Schism in Christianity

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In Christianity, a schism occurs when a single religious body divides and becomes two separate religious bodies. The split can be violent or nonviolent but results in at least one of the two newly created bodies considering itself distinct from the other. This article covers schisms in Christianity.

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In the early Christian church, the formation of a distinction between the concepts of "heresy" and "schism" began. In ecclesiastical usage, the term "heresy" refers to a serious confrontation based on disagreements over fundamental issues of faith or morality, while the term "schism" usually means a lesser form of disunity caused by organizational or less important ideological differences. [1] Heresy is rejection of a doctrine that a Church considered to be essential. Schism is a rejection of communion with the authorities of a Church.

Definition of schism in Christianity

In Christian theology, the concept of the unity of the Church was developed by the Apostles, Holy Fathers and apologists. The greatest contribution to the doctrine of church unity was made by the apostles Peter and Paul, Ignatius of Antioch, Irenaeus of Lyons, Cyprian of Carthage, Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, John Chrysostom, and John of Damascus. Christian ecclesiology insists on the statement that unity and the Church are synonymous, as John Chrysostom wrote: "the name of the Church is not one of separation but of unity and harmony". [2] [3]

Canon 751 of the Latin Church's 1983 Code of Canon Law, promulgated by Pope John Paul II in 1983, defines schism as the following: "schism is the refusal of submission to the Supreme Pontiff or of communion with the members of the Church subject to him". [4] This definition is reused in the Catechism of the Catholic Church . [5]

List of Christian schisms

pre-12th century Christian schisms

Since the early days of Christianity, many disputes have arisen between members of the Church.

The following instances of denominations are considered as schisms of Early Christianity by the current mainstream Christian denominations:

Name of schismOriginal location of schismStart dateEnd dateOriginal Church bodyResulting Church bodies or Schismatic bodiesNotes
Monarchian schism–early 2nd century– Great Church Monarchians [6]
Marcionian schism Roma, Italia, Roman Empire 144c.10th centuryGreat ChurchMarcionitesThe schism started after the excommunication of Marcion of Sinope, who was influenced by Gnosticism and taught that the teachings of Christ is incompatible with the actions of the God of the Old Testament. [7]
Montanian schismArdabau, Mysia, Asia, Roman Empire c.157c.9th centuryGreat ChurchMontanistsThe schism started after the excommunication of Montanus, along with Prisca and Maximilla, who taught that the Holy Spirit enables new prophecies after Jesus Christ. [8]
Sabellian schism Roma, Italia, Roman Empire 220–Great ChurchSabellians, Patripassians The schism started after Pope Callixtus I excommunicated Sabellius, who taught that the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are different modes or aspects of one God, rather than three distinct persons in God Himself. [9]
Novatian schism Roma, Italia, Roman Empire 251 AD8th centuryGreat ChurchNovatianistsThe schism started after Novatian was consecrated bishop by three bishops of Italy and declared himself to be the true Pope in opposition to Pope Cornelius. He held that lapsed Christians, who had not maintained their confession of faith under persecution, may not be received again into communion with the church. [10]
Donatian schism Carthago, Africa Proconsularis, Roman Empire 313c.7th centuryGreat ChurchDonatistsThe schism started when a commission appointed by Pope Miltiades condemned the Donatists, who denied the validity of sacraments administered by priests and bishops who had been traditores under the Diocletianic persecution. [11]
Arian schism Nicaea, Asia, Roman Empire 325 AD7th centuryGreat ChurchArians [12]
Quartodeciman schism–325–Great ChurchQuartodecimans [13]
Pneumatomachian schism–342–Great ChurchPneumatomachians [14]
Luciferian schism–362–Great ChurchLuciferians Lucifer of Cagliari might have been excommunicated, as is hinted in the writings of Ambrose of Milan and Augustine of Hippo, as well as Jerome, who refers to his followers as Luciferians. [15]
Meletian schism Antiochia, Syria, Roman Empire 361415Great ChurchMeletians, EustathiansThe schism originated when Patriarch Meletius of Antioch was opposed by those faithful to the memory of Eustathius of Antioch, due to the unclarity of his theological position.
Collyridian schism-c.376 AD-Great ChurchCollyridiansThe existence of this sect is seen as doubtful by many scholars. [16]
Appolinarian schism Laodicea, Syria, Roman Empire 381late 4th centuryGreat ChurchAppolinarians [17]
Nestorian schism Ephesus, Asia, Roman Empire 431-Great ChurchNestoriansThe Church of the East, independent since 410, refused to condemn Nestorius, leading to broken communion with the Great Church. [18]
Monophysite schism Chalcedon, Bithynia, Roman Empire 451–Great ChurchMonophysites [19]
Acacian schism –484519Great ChurchAcacians [20]
Schism of the Three Chapters Aquileia, Italia, Eastern Roman Empire 553581 (Milan), 606 (Grado), 698 (Aquileia)Great Church Patriarchate of Aquileia, dioceses of Liguria, Aemilia, Milan, and the Istrian peninsulaPart of the larger Three-Chapter Controversy [14]
Armenian schism Dvin, Armenia, Sasanian Empire 607-Great Church Armenian Apostolic Church The Armenian Church adopted Miaphysitism, and broke communion with the Georgian Church. [21]
Monothelite schism–629–Great ChurchMonothelites [22]
First Iconoclasm –c.72613 October 787Great ChurchIconoclasts [23]
Second Iconoclasm–815843Great ChurchIconoclasts [23]
East–West Schism Kōnstăntīnoúpolĭs, Eastern Roman Empire 16 July 1054–Great Church Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox Church The validity of the Western legates' act is doubtful because Pope Leo IX had died and Ecumenical Patriarch Michael I Cerularius' excommunication only applied to the legates personally. In 1965, Pope Paul VI and Ecumenical Patriarch Athenagoras I nullified the anathemas of 1054. The efforts of the ecumenical patriarchs towards reconciliation with the Catholic Church have often been the target of sharp internal criticism. [23]

