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 schismearly 2nd century Great Church Monarchians [6]
Marcionian schism Roma, Italia, Roman Empire 144 ADc.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.157 ADc.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 ADGreat 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 313 ADc.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 schism325 ADGreat ChurchQuartodecimans [13]
Pneumatomachian schism342 ADGreat ChurchPneumatomachians [14]
Luciferian schism362 ADGreat 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 361 AD415 ADGreat 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 381 ADlate 4th centuryGreat ChurchAppolinarians [17]
Nestorian schism Ephesus, Asia, Roman Empire 431 AD-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 ADGreat ChurchMonophysites [19]
Acacian schism 484 AD519 ADGreat ChurchAcacians [20]
Schism of the Three Chapters Aquileia, Italia, Eastern Roman Empire 553 AD698 AD / 715 ADGreat 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 AD-Great Church Armenian Apostolic Church The Armenian Church adopted Miaphysitism, and broke communion with the Georgian Church. [21]
Monothelite schism629 ADGreat ChurchMonothelites [22]
First Iconoclasm c.726 AD13 October 787 ADGreat ChurchIconoclasts [23]
Second Iconoclasm815 AD843 ADGreat ChurchIconoclasts [23]
East–West Schism Kōnstăntīnoúpolĭs, Eastern Roman Empire 16 July 1054 ADGreat 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

16th–19th century Christian schisms

Christian schisms since the 20th century

See also

References

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Sources

Further reading