MR STEVEN

A great schism was created between eastern and western Europe due to certains events and changes. Two of the major events that caused this schism were the Iconoclastic controversy and Fourth Crusade. Its major effects were between eastern and western churches in which some still exist today.

Rome was too distant to control the emperor or the church in the eastern empire. This caused the Eastern church to create new ways to worship and even create and develop their own calendar. Since eastern church did not have much influence from the western church they created Holy Icons which became part of their daily religious rituals. This caused an event called the Iconoclastic controversy. It was a controversy within the church due to eastern church worshiping idols. The western church saw this was too close to pagan rituals, rome felt. The holy roman emperor, Leo III sent people to break churches and destroy the icons. Eastern church argued they can not do that as they felt they were the first christians. Eventually the icons were restored due to Theodora, regent of heir to the throne Michael II. This restoration of the icons led up to fist sunday of lent. Which is still celebrated today as a feast of “triumph of orthodoxy”. This caused ideological differences which still exist today. The pope, latin word which is the leader of Christianity and Patriarch, greek word who is the leader of the eastern orthodox church. Another effect after the controversy that still exist today is the way churches are built. Orthodox churches still look the same as they did back when this controversy happened and have paintings and icons inside of them. Unlike Christian churches are more modern and don’t have paintings nor icons. The fourth crusade added to this schism between the churches. Western Knights had a lot to due with Constinople being sacked numerous times. Eastern church saw this as an attack order by the pope, but in reality it was not popes fault.