Year
|
Event |
300’s A.D
|
At the end of the imperial persecutions of Christianity (c.
313), the universal Church is administered by three major
ecclesiastical sees: Rome, Alexandria, and Antioch (in that order of
primacy). However, by the mid 300’s, there are already significant
differences developing between East and West:
* The Roman Empire splits in two: a Western Roman Empire and an Eastern Roman Empire
* The Roman Rite is used in the West; the Antiochian and Alexandrian Rites are used in the East.
* Unleavened bread is used in the Western Eucharist; leaven bread is used in the East.
* The West begins a process toward an all-celibate clergy,
based upon the growing East-West trend of electing only celibate monks
as bishops.
* The East begins to view the Roman Emperor as the supreme
Church authority; even over the primacy (in however one defines it) of
the Bishop of Rome. This is somehow related to the influence of the
Arians at the imperial court; and most likely developed as a modified
form of the old, pagan Emperor worship. |
342
|
At the height of the Arian struggle, the Council of Sardica
acknowledges the supreme ecclesiastical authority of Rome, and gives the
Roman bishop the right to judge cases involving episcopal sees. The
presiding bishop at this council is St. Athanasius himself, who had
previously been restored to his see of Alexandria by the authority of
Pope Julius I --an authority that is even recognized by the Arians, then
in power at Constantinople. Thus, Sardica merely codified Rome’s
Traditional primacy as a matter of imperial law. |
365
|
The pious, young Western Emperor Gratian relinquishes the
pagan imperial title of Pontifex Maximus (head of the Roman state
religion) --a title retained by Emperor Constantine I and his four
immediate “Christian” successors. Emperor Gratian bestows the Pontifex
Maximus title on Pope Damasus of Rome, making it clear that Christianity
is now the official “state cult” of the Empire. |
381
|
With the Arians defeated, the Council of Constantinople
proclaims the Bishop of Constantinople (the imperial bishop) second in
status to the Bishop of Rome --a decision which Rome refuses to endorse,
calling it unTraditional. Rather, citing Canon 6 of Nicaea, Rome
upholds the authority of Alexandria as the Traditional second see, and
that of Antioch as the third see. It claims that this order of primacy
was established by St. Peter himself. Thus, Constantinople is denied the
status of a Christian patriarchate.
With the Council’s decree rejected, Eastern Emperor Theodosius I
tries to imitate the policy of Western Emperor Gratian by making St.
Gregory of Nazianzus, Bishop of Constantinople, the Pontifex Maximus of
the Eastern Empire. St. Gregory, however, refuses to accept the title,
and soon after resigns the bishopric. |
c. 400
|
The Western Church uses the Athanasian Creed as well as the
Nicene and Apostles’ Creeds. The East uses only the Nicene and
Apostles’ Creeds.
Around this time, the imperial court of Constantinople moves to
make Jerusalem an honorary patriarchate, a status denied to Jerusalem
(aka Aelia) by the Council of Nicaea in 325. Although not one of the
three original patriarchates established by St. Peter (i.e., Rome,
Alexandria, and Antioch), the universal Church gives its approval to the
imperial decree so as to venerate the Holy City where Christ died and
rose again. |
431
|
The Council of Ephesus deposes Bishop Nestorius of
Constantinople for his heretical teaching that Mary was only the mother
of Christ’s human nature, but not of His Divine Personhood. Nestorius’
followers break off from the Church and form communities in the Persian
Empire known as the Chaldean church --a Nestorian communion, which later
spreads into India, forming the Malabar church as well. |
449
|
The Monophysites,
who claim that Christ only had one nature --that of God (as opposed to
two natures: God and man) are powerful in the Eastern Church. Gaining
the Emperor’s support, the Monophysites triumph over the so-called
“Robber Council of Ephesus,” and Monophysism is declared to be orthodox
doctrine. Numerous orthodox Eastern bishops are deposed, including
Bishop Flavian of Constantinople, and appeal to the Pope of Rome to be
restored to their sees. |
451
|
Pope Leo the Great urges the new Emperor, Marcianus, to
call the Council of Chalcedon to condemn the decisions of the Robber
Council. The Pope’s teaching, called the Tome of Leo, is read at the
Council, which proclaimed: “This is the Faith of our fathers! Peter has
spoken in the person of Leo.” However, Patriarch Dioscorus of Alexandria
refuses to accept the Council’s decision and withdraws, taking the
entire Egyptian and Ethiopian delegation with him. Because of this,
numerous Monophysite communities in the Middle East break off to form
independent bodies. Among them are the Coptic (Egyptian) church, the
Abyssinian (Ethiopian) church, the Jacobite (Syrian) church, the
Armenian church, and the Syro-Malankar (Indian) church.
