If you’ve ever experienced a feud between family members that lasted for generations, you know how exciting it is when the factions finally come together to bury the hatchet, so to speak. That’s why the monumental meeting between Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and Pope Francis is such a big deal. For more than 1,000 years, the head of the Roman Catholic Church and the head of the Russian Orthodox Church have been separated.
What Separated the Churches?
In 1054, the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches split over theological disputes that could no longer be contained. One of the major issues was over the Holy Spirit, often called filioque. It’s a complex thought about the source of the Holy Spirit, whether it came from God, or God and Jesus. One train of thought downplays Jesus’ role in the Trinity, while the other downplays the role of God. It can seem trivial to those outside of the church, but in early Church history, it was very important.
Other differences included that of using leavened or unleavened bread during Communion, or the Eucharist. The Pope claimed a universal jurisdiction, which made the Orthodox Church in Constantinople wonder about their own place within the church. Keep in mind during this time, Rome and Constantinople were trying to claim their place as the center of Christianity. The breakdown between the two religious factions did not happen overnight. It started in the early days of the church, but it was in 1054 that the Great Schism actually occurred.
Bringing the Churches Back Together
Over the next few centuries, many groups made the attempt to get the churches back in communion with each other. The city of Constantinople fell to the Ottoman Turks in the 15th century, which stalled the relations even further. The Pope never traveled to an Eastern Orthodox country following the Great Schism until 1999, when John Paul II visited Romania and Ukraine. The welcome was not inspiring, but the Pope still hoped the division would be healed.
Pope Francis, the current leader of the Vatican, has made it a priority of his papal tenure to improve relations with other religious faiths. He has washed the feet of Muslim men and women in prison, a ritual in the Catholic faith typically reserved for Catholics only, and usually just men. Pope Francis has also indicated that Jews do not need to be converted to Christianity, which has been an issue between the faiths.
It should come as no surprise that Francis has also been working toward healing the Great Schism. Toward that end, he and the leader of the Russian Orthodox Church will be meeting in Cuba in February. According to reports, this discussion has taken more than two years of planning. They chose Latin America as a neutral location. The President of Cuba has also been involved in the plans, mostly due to the role of Francis in the reconciliation between Cuba and the United States.
There’s Hope for Healing
This meeting signifies a move forward for Christianity. More importantly, it demonstrates that healing can occur, even after 1,000 years. It’s hope for everyone, that someday we can live in peace and harmony, no matter what we believe. Even though some people are concerned that this unity means that Orthodox Christians will have to accept the authority of Rome, this probably won’t be the case. Pope Francis has made Christian accord his goal. Most people will never agree on how to worship or any of the small details that have split churches over time. Living in harmony doesn’t have to mean agreement. It just means that we respect each other’s views. Here at the Universal Life Church, we want you to find your own creed and live in peace with all.