History of the unions

[spina1953]

The Oriental Orthodox went into schism because they rejected the Council of Chalcedon because they thought that it was a surrender to Nestorianism especially the Tome of Leo that was approved by the council. They were also influenced by Dioscorus, who led the Council of Ephesus of 449 that revoked the condemnation of Eutychis the author of the Monophysite heresy which taught that the divine nature of Christ absorbed His human nature.
From our point of view the Eastern Orthodox did not leave Rome, Rome left us. The Popes began to claim universal jurisdiction and authority and when the 4 Eastern Patriarchs refused to submit to papal domination, the Roman Church broke with us. Originally the Pope had a primacy of honor as first among equals and was subject to the decisions of an Ecumenical Council like every other Bishop. The Catholic Church sent missionaries to Bulgaria where they criticized Eastern Orthodox practices and closed the Byzantine Churches in southern Italy forcing the people to adopt Latin practices. Patriarch Michael I wrote a letter defending Eastern practices and closed the Latin Churches in Constantinople. Pope Leo IX sent Cardinal Humbert with a letter demanding that the Patriarch submit to papal authority. Humbert was an arrogant man who alienated the clergy and people of Constantinople. When Patriarch Michael learned that the Pope had died, he refused to deal with the Cardinal because when a Pope dies the authority of his legates ceases. However, on his own authority Cardinal Humbert marched into the Agia Sophia Cathedral and laid a bull of excommunication on the Altar.
Most of the Eastern Catholics submitted to Rome because the areas in which they lived were conquered by Catholic monarchs who persecuted those who refused to submit to the authority of the Pope. As a concession they were allowed to keep their Eastern liturgical customs. Others fell under the influence of Catholic missionaries or youth who were educated in Western Europe and returned to work to bring their Church in union with Rome.

Fr. John

Sounds to me that it is more polictical, that those in power did things that should not have done as it appears to me that diologue went out the window. it also appears to me that very stong egos were at play in that they wanted to push their own inflated weight around and try and force their own beliefs on the other. From what I have read in history it does not appears or seems to me that the Pope authorized anyone to perscute anyone whether in te east or in Bulgaria. That any of it was done it was done by those who thought that they had the power to do so. That does not mean that the Pope or the Catholic at large authorized it. There are big egos on both side of the issues that caused the schism. But thats what happens when each side refuses to listen to the other.

 

[spina1953]

Fr. John: i understand where you are coming from but why would it make any difference if the West sent missionaries to Bulgaria or the Eastern sent then if all were one? And should it be a problem if one chooses the Latin or Eastern rite? Each Rite has its traditions and nothing wrong with that that I can see. Seems to me to be one of how one understands. What the history was at that time is history and time to come together acknowledging each other not keeping on with division.

 

[Augustine]

There are many rites in the Latin Church, but many Churches in the Catholic Church, among which one finds the Latin Church and the Eastern Catholic Churches.

 

[spina1953]

Augustine: Correct! The Catholic Church has many Rites and the Eastern Rites are a part of the Catholic Church with their own traditions but are in union with Rome.