantinople Michael Cerularius ordered the closur o aw Laitin kirks in Constantinople, in response tae the Greek kirks in soothren Italy havin been forced tae aither close or conform tae Latin practices.^[9][10][11] Accordin tae the historian John Bagnell Bury, Cerularius' purpose in closin the Laitin kirks wis "tae cut short ony attempt at conciliation".^[11]

In 1054, the Papal legate traveled tae Constantinople for purposes that included refusin tae Cerularius the title o "Ecumenical Patriarch" an insistin that he recognise Roum's claim tae be the heid an mither o the kirks.^[2] The main purpose o the papal legation wis tae seek help frae the Byzantine Emperor in view o the Norman conquest o soothren Italy an tae deal wi recent attacks bi Leo o Ohrid against the uise o unleavened bread an ither Wastren customs,^[12] attacks that haed the support o Cerularius; Axel Bayer says the legation wis sent in response tae twa letters, ane frae the Emperor seekin assistance in arrangin a common militar campaign bi the eastren an wastren empires against the Normans, an the ither frae Cerularius.^[13] On the refusal o Cerularius tae accept the demand, the leader o the legation, Cardinal Humbert, excommunicatit him, an in return Cerularius excommunicatit Cardinal Humbert an the ither legates.^[2] This wis anly the first act in a centuries-lang process that eventually acame a complete schism.^[14]

The validity o the Wastren legates' act is doubtful, syne Pape Leo haed died an Cerularius' excommunication applee'd anly tae the legates personally.^[2] Still, the Kirk split alang doctrinal, theological, lingueestic, poleetical, an geografical lines, an the fundamental breach haes never been healed, wi each side whiles accusin the ither o havin fallen intae heresy an o havin ineetiatit the diveesion. The Crusades, the Massacre o the Laitins in 1182, the Wast's retaliation in the Sackin o Thessalonica in 1185, the captur an sack f Constantinople in 1204, an the imposeetion o Latin patriarchs made reconciliation mair difficult.^[2] Establishing Latin hierarchies in the Crusader states meant that thare war twa rival claimants tae each o the patriarchal sees o Antioch, Constantinople, an Jerusalem, makin the existence o schism clear.^[15]

The Seicont Cooncil o Lyon in 1274 an the Cooncil o Florence in 1439 attemptit tae reunite the twa kirks. Despite acceptance bi the pairteecipatin eastren delegations, no effective reconciliation wis realised, syne the Orthodox believe that the acts o cooncils must be ratified bi the wider Kirk an the acts o thir cooncils never attained widespread acceptance amang Orthodox kirks. In 1484, 31 years efter the Faw o Constantinople tae the Ottoman Turks, a Synod o Constantinople repudiatit the Union o Florence, offeecially statin the poseetion that haed already been taken bi Orthodox in general.

In 1965, Pape Paul VI an the Ecumenical Patriarch o Constantinople Athenagoras I nullified the anathemas o 1054,^[2] althou this nullification o measurs taken against a few individuals wis essentially a guidwill gestur an did nae constitute ony sort o reunion atween kirks.^[16] Contacts atween the twa sides continue: Every year a delegation frae each jyns in the ither's celebration o its patronal feast, Saunts Peter an Paul (29 Juin) for Roum an Saunt Andrew (30 November) for Constantinople, an thare hae been a nummer o veesits bi the heids o each tae the ither. The efforts o the Ecumenical Patriarchs towards reconciliation wi the Catholic Kirk hae eften been the target o sharp criticism frae some fellae Orthodox.^[17]