Church History
9th -11th Century
Article IX
The Final Break Between the Eastern and Western Churches
Schisms in the Church at large
The time was now 1048 A.D. Struggles between the Eastern and the Western Empire continues. Bruno, bishop of Toul has been elected and acclaimed by the Western Empire as the new pope, and assumed the name of Pope Leo IX.
Ever since the 10th century, incoming popes have assumed new names at their election .
Known for his reforming zeal, Pope Leo IX was a man who fought against simony, meaning the selling of positions within the Church, which was often done with a relative or friend. As such, he enacted a law – “the abolition of simony” and claimed it as universal throughout the entire empire. To prevent priests from passing positions to their children, Pope Leo banned priests from marrying. He also did not want nobles to exploit the church again. As such, he fought to free the Roman Church from all outside controls. That meant over the Eastern Empire as well as the State. This created some problems in the Western Empire, and a whole lot of problems in the Eastern Empire. The Eastern Empire allowed the patriarchs of the church to marry, and to permit this law to take effect would be to require all church leaders to leave their wives and families and go into celibacy . Pope Leo was also limited in his efforts because the State now had a higher rule over the Church.
Pope Leo, and those who succeeded him, sincerely believed that God had given the pope authority over all of Christianity, which, of course, included the Eastern Empire and the State. This, first ofall, did not sit well with Michael, the new bishop of Constantinople. Michael refused to recognize Bruno as “the pope.” As such, he closed every church in Constantinople who was loyal to any Roman bishop. Pope Leo, in his effort to restore peace, sent ambassadors to Constantinople. His head ambassador by the name of Humbert, however, prepared a “bull” that counteracted what the pope’s purpose was in restoring peace.
The Latin word “bull” (from which we get the English word “bulletin) is a strong declaration, or announcement, of words given in the name of the pope.
The Schism of 1054 A.D.
On July 16, 1054 A.D., Humbert and his ambassadors marched into the Church of the Holy Wisdom in Constantinople, during the time of the Lord’s Supper, and flung the “bull” on the communion table. The bull denounced Michael as the patriarch, and excommunicated him and his followers from the Church, meaning the Roman Church. At that, Humbert bellowed out “Let God look and judge,” and ceremonially shook the dust off of his feet and left. At that he walked out, and the break between the Eastern and Western empire was finally accomplished. [1]
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How do Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy differ? | |
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Roman Catholicism “Catholic” meaning worldwide” or “universal” – claiming truth from the apostles. Structure: The Bishop of Rome is the father “Pope” over all churches. He represents Christ’s leadership in the Church. Overseers (bishops) guide each region and are responsible directly to the pope. High overseers (archbishops) are highly esteemed by other bishops, but they have no power outside their own regions. Since 1150 A.D. bishops and archbishops who advise the pope have been called “cardinal” overseers Authority: Scripture as understood through the Church councils, Church tradition, and bishops in union with the Pope. |
Eastern Orthodoxy Name: “Orthodoxy” means “correct glory” and implies faithfulness to the Church’s ancient teachings and traditions – all the way back to the apostles. Structure: Today, the Orthodox Church consists of several self-ruling groups of churches. A metropolitan Patriarch (city father) guides each group of churches. Some patriarchs also serve as high overseers (archbishops). Orthodox Christians highly esteem the Patriarch of Constantinople. Yet, he has little official authority beyond his own churches. Authority: The teachings of the apostles as understood through the Scriptures, the first seven church-wide councils, and the ancient Church fathers. |
The Schism between the Church and State
Hildebrand – Pope Gregory VII
Upon the death of Leo IX, Victor II became the next pope. After several pope successions, Hildebrand, who was very popular with the people, became the pope in 1073, [2] taking on the name of Gregory VII. As pontiff maximus, (remember – it was the name given by Constantine in the 4th century) Gregory VII held to the supremacy of the pope within the Church and over all temporal rulers. He carried and promoted an unrelenting program to reduce all bishops, abbots, and clergy to absolute subjection to the papacy. His reform program covered these areas:
1) Papal election procedure,
2) Church administrative structure,
3) Marriage of clergy,
4) Buying and selling of church offices (simony), and
5) Investiture of clerics by secular princes.