With the see of Alexandria plunged into heresy, the Byzantines
at the Council of Chalcedon make another attempt to declare the Bishop
of Constantinople second in status after the Pope of Rome. However, this
innovation, known as Canon 28, is unilaterally rejected by Pope Leo,
and struck from the canons of the Council (in both East and West) by
Papal decree. Bishop Anatolius of Constantinople writes to Pope Leo to
apologize for the attempted innovation. Thus, Constantinople is again
denied the status of a patriarchate, and Rome displays its final
authority, even over the decrees of Ecumenical Councils. |
455
|
Pope Leo releases an Edit declaring the Bishop of Rome’s authority over the universal Church. |
476
|
The Western Empire falls to Germanic tribes while the Eastern
Empire remains intact. The Eastern Emperor is recognized as sole Roman
Emperor; and easterners begin to view the West as a bunch of ignorant,
uneducated barbarians, whereas they themselves are truly “Roman.” |
484
|
FIRST SCHISM: Acacius, Bishop of
Constantinople, persuades Eastern Emperor Zeno to issue the Henoticon
(“Act of Union”) to appease the Monophysites --a doctrinal compromise
and a contradiction of Chalcedon, which all the Eastern bishops sign.
Pope Felix III (II) excommunicates both Acacius as well as the
Patriarchs of Alexandria and Antioch --in essence, excommunicating the
entire East! |
500
|
Greek begins to replace Latin as the official tongue of the Eastern Empire. |
519
|
Eastern Emperor Justin I, an orthodox Christian, tries to heal
the schism, sending a party of Eastern bishops to Rome to confer with
Pope Hormisdas. All of these Eastern bishops (including the patriarchs
of Alexandria, Antioch, Jerusalem, and the Bishop of Constantinople)
sign the “Libellus Hormisdae,” which clearly defines the primacy of the Roman See based on the Pope’s succession from St. Peter. |
526
|
FIRST SCHISM HEALED when Pope John I travels
to Constantinople and obtains a profession of orthodox faith from
Emperor Justin I --a significant achievement considering the strength of
the Monophysites in the East. Pope John is praised by the Byzantines as the “successor of Peter,”
and is called upon to re-crown Justin as emperor --a precedent that
will later lay the foundation for the crowning of Charlemagne (i.e., the
Pope as “king maker.”) |
550
|
About this time, the imperial court of Constantinople begins a
policy of placing Byzantine Greek bishops on the episcopal thrones of
Alexandria, Antioch, and Jerusalem to guard against the heresy of
Monophysism. The native Christians of Egypt, Syria, and Palestine (most
of whom are Monophysites) resent this “imperial intrusion,” and call
these foreign bishops “Melchites” (a Syrian term, meaning “of the king
”). The Monophysites then appoint their own bishops in Alexandria,
Antioch, and Jerusalem; and the East is plagued by all manner of
disputes and schisms. |
589
|
The Council of Toledo in Spain adds the “Filioque clause”
to the Nicene Creed, but later withdraws it (at the Pope’s request) to
appease the East. The West, as well as the Cappadocian fathers of Asia
Minor (i.e., St. Basil, St. Gregory of Nyssa, and St. Gregory
Nazianzus), have accepted the clause’s theology since the mid-300’s. |
590’s
|
The Western Church continues the process toward an all-celibate clergy. |
600’s
|
The Greek Church gives an even greater role to the Emperor,
calling him the “Christ on Earth” (evidently to compete w/ Islam’s
Caliph, “The Defender of the Faith”). The Eastern Church/government
begins to pattern itself after the Hughic Kingdom of Israel, with the
Emperor possessing an essential Church office.
