Main protagonists of the Eastern Schism

Along the history, The Christian religion has suffered numerous divisions, being moments in which a specific event has divided the Christian population, creating a new belief. One of these events was the Eastern Schism, a key moment in the Middle Ages that caused the division of Christianity into two great empires. For everything in this lesson of a Teacher we must talk about the main protagonists of the Eastern Schism.

Index

1. What was the Eastern Schism?
2. Protagonists of the Eastern Schism of the Orthodox side
3. Protagonists of the Catholic side

The Eastern Schism, also known as the East-West Schism, the Great Schism or the Schism of 1054, was the event that broke the unity of the Church Roman Christian, which was based on the idea of ​​pentarchy. This division created two big branches of Christianity, being the orthodox branch in the eastern part, and the catholic branch in the western area.

Although 1504 tends to be used to mark the division of religion, the reality is that this was the result of a much longer process, marked by the

The Schism was relevant for several reasons:

• On the one hand, he made the Byzantine Empire and the Christian kingdoms They weren't allies creating two great states with different beliefs.
• Besides, Divided Christianity Forever since although divisions would happen again in Christendom for more years, this was the first of all, and, therefore, the one that opened the way for the rest.

When talking about the Eastern Schism, we must consider that there are two large sides, the one that supported maintaining the system Roman Christian, and those people who broke with tradition, causing the schism and thereby creating orthodox Christianity. For this reason, we must differentiate between the protagonists of the Orthodox side, being the defenders of the schism, and those Catholic protagonists who sought to maintain the system.

Michael III the Drunk

Eastern Roman Emperor from 842 until his death, being the last member of the Phrygian dynasty. He was a rather weak king, being led by the advice of his trusted men, reasons for which he supported the Schism even though he didn't agree with many of his ideas, supporting it only because he was told to did.

Cesar Bardas

He was a nobleman who held very important positions in the Byzantine Empire, being King Michael's most trusted man. For 10 years, Byzantium had a time of great splendor thanks to its management, both in military and administrative matters, becoming a great power. It is said that his bad deeds made him the target of criticism from the ecclesiastics, being the reason why he supported a change in Christianity.

Gregory Asbesta

Italian archbishop who played an important role as the major religious figure in Syracuse. He was an important defender of the patriarch of Constantinople, Methodius I, for which he faced Ignatius, Methodius' greatest rival and successor. Gregorio was expelled by Ignacio, causing a confrontation that would reach the ears of the Pope, causing Gregoria's departure from the Christian church.

photius

Photius was another of the protagonists of the Eastern Schism. An important religious figure whose greatest success was the evangelization of the Slavs. Photio made the Schism of Photio, being the first action that tried to separate the Christian church, being for this reason the most important person in the Schism for his role as initiator.

Miguel Cerulario

His confrontation against Pope Leo IX is the main reason for the Schism, being the clash of both religious which began the whole process by which Constantinople broke relations with the Church roman. He rejected the figure of the Pope, breaking with all the churches that supported him, and creating the orthodox religion.

To continue this lesson on the main protagonists of the Eastern Schism we must talk about the main figures of the Catholic side, being those who opposed the schism and defended the idea of ​​maintaining the traditional concepts of Christianity Roman.

Nicholas I

Pope between the years 856 and 867, being one of the first religious figures to have a relationship with the Byzantines and Carolingians. During his tenure, the Photian Schism took place, which years later would cause the Schism. Nicolas tried to manage the situation in the best possible way, agreeing with Photius in his complaints, but he failed to stop the separation process.

Hadrian II

Pope between the years 867 and 872, having a short mandate but full of tense situations and problems. He called a council in which they excommunicated Photius for his actions in creating the Photian schism, rejecting any possible division of the Christian religion. He was the first Pope who allowed evangelization in languages ​​other than the traditional ones, changing the way of teaching religion forever.

John VIII

John VIII is another of the protagonists of the Eastern Schism. He was Pope between the years 872 and 882 and key to stopping the Schism for a few years. John promised Photius that he would reinstate him if he rejected the schism he had created, thereby making the Christian split take a little longer to happen.

Leo IX

Pope between the years 1049 and 1054, and therefore being the Pope who was in power at the time the Eastern Schism took place. The clash between Miguel Cerulario and León brought about the beginning of the Schism, since the Pope was not able to stop the events that were happening in Byzantium.

ignacio

Patriarch of Constantinople who lost his position when after confronting Bardas he was replaced by Photius. Ignacio totally rejected Bardas's illegalities, so the military sought to expel him from his position to place someone who had a different way of seeing things. He is considered the last patriarch who did not have orthodox ideas.

Theodora

We end this review of the protagonists of the Eastern Schism talking about Teodora. Mother of Miguel III, she exercised the regency of the Byzantine Empire until it was old enough to govern. She was expelled and banished by her brother, Bardas, who wanted to achieve absolute power and Teodora stood in her way. Although she is considered a saint by the Orthodox, the reality is that she was closer to the position of the Catholics.

If you want to read more articles similar to Main protagonists of the Eastern Schism, we recommend that you enter our category of History.

• Fernandez, E. m. (1986). The Eastern Schism and the configuration of the Trinitarian dogma. Hispano-Hellenic Cultural Association.
• Rovira, J. EITHER. (2004). Christian East and West (1054-2004): nine hundred and fifty years of Schism. Church History Yearbook, (13), 247-256.
• Chicharro, L. TO. (2019). Miguel Cerulario. The schism of East and West. The adventure of history, (248), 42-45.