12th–15th century Christian schisms

Name of schismOriginal location of schismStart dateEnd dateOriginal Church bodyResulting Church bodies or Schismatic bodiesNotes
Double papal election of 1130 Rome, Papal States 14 February 113029 May 1138 Catholic Church Innocent II, Anacletus II Anacletus II died in 25 January 1138 and was succeeded by Victor IV until his submission to Innocent II on 29 May 1138
Cathar schism–1147– Catholic Church Cathars –
Bosnian schism–1252– Catholic Church Bosnian Church –
Waldensian schism–1215– Catholic Church Waldensians –
Arsenite schism–May 12651315 Eastern Orthodox Church Arsenites, Josephists–
Western schism Avignon, Papal States 20 September 137811 November 1417 Catholic Church Urban VI, Clement VII [24]
Bohemian Reformation –6 July 1415– Catholic Church Hussites [25]
Baselian schism Basel, Prince-Bishopric of Basel, Holy Roman Empire 5 November 14397 April 1449 Catholic Church Eugene IV, Felix V –
First Moscow–Constantinople schism–14571560 Eastern Orthodox Church Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, Russian Orthodox Church –

16th–19th century Christian schisms

Christian schisms since the 20th century

See also

References

  1. ↑ McGuckin 2014, p. 7.
  2. ↑ In 1 Cor 1.1 as quoted in Thomas P Halton, The Church, (Wilmington, Del.: M. Glazier, 1985), 56
  3. ↑ Hovorun 2014, p. 77.
  4. ↑ "Code of Canon Law – Book III – The teaching function of the Church (Cann. 747-755)". www.vatican.va. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
  5. ↑ "CCC, 2089". Vatican.va.
  6. ↑ "Monarchianism | Christianity". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 19 March 2019.
  7. ↑ Sider, Robert D.; Tertullian; Evans, Ernest (1973). "Tertullian. Adversus Marcionem". The Classical World. 66 (8): 493. doi:10.2307/4347925. ISSN   0009-8418. JSTOR   4347925.
  8. ↑ "La Théophilanthropie et le Culte Décadaire, 1796–1801: Essai sur l'Histoire Religieuse de la Révolution. Par Albert Mathiez. [Bibliothèque de la Fondation Thiers, IV.] (Paris: Félix Alcan. 1904. Pp. 753.)". The American Historical Review. October 1904. doi:10.1086/ahr/10.1.189. ISSN   1937-5239.
  9. ↑ Latourette, Kenneth Scott (1975). A history of Christianity . New York: Harper & Row. ISBN   0060649526. OCLC   1824537.
  10. ↑ "Novatian". earlychristianwritings.com. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  11. ↑ "Meanness Exemplified". Scientific American. 3 (7): 51. 6 November 1847. doi:10.1038/scientificamerican11061847-51f. ISSN   0036-8733.
  12. ↑ Ferguson, Everett (26 November 2013). Church history the rise and growth of the church in its cultural, intellectual, and political context (Second ed.). Grand Rapids. ISBN   9780310516576. OCLC   1085698140.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  13. ↑ "Fallow". Encyclopedia of entomology: P-Z. Encyclopedia of Entomology. Kluwer Academic Publishers. 2004. p. 828. doi:10.1007/0-306-48380-7_1566. ISBN   0792386701.
  14. 1 2 Howland, A.C. (March 1913). "The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vols. XIII (pp. xv, 800) and XIV (pp. xv, 800). Price, $6.00 each. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1912". The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science. 46 (1): 206–208. doi:10.1177/000271621304600140. ISSN   0002-7162. S2CID   144983838.
  15. ↑ Cross, F. L.; Livingstone, E. A., eds. (1 January 2005). The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church. doi:10.1093/acref/9780192802903.001.0001. ISBN   9780192802903.
  16. ↑ Block, Corrie (2013). The Qur'an in Christian-Muslim Dialogue : Historical and Modern Interpretations. Hoboken: Taylor and Francis. ISBN   9781135014056. OCLC   860626008.
