The long East–West rupture
The estrangement of Rome and Constantinople grew through disputes over authority, the Filioque, language, and political events. The exchange of censures in 1054 marks a famous episode, while the 1204 sack of Constantinople deepened the rupture.
Historical context
The relationship did not change from full unity to complete separation in a single day. Later efforts at reunion and the lifting of the 1054 censures in 1965 are distinct from restoration of full communion.
Key points
- Keep doctrinal, jurisdictional, cultural, and political strands distinct when studying the division.
- The date 1054 is a useful landmark, not a complete explanation.
Primary sources
John of Damascus writes:
Before the later rupture, John of Damascus used Father-through-the-Son language for the Spirit; this is vocabulary evidence, not proof that later Latin and Greek formulas were identical.
proceeding from the Father and communicated through the Son, and participated in by all creation
Passage context and translation
John names the Father as the Spirit's sole source of eternal procession and also describes the Spirit as communicated through the Son. Later in this chapter he explicitly says the Spirit is not 'from the Son' but is manifested and imparted to us through the Son. The excerpt must not be read as John endorsing a later Latin Filioque formula.
Before the excerpt
the Spirit of God, direct, authoritative, the fountain of wisdom, and life, and holiness
After the excerpt
through Himself creating, and investing with essence and sanctifying, and maintaining the universe
Sources and further reading
Related records
- Church History
- Second Council of Lyons and attempted reunion
- Union of Brest
- Filioque enters a regional Latin creed
- Photios and East–West disputes
- Filioque sung in Rome's Creed
- 1054: limited excommunications and East–West estrangement
- Fourth Crusade sacks Constantinople
- Rome and Constantinople lift 1054 anathemas
- Mark of Ephesus
- Nicodemus the Hagiorite