Investiture
A formal investing of a person with authority, power right, office, or dignity.
http://www.aolsvc.worldbook.aol.com/wb/dict?lu=Investiture&x=11&y=9
With the first four reforms Gregory was fairly successful. He did, however, had challenges with the investiture of clergy by secular princes. When the bishop or abbot or other high church official was appointed, he was supposed to receive investiture with spiritual authority by his ecclesiastical superior and investiture with temporal authority by the secular lord of the area where he was to serve. Since the time of Charlemagne the political leaders of Europe had been accustomed to appointing and/or investing with spiritual and secular authority the higher clergy of their realms. There were those who were not happy. One of those unhappy was the Western Emperor Henry.
King Henry IV
As a young boy, King Henry IV, emperor of Rome, but resided in Germany, had been under the care of one of the reforming popes, who believed he should support the program of reformation. Henry felt, however, that the power of bishops and other offices of the empire should be under the emperor. Clerical celibacy had created many problems within the empire, and he did not support abolishing simony. In defiance to Pope Gregory VII, Emperor Henry IV appointed the bishop at Milan to support his position.
Pope Gregory VII responded by ordering King Henry to appear at Rome by a certain date, and declared that if he failed to do so he would be deposed from his throne, and his soul would be condemned to hell. In other words, he was threatening him with excommunication.
The meaning of Excommunication within Roman Catholicism:
Sacraments had become a means of salvation within the Western Church. If you did not repent, you could not take the sacraments. And not to receive the sacraments meant you automatically would go to hell. Your property could be seized. All other people were forbidden to assist you in any way, again for fear they would be excommunicated themselves. You were then forced to become a social outcast. The fear of an eternity of hell carried a lot of power. As for a king, his subjects would then be freed from obeying him, and a curse would be put upon that country.
A few days before the deadline date of Pope Gregory, King Henry, at the height of his political career, responded by calling a council and declared that Pope Gregory VII was deposed as pope on the grounds of tyranny, adultery, and the practice of magic. He sent the notification to Pope Gregory VII, but addressed it to Hildebrand the false monk. (Remember, his name before becoming pope was Hildebrand).
Pope Gregory gathered a synod of his supporters, and issued this decree and sentence to King Henry IV. “In the name of the Father the Son, and the Holy Ghost, by the power and authority of Saint Peter, and for the defense and honor of the church, I place King Henry…..under interdict, forbidding him to rule in any of the kingdoms of Germany or Italy. I also free from their oaths - any who have sworn, or would swear loyalty to him. And I forbid that he be obeyed as king .”
King Henry had been excommunicated by the pope and anyone who had wanted to disobey the former king now had papal permission to do so.
The bowing of the king before the pope
Gregory’s intentions were to completely overthrow and humiliate Henry. Henry on the other hand was anxious to stop this at all costs. Superstition began spreading that to be near the former King Henry was to call a curse on oneself. Henry discovered that his followers were not as loyal as he thought, and they quickly became disavowed from him. This opened the doors for his enemies, which used the opportunity to attack him. His only hope was to make peace with the Church.
Between Rome and Germany were the mountain ranges of the Alps. In the dead of winter former King and Emperor Henry made his way through the Mount Cenis Pass of the Alps into Northern Italy.
On January 25, 1077 King Henry reached the castle where the pope took residence. His intentions were to have a private meeting with him. Pope Gregory, however, not knowing whether he came in peace or war, wanted a public penance from him, and therefore refused to see Henry. Finally, Henry felt the only recourse was to appeal to Gregory’s mercy. For three days Henry stood barefoot in the snow, clad in sackcloth and fasted from morning to night. [3]
Royalty had now bowed before the Church. Friends of Pope Gregory urged him to be merciful on the king. [4] Emperor and King Henry was forgiven and restored to communion on his promise of complete obedience to the Church. This now gave rule of the Papacy over the Empire. The Church now ruled the Western Empire.
Pope Gregory VII took on the nickname of “Holy Satan.”
In later times, King Henry IV invaded Italy and selected Wilbert as pope. After he was crowned by Wibert, King Henry left Italy and returned home. Gregory was eventually forced to flee to Salerno. There he died in exile. [5]
End Notes
[1] Jones, Timothy Paul. Christian History Made Easy. Rose Publishing. Torrance, CA. 1999.
[2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Gregory_VII
[3] Luther and the Reformation. Fortress Press. Minneapolis. 1953
[4] Luther and the Reformation. Fortress Press. Minneapolis. 1953.
[5] Cairns, Earle E. Christianity Through the Centuries. 3rd ed. Zondervan. 1996.