548: The East–West Schism of 1054: Why Christianity Divided

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In 1054, a dramatic split forever changed the face of Christianity. Known as the Great Schism, it divided the Church into Roman Catholicism in the West and Eastern Orthodoxy in the East. But the break didn’t happen overnight—it was centuries in the making.

In this video, we’ll explore:

* The immediate crisis: papal legates and Patriarch Michael Cerularius trading excommunications.

* Political and cultural tensions: Rome vs. Constantinople, Latin vs. Greek, and the rise of Islam.

* Authority disputes: papal supremacy in the West vs. conciliar authority in the East.

* Theological differences: the Filioque controversy, Monophysitism, and contrasting spiritual emphases.

* Divergent practices: from unleavened vs. leavened bread, to clerical celibacy and fasting rules.

* The aftermath: how the Crusades, especially the sack of Constantinople, deepened the divide.

The Schism was not just about doctrine—it was about culture, politics, and identity. Understanding it helps explain why the Christian world looks the way it does today.

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