1. Theological Disputes:
a) Filioque Controversy: The Roman Catholic Church added the phrase "and the Son" (Filioque) to the Nicene Creed, stating that the Holy Spirit proceeds from both the Father and the Son. The Eastern Orthodox Church, on the other hand, maintained the original formulation that the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father alone.
b) Eucharistic Differences: The Eastern Orthodox Church used leavened bread for the Eucharist, while the Roman Catholic Church used unleavened bread.
c) Papal Supremacy: The Roman Catholic Church asserted the authority and primacy of the Pope as the successor of Peter. The Eastern Orthodox Church rejected this claim and upheld a more decentralized structure of church authority.
2. Political Conflicts:
a) East-West Rivalry: The Byzantine Empire and the Western European kingdoms had competing interests and political struggles. The Byzantine emperors often resented the growing influence of the Western Church and sought to assert their own religious authority.
b) Crusades: The Crusades launched by Western European rulers to recapture the Holy Land led to conflicts and resentment between the Eastern and Western Christians. The sack of Constantinople by Western Crusaders in 1204 further deepened the tensions.
3. Cultural and Linguistic Differences:
a) Language Barrier: Greek was the predominant language in the Eastern Church, while Latin was used in the Western Church. This linguistic divide made communication and understanding difficult.
b) Cultural Differences: The Eastern and Western Churches had different cultural practices, liturgical traditions, and interpretations of religious texts.
The combination of theological disputes, political conflicts, and cultural differences ultimately led to the formal split between the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church in 1054. Despite various attempts at reconciliation, the schism has persisted to this day, shaping the religious landscape of Christianity.