About this time, the Byzantine Emperor tries to secure the
title of “Ecumenical Patriarch” for the Bishop of Constantinople. This
would give the Bishop of Constantinople the power and authority to call
ecumenical councils; however the Emperor’s request is solemnly denied by
Pope Gregory the Great, who calls the title haughty, proud, and
unTraditional. Gregory still defends the three-patriarchal system of
Rome, Alexandria, and Antioch as it was established by St. Peter.
Also about this time, the Monophysite Christians in Egypt,
Palestine, and Syria begin to form alliances with the rising power of
Islam against their Byzantine (“Melchite”) rivals. The Arab Muslims
promise the Monophysite Christians freedom of worship; and, with
Monophysite help, the Muslims are able to capture Egypt, Palestine, and
part of Syria from the Byzantine Empire. |
c. 640
|
While living in Rome, St. Maximos the Confessor (a native of
Constantinople) defends the orthodoxy of the Filioque clause and writes
to his Byzantine peers, explaining what the Romans really mean by it. |
654
|
SECOND SCHISM: In a desperate attempt to
re-unify his Christian Empire and bring the dissident Christians of
Egypt, Palestine, and Syria back into the fold, Emperor Constans II
tries to impose the doctrine of Monothelitism (“Christ had only One
Will”) on the Empire as a compromise with Monophysism. The heresy is
rejected by the West, but temporarily embraced by the Maronite church in
Syria and Lebanon. |
655
|
After condemning the heresy of Monothelitism at a synod
held in Rome, Pope Martin I is arrested by Byzantine troops and taken to
Constantinople, where he is publicly abused by the mob and then exiled
to Crimea, dying as a martyr for orthodoxy. |
681
|
SECOND SCHISM HEALED when the Council of Constantinople III condemns Monothelitism, reuniting the Church.
(This council also condemned Pope Honorius for heresy --42
years after the Pope’s death --based on one letter he wrote to the
Monothelites, where he seems to have tolerated their views. The Pope’s
position in the letter is unclear, however; and Honorius’ condemnation
was most likely a Byzantine attempt to marginalize the authority of the
Papacy. Rome never declared Honorius a formal heretic, but charged him
with negligence for “assisting in the base assertions of the heretics.”)
The Council of Constantinople III also calls Pope Agatho “the head of the Church.” |
701
|
--The legal code of the Quinisext (or Trullian) Council of
Constantinople (which, among other secular innovations, dispensed with
the Apostolic discipline of sexual continence for married priests) is
rejected by the West, but eventually accepted by Pope John VII, who
needed Byzantine support against the Lombard invaders of Italy.
Around this time, Rome recognizes Constantinople as a
patriarchate. With the two great Eastern sees of Alexandria and Antioch
reduced to minor Christian communities by the Muslims, Constantinople
remains the only Christian capital in the East. |
736
|
THIRD SCHISM: Pope Gregory III excommunicates the Iconoclasts, infuriating Emperor Leo III, who --evidently influenced by Islamic sensibilities --promoted the heresy. |
787
|
THIRD SCHISM HEALED by the Council of Nicaea II, which condemns the Iconoclasts and restores the use of images in Church worship. |
800
|
Pope Leo III crowns Charlemagne Emperor of the West (i.e.,
Holy Roman Emperor). This act marks the end of Papal dependence on the
Eastern Emperor, but the Pope still refuses Charlemagne’s pressure to
include the “Filioque clause” in the Nicene Creed, so as not to alienate
the East. The East takes offense at the Pope’s crowning of a
“barbarian” as Emperor. |
859
|
Boris I, the Bulgarian Khan, withdraws his acceptance of the
primacy of Rome when Pope Adrian II refuses to make Bulgaria a
patriarchate. Bulgaria
shifts its allegiance to Constantinople -- a Byzantine political coup,
since Constantinople needed to “control” the Bulgarians to protect their
northern frontier. |
865
|
The Byzantine court sends Sts. Cyril and Methodius into the
Balkans to convert the pagan Slavs. Though originally part of the
