Module 11: Eastern Orthodoxy & Great Schism

Hi everyone, and welcome to the eleventh module of the History of Christianity 1 Course. In this section, we'll be looking at a large segment of the universal church. We'll study the history and characteristics of the Eastern Orthodox churches.

This module will help you to understand the character of this part of Christ's church. You will be exposed to the history of this large group of churches, and how they are different from other categories of historical churches. You will learn about some of the major doctrines and practices which set Eastern Orthodoxy off from different kinds of churches, and the historical trends which caused their split from the churches in western Europe. You will be given opportunity to think about the variety of commonalities and distinctions between eastern and western churches, and their strengths and weaknesses. And the student will be given opportunity to process how these lessons can be applied to current situations, by learning a variety of possible approaches and expressions of Christ's church.

Introductory Scenario

Imagine that you are a part of a church in a bilingual, multi-ethnic neighborhood. The leadership desires to reach all the people of the neighborhood, but are debating how best to do it. What are the barriers to reaching and discipling all the groups at once? What are the barriers to unity within the church? What is the best way to reach them and also have unity? How can that unity be protected and valued? How can the obvious differences between the different groups be acknowledged and navigated to best strategic advantage of all groups. Please consider these questions and be watching for material that will help you answer them as you work through this module.

Module Objectives and Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this module, the student will:

  • Describe the history of the church in the eastern Roman empire, and in the lands to the east and south.
  • Evaluate the Iconoclast controversy, articulating the arguments for both sides and giving the Biblical and theological evaluation.
  • Understand and articulate the reasons behind The Great Schism and the consequences that happened as a result.
  • Describe the characteristics of Eastern Orthodox Christianity after the Great Schism, concentrating on their doctrines, organization, and liturgy.
  • Place the major events of Eastern Orthodox Christianity in a general chronology.

Instruction Guides

In this section, you'll find links to important instructional documents for this module. Click the following links to open each document. There is a set of instructions for individual study and a document for group study.

Individual Student Guide
Close X
Group Student Guide
Close X

Textbook Content

In this section, you'll find a study guide for the textbook reading for module 11. And then you'll find the link to a practice quiz covering this textbook reading.

Textbook Reading List and Study Guide for Module 11
Close X

This section also contains a review quiz to test your understanding of the textbook material for this module. By clicking the thumbnail below, you will be given a series of questions, in random order. The quiz will be different each time, so feel free to take it more than once.

Start Textbook Quiz

Click the Thumbnail to begin the Quiz

Quiz Trigger
Textbook Review Quiz for Gonzalez chs. 27-28
Close X

Click the button next to the best answer for each question, or drag each term to its best definition. Then press the Submit button at the bottom to see if your answers are correct.


Leo's negotiating skills with the Germanic invaders contributed to his status as the "first pope" of Rome

True

Good Job

False

Sorry, see Gonzalez p. 283
Drag each term to the proper definition
Gregory the Great
Iona
Charlemagne
Divine Office
Caliphs
Hagia Sophia
Benedict of Nursia
Charles Martel
Vandals

Islamic political and religious leaders

Most influential figure in western monasticism. Wrote the "Rule," in which he insisted that monks have obedience and stability, as well as do physical labor

Prime minister of the Franks, who stopped the Muslim invasion of Europe from Spain in the battle of Tours

The monastic practice of regular hours of prayer and Bible study

Famous cathedral in Constantinople, rebuilt by Justinian and dedicated to Christ as "holy wisdom"

Germanic group that sacked Rome and conquered most of North Africa. Their Arian faith was disastrous for the churches of North Africa

French King who would be crowned emperor by the pope. Considered the greatest ruler of the Western Early Middle ages

Very influential pope who also acted as political leader of Rome. His influential writings unfortunately spread some superstition common to his age

Monastic community in Ireland that was influential in preserving learning and evangelizing Scotland

Much of the theological controversies were caused by the influence of Greek philosophy

True

Good Job

False

Sorry, see Gonzalez p. 296
The difference of the political situations between east and west contributed to the split between the eastern and western churches

True

Well Done

False

Sorry, see Gonzalez p. 295
Which is NOT one of the two unique aspects of monasticism emphasized by Benedict?

Poverty

Correct

Obedience

Sorry, see Gonzalez p. 278

Stability

Sorry, see Gonzalez p. 278

Drag each term to its best definition
Monothelitism
Cyril and Methodius
Filioque
Coptic church
Iconodules
The Third Rome
Vladimir of Kiev
John of Damascus
Iconoclasts

Title given to Moscow after the capture of Constantinople by the Muslims

Missionaries to the Slavs, who devised a Slavic alphabet and translated the Bible into the Slavic language

View of Sergius of Constantinople, who taught that Christ had only one will. This view was condemned by the Sixth Ecumenical Council.