  17. ↑ Kubiński, Tadeusz (December 1975). "Mcinerny R. M.. Language. New Catholic encyclopedia, prepared by an editorial staff at the Catholic University of America, McGraw-Hill Book Company, New York etc. 1967, vol. 8, pp. 365–376. Hirschberger J.. Leibniz, Gottfried Wilhelm von. New Catholic encyclopedia, prepared by an editorial staff at the Catholic University of America, McGraw-Hill Book Company, New York etc. 1967, vol. 8, pp. 620–621. Carlo W. E.. Methodology (physical sciences). New Catholic encyclopedia, prepared by an editorial staff at the Catholic University of America, McGraw-Hill Book Company, New York etc. 1967, vol. 9, pp. 747–750. Maziarz E. A.. Number. New Catholic encyclopedia, prepared by an editorial staff at the Catholic University of America, McGraw-Hill Book Company, New York etc. 1967, vol. 10, pp. 561–566. Ladrière J. A.. Verification. New Catholic encyclopedia, prepared by an editorial staff at the Catholic University of America, McGraw-Hill Book Company, New York etc. 1967, vol. 14, pp. 615–616. Stokes W. E.. Whitehead, Alfred North. New Catholic encyclopedia, prepared by an editorial staff at the Catholic University of America, McGraw-Hill Book Company, New York etc. 1967, vol. 14, pp. 896–897. McGuinness B. F.. Wittgenstein, Ludwig. New Catholic encyclopedia, prepared by an editorial staff at the Catholic University of America, McGraw-Hill Book Company, New York etc. 1967, vol. 14, pp. 983–984. Stahl G.. Un développement de la logique des questions. Revue philosophique de la France et de l'Etranger, vol. 153 (1963), pp. 293–301". The Journal of Symbolic Logic. 40 (4): 599–600. doi:10.2307/2271807. ISSN   0022-4812. JSTOR   2271807.
  18. ↑ Strayer, Joseph R., ed. (1982). Dictionary of the Middle Ages. New York: Scribner. ISBN   0684190737. OCLC   8474388.
  19. ↑ "Chalcedon, Council of". doi:10.1163/2211-2685_eco_c358.{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  20. ↑ Meyendorff, A. (June 1925). "Notes on Marx's Predecessors". Economica (14): 202–203. doi:10.2307/2548079. ISSN   0013-0427. JSTOR   2548079.
  21. ↑ "Armenian Apostolic Church". doi:10.1163/2211-2685_eco_a599.{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  22. ↑ Bury, Tracy (May 1995). "The Development of the CSP Research Strategy". Physiotherapy. 81 (5): 251–252. doi:10.1016/s0031-9406(05)66817-4. ISSN   0031-9406.
  23. 1 2 3 Reese, Alan W. (August 2000). "A History of the Byzantine State and Society, by Warren Treadgold. A History of the Byzantine State and Society, by Warren Treadgold. Stanford California, Stanford University Press, 1997. xxiii, 1019 pp. $79.50 U.S. (cloth), $34.95 U.S. (paper)". Canadian Journal of History. 35 (2): 300–301. doi:10.3138/cjh.35.2.300. ISSN   0008-4107.
  24. ↑ "Schism - Western Schism". doi:10.1163/2468-483x_smuo_com_003974.{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  25. ↑ Antwood, Crag D. "Czech Reformation and Hussite Revolution". Oxford bibliographies.
  26. ↑ Janz, Denis, ed. (2008). A Reformation reader : primary texts with introductions (2nd ed.). Minneapolis: Fortress Press. ISBN   9780800663100. OCLC   226291754.
  27. ↑ Dyck, J. W.; Fanger, Donald (1967). "Dostoevsky and Romantic Realism". Books Abroad. 41 (1): 86. doi:10.2307/40121427. ISSN   0006-7431. JSTOR   40121427.
  28. ↑ Brian Chalkley; Martin J Haigh; David Higgitt, eds. (2009). Education for sustainable development : papers in honour of the United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (2005-2014). Routledge. ISBN   9780415460057. OCLC   475732590.
  29. ↑ Gray, Thomas (1935), Toynbee, Paget; Whibley, Leonard (eds.), "140. Gray to Walpole", Correspondence of Thomas Gray, Oxford University Press, doi:10.1093/oseo/instance.00218602, ISBN   9780198794493 {{citation}}: ISBN / Date incompatibility (help)
  30. ↑ Padley, Kenneth (February 2009). "Early Anglican Ecclesiology and Contemporary Ecumenism". International Journal for the Study of the Christian Church. 9 (1): 3–16. doi:10.1080/14742250802562780. ISSN   1474-225X. S2CID   143958364.
  31. ↑ "Home". communaute-dame.qc.ca (in French).

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