Eastern Empire, this region falls into the Pope of Rome’s Western
patriarchate; and Roman Rite missionaries from Germany conflict with the
Byzantines, who are adapting the Liturgy into Slavonic, and thus
achieving more conversions. To get to the bottom of this conflict, the
Pope calls Cyril and Methodius to Rome; and Rome gives its blessing to
their ministry. Cyril and Methodius also recognize the universal primacy
of the Pope of Rome. Thus, the Slavic Balkan kingdoms embrace the
Byzantine Rite as opposed to the Roman Rite --another coup for the court
of Constantinople which, as with Bulgaria, needed to establish
religious /cultural ties with the Slavs so as to safeguard the Empire’s
northern frontier. |
867
|
FOURTH SCHISM: Photius, the brilliant but
illegally-elected Patriarch of Constantinople, conflicts with Pope
Nicholas I and Pope Adrian II over his election to the see of
Constantinople. He challenges the authority of the Papacy, and bashes
the “Filioque clause.” |
869
|
FOURTH SCHISM HEALED when Emperor Basil I calls the 6th Council of Constantinople to depose Photius. |
886
|
After being reinstated to the See of Constantinople with
Rome’s blessing in 878, Photius conflicts with Pope Stephen V over Papal
prerogatives, and is deposed by Emperor Leo VI. |
891
|
Photius dies in communion with Rome. |
928
|
Pope John X tries to bring the Bulgarians back into communion with Rome. |
988
|
Prince Vladimir I of Russia embraces the Byzantine form of
Christianity, making it the official religion of the Russian people. He
also marries a Byzantine princess. |
1020
|
The West unilaterally adopts the “Filioque clause” into the Nicene Creed. |
1025
|
Pope John XIX refuses the Eastern Emperor’s request to recognize the Patriarch of Constantinople as “Ecumenical Patriarch.” |
1050
|
Michael Cerularius, Patriarch of Constantinople, launches an
anti-Latin campaign. He closes all the Latin churches in Constantinople
and attacks the “Filioque clause” and Papal authority, claiming that the
Pope has no authority to adapt the Creed. His army enters latin
Churches in Constantinople and throws Eucharists into the street. |
1054
|
THE FIFTH (GREAT) SCHISM: Differences come to a head as Cardinal Humbertus, Papal legate of Leo IX excommunicates Patriarch Michael Cerularius
and all his communicates (something he does without Papal approval,
since Pope Leo had died shortly before). The Patriarch, in turn,
excommunicates Humbertus and his fellow Papal delegates. |
1071
|
Crushing Byzantine defeat at Manzinkert,
Armenia. The Byzantine army is completely destroyed, and the Muslim
Turks take Asia Minor and the entire Middle East. |
1096
|
Pressed by the Turks, the Byzantine Emperor turns to the Pope
for western aid. He actually just wants mercenary troops, but Pope Urban
II launches the First Crusade as an attempt to heal the Schism. Urban
also lifts the ban of excommunication on Emperor Alexius I Comnenus. |
1100’s
|
The Maronite church of Syria and Lebanon
abandons what’s left of its sympathies for Monothelitism and
reestablishes full communion with Rome. |
1150
|
Byzantine Emperor Manuel I Comnenus tries, but fails, to conquer Italy so as to reunite the Church on the Byzantine mode |
1171
|
At the order of Emperor Manuel, thousands of
Italian merchants (and other Westerners) living in the Byzantine Empire
are killed, mutilated, or arrested and held for years in prison. |
1180's
|
Crusader atrocities against Byzantine Christians in Cyprus. |
1187
|
Byzantine Emperor Isaac II Angelus writes a letter to the
Muslim Sultan Saladin congratulating him for successfully recapturing
Jerusalem from the Western crusaders. |
1188
|
Emperor Isaac betrays the German army of the Third Crusade.
After promising Holy Roman Emperor Frederick Barbarossa safe passage for
his troops through Byzantine dominions on the way to the Holy Land,
Isaac uses Turkish mercenaries to ambush and destroy the German army.
Informed of his Eastern colleague's treachery, Emperor Frederick sends
word to his son Henry in Germany to seek Papal approval for action
against the Byzantines. The Pope refuses to give his consent.
