Two events in the history of the `European Church are designated by this term.
1. The schism of 1054, also known as the "Eastern Schism," when relationship between the Eastern Greek-speaking churches centered in Constantinople and the Latin-speaking churches centered in Rome was formally severed. The two groups of churches have been growing in separate ways, culturally and theologically, for many years. Things came to a head when Pope Leo IX's emissary publicly excommunicated Michael Cerularius, the patriarch of Constantinople, and the patriarch responded in like matter to the Pope.
2. The schism of 1374-1417, also known as the "Western Schism," when chaos so reigned in the Roman Catholic Church that, first two, then three, contending popes simulataneously excommunicated each other. The crisis erupted after the papal residence was shifted to Avignon from 1309-77, and allegiances became split between the popes and the feudal lords, and between the papacy and the cardinals.
©ALBERITH
u241020lch