Filioque Controversy

The Filioque Controversy centers on a theological disagreement between the Western (Roman Catholic) and Eastern (Orthodox) Churches regarding the phrase "and the Son" in the Nicene Creed, which describes the Holy Spirit's procession. Western Christians believe that the Holy Spirit proceeds from both the Father and the Son, while Eastern Christians assert that the Holy Spirit proceeds only from the Father. This difference contributed to the Great Schism of 1054, highlighting broader issues of authority, doctrine, and cultural divergence between the two branches of Christianity.