Those who were in favor of using images as a part of worship

Grandson of Queen Olga, who sent for missionaries from Constantinople, and led his country into Eastern Orthodox Christianity

Group in the Byzantine empire that rejected the Council of Chalcedon and remained Monophysite. Became the largest group of Christians in Egypt and Ethiopia

Those who were against using images as a part of worship

The word that Western churches added to the Nicene creed to claim that the Holy Spirit proceeded from the Father and the Son

Author of the "Exposition of the Orthodox Faith," who argued in favor of the use of images in worship

The theological controversies were influenced by the political situations and rivalries

True

Correct

False

Sorry, see Gonzalez p. 295
Drag each term to its best definition
Robber Synod
Nestorius
Monophysites
Christotokos
Council of Chalcedon
Definition of Faith
Apollinaris of Laodicea
Eutyches
Theotokos

Literally "Bearer of Christ." Used to claim that Christ's human and Divine natures must be separated and some things are true of His humanity, and not His divinity

He taught that Jesus did not have a human intellect, but His Divine nature replaced his human mind and soul

A Monk from Constantinople who held that Christ was not of one substance with humanity. His teaching was condemned as heretical

Affirmed the doctrine of Tertullian that Christ had Two natures in One Person. Became the Orthodox definition of Christology

The document, produced by the council of Chalcedon, which taught that Jesus was One Person with Two Natures

Those who rejected the idea of Christ having two natures. They taught that He had one nature

Literally "Bearer of God." Used to claim that Christ's human and Divine natures were united in One Person

Patriarch of Constantinople, who taught that in Jesus there was two persons, a divine person and a human person

A manipulated council that declared the doctrine of two natures to be heretical. Later overturned by the Council of Chalcedon

What is the meaning of the word "Qur'an"?

Recitation

Good Job

Obedience

Sorry, see Gonzalez p. 290

Revelation

Sorry, see Gonzalez p. 290

Scripture

Sorry, see Gonzalez p. 290

Which is NOT a way in which western monasticism differed from Eastern?

It was seen as the way to totally serve God

Well Done

It had a good relationship with the church

Sorry, see Gonzalez p. 277

It was more practical

Sorry, see Gonzalez p. 277

It was more communal

Sorry, see Gonzalez p. 277

Lecture Content

In this section, you will find the video lecture for the Eastern Orthodoxy module. Click the thumbnail to open access to the video. There are also links with the video if you prefer to watch on the Rumble or YouTube interface or download just the audio to listen offline.

Lecture Study Guide for Module 11
Close X
Blank Lecture Notes for Module 11
Close X
11: Eastern Orthodoxy

Click the Thumbnail to view this Lecture Video

thumbnail
11: Eastern Orthodoxy
Close X
Watch on Rumble
Watch on YouTube
Download Audio

Reviews

In this section, you will find the review slides from the course lectures for module 1. This is a convenient way to view and review the summaries for each lecture. Click the Thumbnail picture to begin the slide show.

Start Slideshow

Click the Thumbnail to view the Slideshow.

Slideshow Trigger
Review Slides
Close X

Click the prev. and next buttons (bottom right of the slide) to move through the slides. You can also click on any thumbnail to go directly to that slide.

Discussion/Reflection/Essay Questions

This section contains questions for further thought and discussion from Module 11. It is recommended that you take time to think through these issues in order to thoroughly grasp the significance and explore the application of the material you are learning. These questions can also be used as essay questions in a classroom setting exam. Below, you will find links to the Response and Application Reflection Instructions for Individuals, and the Response and Application Discussion Instructions for Groups. And you will find a link to the detailed question document for this module. Or Click the Thumbnail below to view the questions in a simplified format.

Instruction for Individuals
Close X
Instruction for Groups
Close X
Discussion/Reflection Questions for Module 11
Close X
See Questions

Click the Thumbnail to view the questions.

Discussion Questions Trigger
Discussion/Application Questions
Close X

The following questions are for your thoughtful consideration and discussion:

  1. What positive things about Eastern Orthodoxy should you imitate? Why? How?
  2. What negative things about Eastern Orthodoxy should you avoid? Why? How?
  3. What have you learned about unity? What difference does it make?
  4. What have you learned about liturgy? How does this apply?
  5. What have you learned from the iconoclast controversy? What difference does it make?
  6. What else did you learn? How does it apply?

(Optional) Timeline - Part 11

This section contains instructions for an optional Timeline activity to be constructed over all sixteen modules. Below is a link to the detailed instructions for this activity.

Timeline Project Instructions
Close X

Step Eleven of the Timeline should include the following information:

  • Any significant events in the Eastern Orthodox churches, including its expansion to new areas.
  • Any significant controversies and issues leading up to and resulting from the Great Schism.
  • Any significant ideas, doctrines, practices, and writings from Eastern Orthodoxy.

