Photian Schism

The Photian Schism was a religious conflict in the 9th century, centered on the authority of the Pope and the Patriarch of Constantinople. It arose when Constantinople's church appointed Photios as patriarch without papal approval, leading to tensions between the Eastern (Byzantine) and Western (Roman) Christian churches. The disagreement involved issues of church authority, doctrinal differences, and political influence, causing a temporary break in communion. Although the conflict was eventually resolved, it highlighted long-standing divisions that contributed to the eventual split between Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic Christianity.