In 1054, the great 6 PM divided eastern and western Christiani larger over matters of
doctrine and authority. This division, known as the Great Schism, marked the split between the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church.
The Eastern Orthodox Church, centered in Constantinople (now Istanbul), believed in a decentralized structure of authority, where each regional church had its own autonomy. They also emphasized the importance of maintaining the traditions of the early Christian Church.
On the other hand, the Roman Catholic Church, centered in Rome, held a more centralized form of authority, with the Pope as the head of the Church. They believed in the primacy of the Bishop of Rome and had developed various theological and doctrinal innovations over time.
The primary theological disagreement that contributed to the Great Schism was the issue of the filioque clause, which concerned the procession of the Holy Spirit. The Eastern Orthodox Church believed that the Holy Spirit proceeded from the Father alone, while the Roman Catholic Church added the clause that the Holy Spirit proceeded from the Father and the Son.
Other issues included divergent practices, such as the use of leavened bread for the Eucharist in the Eastern Orthodox Church and the use of unleavened bread in the Roman Catholic Church. There were also cultural and political differences, as the Eastern Orthodox Church was more closely aligned with the Byzantine Empire, while the Roman Catholic Church had influence in Western Europe.
The Great Schism had far-reaching consequences. It led to a permanent split between the Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches, with each becoming its own distinct religious entity. The division also had political ramifications, as it further complicated the relationship between the Eastern and Western powers. Additionally, the Schism affected the development of Christianity in different parts of the world, with the Eastern Orthodox Church being predominant in Eastern Europe, Russia, and parts of the Middle East, while the Roman Catholic Church expanded in Western Europe and beyond.