religion and life - test 3

cultural and political differences

the east and west spoke different languages and this barrier led to different developments of the church and forcing different views from each side, there were disputes about who had jurisdiction over what area. the eastern churches were all about tradition and kept to its ways, whereas the western church was influenced by different practices and was open to changes.

the iconoclast dispute

• the byzantine emperor Leo III wanted to win the support of the army by joining the Iconoclasts

• the iconoclasts believed that the icons (the flat wooden images of saints and holy figures) were a form of idol-worship, so he ordered them to be destroyed

• the iconoclasts believed that the icons (the flat wooden images of saints and holy figures) were a form of idol-worship, so he ordered them to be destroyed

• he then tried to extend his authority to the west

differences in recognising the popes authority

• in the west the bishop of rome (the pope), thought he was the leader of all christians and therefore had authority oer all christians, the west agreed

• meanwhile, the other patriarchs of constantinople were leaders of main centers in the east and did not recognise his supremacy, htey believed in a more equal system of leadership, as it being shared between the patriarchs call the pentarchy

immediate causes of the schism

• the pope (bishop of rome) refused to help the byzantine emperor against the Normans, because he wished to claim back the jurisdiction of the area from the patriarch of constantinople

• the patriarch fo constantinople was furious and in retalliation he closed all the western churches in constantinople

• on july 16th 1054 cardinal humbert (the popes representative) placed a formal document called the papal bull, on the altar of Santa Sophia (the Church of Holy Wisdom), declaring the patriarch was excommunicated by the pope

• in response the patriarch also excommunicated humbert and his group, leading to the offical splt of the churches

3 major issues (areas of tension or disagreement) between the Eastern and Western halves

• filoque clause

• authority of the pope

• differences in liturgical practices

filoque clause

• has to do with the addition of "and the son" to the nicene creed

• it was accepted by the western churches but it was opposed by the eastern orthodoxy church, arguing that it was an authorised change to the docterine

authority of the pope

the Western Church believed that the Pope in Rome had supreme authority over all Christians, while the Eastern Church believed that all Patriarchs should be equal, with no single leader having absolute power.

differences in liturgical practices

the two churches had differences in worship and tradition, such as in the Eucharist the Latin Church used 'unleavened bread' which the eastern Church considered too Jewish while the Eastern Church used leavened bread to symbolize Christ's Resurrection or the fact that in easter churches the lower priests were aloud to marry but not in the western church

4 key similarities in the beliefs and practices

• both are apostolic and believe in the apostolic succession

• both believe the same about the bible

• sacraments and the eucharist

• salvation

both are apostolic and believe in the apostolic succession

This means that the bishops of both churches have their authority from bishops before them, back in time to the original bishops who were appointed by the Apostles, who in turn had their authority from Jesus Christ himself.

both believe the same about the bible

both believe in the same books of the bible including Deuterocanonicals

sacraments and the eucharist

both are sacramental and celebrate the same seven sacraments, and that in the eucharist we experience the real presence of jesus christ

salvation

both believe that salvation comes through tradition and scriptures of the church

4 key differences in the beliefs and practices

role of pope

papal infallibility

reason v mystery

the filoque clause

role of pope

the western church believes that the pope has jurisdiction over the whole church as he holds the seat of peter to whom jesus gave 'the keys of the kingdom'. but the eastern church believes that the pope holds a special place fo honour but does not hold authority over the patriarchs

papal infallibility

the western catholic church believes that when the pope speaks ex cathedra (meaning from the chair) he speaks infallibly, and in matters of faith and docterine, he is never wrong. the eastern orthodoxy has a conciliar model of authority, that is all patriarchs have a unity of authority

reason v mystery

the west believes that god created humans in the image and likeness of god, and because god is rational, humans are rational beings as well. the east does not believe that reasoning should be applied to the mysteries of faith

3 cultural differences

scriptures written in different languages

architecture of church buildings

different religious calendars

why was the separation of the dominations is considered such a tragedy

it led to a loss of unity

it encouraged the east and west to see each other as enemies

it caused a loss of faith in the integrity of the church

caused a defensive attitude to and to distrust outside influences

allowed alienation

it led to a loss of unity

the two sides of the church did not communicate for 1000 years, and this was contrary to god's will, as christ had established one church and said "Because there is one loaf, we, being many are one body, for we all share in the one loaf."

allowed alienation

the schism allowed alienation of the east and west an it was made worse by changed in the liturgical calendar, meaning significant christian events would be celevrated separately

what move has there been towards reconciliation

second council of lyons

council of florence

orthodox leaders briefly accepted catholic teachings

constantinople fell to the turks

both churches accepted the division was permanent

the excommunications were lifted

the pope visited an eastern orthodox country

pope returned relics of the patriarchs

ecumenicial pope attended the the funeral of john paul II