Annotate any significant approaches, ideas, principles, practices, and doctrines from Eastern Orthodoxy, including the immediate and long-term impact on the larger church, the surrounding society, and how these are applicable in the current church and and Christian life.

(Optional) Principles Chart - Part 11

This section contains instruction for continuing an optional Principles Chart activity to be constructed over all sixteen modules. Below is a link to the detailed instructions for this activity.

Principles Chart Instructions
Close X

Step Eleven of the Principles Chart will add any important principles noted from the history, doctrines, and practices of Eastern Orthodoxy, and how these principles can be applied. It is suggested that the student begin this activity before watching the "Guiding Principles" portion of the lecture. Then the student may supplement their work after learning additional insights from the Guiding Principles.

(Optional) Term Project Research & Organization

The student will continue researching about their chosen topic for their term project. The student should seek to follow where their research leads, and fill any gaps in their knowledge. The student should also continue organizing all that they are learning into a logical and coherent structure, based on the information they have researches, which will serve as the organization for their term project presentation. Below is a link to detailed instructions for the entire project.

Term Project Instructions
Close X

Primary Source Reading

This section contains instructions and resources for the Primary Source Reading activity. The student should read a minimum of 10-20 pages from a primary resource or resources discussed in this module's lecture and write or discuss a brief response to their reading. Below is a link to detailed instructions for the Primary Source Reading, which contain a list of recommended resources, by module.

Primary Source Reading Instructions
Close X
See Primary Sources

Click the Thumbnail to view the Primary Sources.

Primary Source Trigger
Links to Primary Sources
Close X

The following is a list of the recommended primary sources for this module. This list contains links to the resources in print and/or online format. This links may change, so feel free to search for other sources for these same titles. In addition, please do not feel you are limited only to this list. Feel free to choose from any primary source from the period and topic covered in this module:

Review Quiz

This section is a link to a review quiz to test your understanding of the objective material for Module 11. By clicking the link, you will access a series of questions, in random order. Answer each question and then push the Submit button to check your answers. Every question must be answered before you can submit the quiz. At the end, you will be shown your score for the entire quiz. The quiz will be different each time, so feel free to take it more than once. Click the Thumbnail picture to begin the quiz.

Start Review Quiz

Click the Thumbnail to begin the Quiz.

Quiz Trigger
Review Quiz for Module 11
Close X

Here is a review quiz for the material covered in this module's lectures. Click the button next to the best answer for each question, or drag each term to its best definition. Then press the button at the bottom to see if your answers are correct.


Eastern Orthodox churches are present in places that were not traditionally orthodox, because of the immigration of large populations from traditionally orthodox countries.

True

Correct

False

Sorry, see Lecture 11
The church was continuing to expand to the east and south until Islam stalled the expansion in those lands.

True

Correct

False

Sorry, see Lecture 11
Which of these is NOT an argument used by the iconoclasts?

Icons should be venerated, not worshipped

Well Done

Icons misrepresent the nature of God

Sorry, see Lecture 11

Icons are not necessary, it would be better to teach people to read

Sorry, see Lecture 11

Images are forbidden by the 2nd commandment

Sorry, see Lecture 11

Icons often lead to idolatry

Sorry, see Lecture 11

Eastern Orthodox worship is high liturgical worship

True

Correct

False

Sorry, see Lecture 11
Compared to typical Roman catholic liturgy, the people (congregation) are more active and involved in Eastern Orthodox liturgy.

True

Well Done

False

Sorry, see Lecture 11
Eastern churches are mostly iconoclast, and western churches typically use icons.

True

Sorry, that is backward, see Lecture 11

False

Well Done
There was a growing rivalry over centuries between the church leaders in Rome and in Constantinople before the Great Schism.

True

Good Job

False

Sorry, see Lecture 11
The Great Schism happened suddenly and unexpectedly, without historical causes.

True

Sorry, see Lecture 11

False

Good Job
After the Great Schism, each side claimed that they were the faithful apostolic church, and that the other side was not as true and faithful.

True

Correct

False

Sorry, see Lecture 11
What is the significance of the word "filioque"?

The two parts of the church argued over the meaning of this term in the Christological controversy

Sorry, see Lecture 11

The western churches forbid this activity in their liturgy, and the eastern churches use it

Sorry, see Lecture 11

The western churches added this word to the creed, and the eastern churches objected

Correct

It was the insult the eastern leaders used for the bishop of Rome in the Great Schism

Sorry, see Lecture 11

Module Completed!

Congratulations, you have reached the end of the eleventh module. I hope that you have found it rewarding and have noticed personal growth.

I encourage you to continue on the next module as soon as is convenient. The button below will take you to Module 12.