Centuries and Centuries of Fighting!

[Michie]

The ‘great schism’ between Catholics and Orthodox is murkier than you might think.​

When my parents divorced, I had to choose between them—but it’s not what you think! Please afford me the chance to explain before you jump to conclusions.

Many years ago, my father and mother were married and deeply loved each other. But over time, difficulties arose between them, which caused a slow deterioration in the health of their relationship and, eventually and regrettably, divorce. And worse, their separation had the unintended result of dividing my brother and me from each other, as each of us chose a different parent to live with.

My brother and I now have two different lives with very different backgrounds, each stemming from the parent each of us chose. You’ll probably agree that children shouldn’t have to make such decisions because of the failures of their parents.

Now, you may think I’m talking about my biological father, mother, and brother. And maybe I was . . . but I’m also referring to my spiritual father, the Catholic Church; my spiritual mother, the Eastern Orthodox churches; and my spiritual brother, my Orthodox lay brethren. As a Catholic who has been Eastern Orthodox, both of my spiritual parents are responsible for who I am today. As such, I deeply desire to see unity between my parents. I have even dedicated my life to it.

Before there can be healing and unity between Catholics and Orthodox, we must examine what led to the separation, much like a couple who wish to restore their relationship. After all, if the cause of a medical disease is not discerned, it is unlikely that the proper remedy will be provided. So it is with the Catholic and Orthodox divide.

Examining this history will also help Catholics, Orthodox, and Protestants to be more familiar with how we ended up in the state of separation we are in today. Familiarity with this will help them further determine that the schism was unjustified and should not be perpetuated by their actions.

When surveying the relations between Catholic West and Orthodox East, we quickly observe a long and drawn-out history of friction and deterioration. In the same way a divorce can be the result of a long and subtle breakdown in communication and relations between a husband and wife, so too it is with the Catholic and Orthodox divide.

We start to see tremors of this division as early as the second century, where Pope St. Victor I (189-199) threatened to excommunicate the churches of Asia minor over a dispute about the proper date of Easter. Some claimed they had a tradition from the apostles that Easter should be on the fourteenth of the ancient Jewish month of Nisan, whereas others claimed that it should be on whatever Sunday fell after the fourteenth of Nisan. This was patched up after several figures, including St. Irenaeus, engaged in some skillful East-West diplomacy.

Sadly, there were many other divisions to come after this event.

Continued below.

Centuries and Centuries of Fighting!

Where did the ‘great schism’ between Catholics and Orthodox come from? It’s not as cut and dried as it’s often made out to be.

www.catholic.com

 

[JoyAlton]

The ‘great schism’ between Catholics and Orthodox is murkier than you might think.​

When my parents divorced, I had to choose between them—but it’s not what you think! Please afford me the chance to explain before you jump to conclusions.

Many years ago, my father and mother were married and deeply loved each other. But over time, difficulties arose between them, which caused a slow deterioration in the health of their relationship and, eventually and regrettably, divorce. And worse, their separation had the unintended result of dividing my brother and me from each other, as each of us chose a different parent to live with.

My brother and I now have two different lives with very different backgrounds, each stemming from the parent each of us chose. You’ll probably agree that children shouldn’t have to make such decisions because of the failures of their parents.

Now, you may think I’m talking about my biological father, mother, and brother. And maybe I was . . . but I’m also referring to my spiritual father, the Catholic Church; my spiritual mother, the Eastern Orthodox churches; and my spiritual brother, my Orthodox lay brethren. As a Catholic who has been Eastern Orthodox, both of my spiritual parents are responsible for who I am today. As such, I deeply desire to see unity between my parents. I have even dedicated my life to it.

Before there can be healing and unity between Catholics and Orthodox, we must examine what led to the separation, much like a couple who wish to restore their relationship. After all, if the cause of a medical disease is not discerned, it is unlikely that the proper remedy will be provided. So it is with the Catholic and Orthodox divide.