In the same year (1188) Patriarch Dositheus of Constantinople offers unconditional absolution to any Greek killing a Westerner. |
1204
|
The armies of the Fourth Crusade are persuaded by the Venetians to violently sack Constantinople
(their commercial rival). This act of savagery perpetuates hostilities
between East and West. At first, the Pope excommunicates the crusaders;
but later gives his blessing to the Latin Empire of Constantinople. |
1250’s
|
Roman Catholic missionaries take advantage of the newly-open
trade routes of the Mongol Empire, and begin to evangelize central Asia
and China. Many Nestorian Christians in these regions re-enter into
communion with Rome. |
1261
|
Greeks recapture Constantinople. |
1274
|
FIFTH SCHISM TEMPORARILY HEALED at the
Council of Lyons II, called by Pope Gregory X. Soon after, in 1276,
Emperor Michael VIII Palaeologos and Pope John XXI affect a reunion of
East and West. The East accepts the orthodoxy of Filioque, Unleavened
Bread in the Eucharist, and the Western understanding of Purgatory. |
1281
|
SIXTH SCHISM: Temporary reunion is destroyed when Pope Martin IV excommunicates Emperor Michael VIII Palaeologos. |
1371
|
Emperor John V Palaeologus offers to submit to Papal authority in exchange for Western aid against the encroaching Turks. |
1439
|
SIXTH SCHISM HEALED as Emperor John VIII
Palaeologos travels to Italy with all four Eastern Patriarchs and
submits to Pope Eugene VI. The Act of Union is drafted by the Council of
Ferrara-Florence. The East accepts the “Filioque clause” in the form:
“From the Father through the Son,” as well as the other Western
doctrines approved at Lyons II. Other Eastern churches, such as the
Armenians, Jacobites, and some Nestorian bodies re-enter into communion
with Rome. This is the beginning of the Eastern Catholic Uniates, which
also include Copts, Ethiopians, Maronites, Melchites, Syrians, and
Syro-Malankars. |
1443
|
The decisions reached at Ferrara-Florence are bitterly opposed
by most of the Byzantine populace and clergy. Partly due to this, the
crusade launched by Pope Eugene VI to relieve Constantinople from the
surrounding Turks is a dismal failure. |
1453
|
Constantinople falls to the Turks. But, as a touching gesture
in the city’s last moments, both Byzantine and Roman Christians receive
Holy Communion together in the Church of Hagia Sophia, before facing slavery or death. |
1461
|
The Trebizond Empire (last pocket of the Byzantine Empire)
falls to the Turks. The Turks want no contact between Byzantines and the
West. They exploit the doctrinal differences, persecuting Western
Christians; and naming the Patriarch of Constantinople as head of the
Christian community within the Turkish domain (i.e., the bishop of
Byzantium finally gets the title of “Ecumenical Patriarch” --from
Muslims). |
1463
|
The Greek Orthodox scholar and Roman Catholic Cardinal,
Johannes Bessarion, is made Latin Patriarch of Constantinople by Pope
Pius II. |
1464
|
A crusade organized by Pope Pius II to rescue Constantinople falls apart before leaving Italy, and Pius dies en route. |
1472
|
SEVENTH SCHISM: The Greek bishops nullify the
Ferrara-Florence Act of Union at a synod in Constantinople.
Coincidentally (?), in the same year, Grand Duke Ivan III of Moscow
marries Zoe Sophia, the niece of the last Byzantine Emperor. Moscow is
now considered the “third Rome,” the successor to Constantinople, and
the center of Eastern Orthodox Christianity. The prince of Moscow takes
the title of Czar (“Caesar”). |
1500’s
|
Protestant churches of the Reformation break off from Rome.
The Church of England is established as a supposedly autonomous
“Catholic” body.
Also in the 1500’s, Spanish and Portuguese missionaries bring
many of the Malabar (Nestorian) and Syro-Malankar (Monophysite)
Christians of India back into communion with Rome. |
1582
|
Pope Gregory XIII introduces the new, Gregorian calendar;
whereas the East still uses the old Julian calendar. Consequently, East
and West celebrate Easter on different dates. |
1596
|
The Union of Brest is formed, as a party of Ukrainian bishops
appeals to Rome to be readmitted into communion with the Western Church,
while being allowed to retain their specific Eastern Liturgy, theology
and discipline. |
1667
|
The Russian Orthodox Church adopts the Athanasian Creed (minus the “Filioque clause.”)
