Great schism

The Great Schism, also known as the East-West Schism, was a significant event in Christian history that occurred in 1054. It marked the formal split between the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church, which had been gradually drifting apart for centuries. The main cause of the schism was a disagreement over papal authority and the use of unleavened bread in communion. The Eastern Orthodox Church believed that each bishop should have equal authority and that communion should be served with leavened bread. On the other hand, the Roman Catholic Church believed in papal supremacy and used unleavened bread. Attempts to reconcile the two churches failed, and tensions continued to rise until Pope Leo IX excommunicated Patriarch Michael Cerularius of Constantinople. In response, Cerularius excommunicated Leo IX. The Great Schism had far-reaching consequences for both churches. It led to a permanent division between Eastern and Western Christianity, with each developing its own distinct traditions and practices. Despite efforts at reconciliation over the years, such as those made during Vatican II in 1965, there remains a divide between these two branches of Christianity today.