Examining this history will also help Catholics, Orthodox, and Protestants to be more familiar with how we ended up in the state of separation we are in today. Familiarity with this will help them further determine that the schism was unjustified and should not be perpetuated by their actions.

When surveying the relations between Catholic West and Orthodox East, we quickly observe a long and drawn-out history of friction and deterioration. In the same way a divorce can be the result of a long and subtle breakdown in communication and relations between a husband and wife, so too it is with the Catholic and Orthodox divide.

We start to see tremors of this division as early as the second century, where Pope St. Victor I (189-199) threatened to excommunicate the churches of Asia minor over a dispute about the proper date of Easter. Some claimed they had a tradition from the apostles that Easter should be on the fourteenth of the ancient Jewish month of Nisan, whereas others claimed that it should be on whatever Sunday fell after the fourteenth of Nisan. This was patched up after several figures, including St. Irenaeus, engaged in some skillful East-West diplomacy.

Sadly, there were many other divisions to come after this event.

Continued below.

Centuries and Centuries of Fighting!

Where did the ‘great schism’ between Catholics and Orthodox come from? It’s not as cut and dried as it’s often made out to be.

www.catholic.com

Hi Michie, I only wanted to respond to your post to let you know that I am a parent of two children who my former wife and I split up in 1980. My son came to live with me while my daughter stayed with her mom. As a parent in this unfortunate demise, I did reasonably well until age 70. Since that time, the reality of the horror I was a part of in separating those kids almost took the life out of me. My son and I have always been reasonably close and he does live local. My daughter and I have what I would label an formal, occasional relationship. I'll just close by saying I would give anything to be able to go back and choose to stay with their mom no matter what. God has been merciful to help me heal from the travesty I took the greater part in. I have apologized to my daughter. I'm still not sure how she took it though I'm told by other women that doing it was the right thing to do. I have since learned, from Catholic teaching, that love is not a feeling although it often comes with feeling. No, love is an action, a choice. An act of the will. That's what love is. You stay because you love someone. You love them by an act of the will, for better or worse. Anything less is not love. It's merely a feeling. An emotion. The answer to a successful marriage, short of physical abuse or life danger, is to love your spouse even if you don't like them. Love is and action of the will period. One more point. Anyone who thinks that another man or woman will love your children as much as a biological parent, is in for a rude awakening. At least, that has been my experience through 3 marriages.

 

[Michie]

It sounds like you have learned well through experience. I’m sorry for all the pain and loss you have experienced but you did learn. And that means a lot. You are right. Love is not a constant honeymoon phase. It takes work. There is no reason to stay in a dangerous or abusive situation but there comes a time in every relationship where love is a choice and you have to commit to it to get to the other side. Thanks for posting.

Hi Michie, I only wanted to respond to your post to let you know that I am a parent of two children who my former wife and I split up in 1980. My son came to live with me while my daughter stayed with her mom. As a parent in this unfortunate demise, I did reasonably well until age 70. Since that time, the reality of the horror I was a part of in separating those kids almost took the life out of me. My son and I have always been reasonably close and he does live local. My daughter and I have what I would label an formal, occasional relationship. I'll just close by saying I would give anything to be able to go back and choose to stay with their mom no matter what. God has been merciful to help me heal from the travesty I took the greater part in. I have apologized to my daughter. I'm still not sure how she took it though I'm told by other women that doing it was the right thing to do. I have since learned, from Catholic teaching, that love is not a feeling although it often comes with feeling. No, love is an action, a choice. An act of the will. That's what love is. You stay because you love someone. You love them by an act of the will, for better or worse. Anything less is not love. It's merely a feeling. An emotion. The answer to a successful marriage, short of physical abuse or life danger, is to love your spouse even if you don't like them. Love is and action of the will period. One more point. Anyone who thinks that another man or woman will love your children as much as a biological parent, is in for a rude awakening. At least, that has been my experience through 3 marriages.