The adoption of the Athanasian Creed is somehow related to the
liturgical reforms conducted under Patriarch Nikon of Moscow (1605-81)
after Russia recaptured the Ukraine from Poland in 1667. Formerly a
metropolitan district under Constantinople, certain conditions had to be
met before the Ukraine could accept the leadership of the Moscow
Patriarch. To this end, Nikon introduced reforms into the Russian ritual
adhering more closely to the original Byzantine Liturgy which, he
discovered, had been distorted in the Slavonic translation from Greek.
His reforms, however, caused a schism, with most of the Russian clergy
refusing to abandon rituals which were followed for centuries. But, at a
Russian synod in 1667, the dissenters were declared schismatics. |
1646
|
The Union of Uzhorod is formed, in which another group of
Eastern Orthodox clergy and laymen (this time from the Transcarpathian
region of what is now Slovakia, Ukraine, and Hungary) also request
acceptance into communion with Rome. |
1724
|
After a dispute over patriarchal succession in the Antiochian
Orthodox Church, a party of Melchites in Syria seeks to re-enter into
communion with Rome. Rome recognizes the Melchite Catholic Patriarch in
Damascus. |
1780
|
The Greek Orthodox Church adopts the Athanasian Creed, but drops it soon afterward. |
1800’s
|
The Roman Catholic Church defines both Papal Infallibility and
Mary’s Immaculate Conception to be dogmas of the universal Church.
Numerous Byzantine-Rite communities in Eastern Europe and the Ukraine
enter into communion with Rome, forming the greater part of the
Byzantine Catholic Church. |
1950
|
The Pope defines Mary’s Assumption (aka Dormition) as a dogma. |
1965
|
Pope Paul VI and Patriarch Athenagorus of Constantinople meet
and nullify the mutual excommunications. Although better relations are
established, the East-West Schism continues. |
1991
|
Pope John Paul II works to bring about reunion with the East.
He says, “The Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church are two lungs
within the same Body.” ...and how “we must learn to breathe with both
lungs.” He also declares that “ignorance of the Eastern Rite is
ignorance of the Church.” |
1993
|
John Paul II affects a reunion with the Nestorian Patriarch,
welcoming the Nestorians of Syria and Iraq back into communion with Rome
after their acceptance of the “Theotokos” dogma. The Nestorian schism
of 431 is largely healed; and the Apostolic Christians of Iraq are now
called Chaldean Catholics. |
1994
|
A significant number of Anglican communities re-enter into communion with Rome. |
2000
|
March 12th, 2000, at the Vatican in Rome, Pope John Paul II
formally asked forgiveness for the various sins committed by the
Catholic Church over the last two millennium. In his "Day of Pardon"
homily, the Pope confessed:
"... we cannot fail to recognize the
infidelities to the Gospel committed by some of our brethren, especially
during the second millennium. Let us ask pardon for the divisions which
have occurred among Christians, for the violence some have used in the
service of the truth and for the distrustful and hostile attitudes
sometimes taken towards the followers of other religions."
|
2001
|
Pope JP II addresses the Archibishop of Athens and Primate of Greece. He said:
"Clearly there is a need for a liberating
process of purification of memory. For the occasions past and present,
when sons and daughters of the Catholic Church have sinned by action or
omission against their Orthodox brothers and sisters, may the Lord grant
us the forgiveness we beg of Him."
"Some memories are especially painful, and
some events of the distant past have left deep wounds in the minds and
hearts of people to this day. I am thinking of the disastrous sack of
the imperial city of Constantinople, which was for so long the bastion
of Christianity in the East. It is tragic that the assailants, who had
set out to secure free access for Christians to the Holy Land, turned
against their own brothers in the faith. The fact that they were Latin
Christians [Roman Catholics] fills Catholics with deep regret. How can
we fail to see here the 'mysterium iniquitatis' at work in the human
heart? To God alone belongs judgment and, therefore, we entrust the
heavy burden of the past to his endless mercy, imploring him to heal the
wounds that still cause suffering to the spirit of the Greek people."
|
