Schism in Christianity


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.
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. 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".
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". This definition is reused in the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

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 dateSchism resolvedOriginal Church bodyResulting Church bodies or Schismatic bodiesNotes
Marcionian schismRoma, Italia, Roman Empire144Great 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.
Montanian schismArdabau, Mysia, Asia, Roman EmpireGreat 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.
Sabellian schismRoma, Italia, Roman Empire220–Great 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.
Novatian schismRoma, Italia, Roman Empire2518th 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.
Donatian schismCarthago, Africa Proconsularis, Roman Empire313Great 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.
Arian schismNicaea, Asia, Roman Empire3257th centuryGreat ChurchArians
Quartodeciman schism–325–Great ChurchQuartodecimans
Pneumatomachian schism–342–Great ChurchPneumatomachians
Luciferian schism–362–Great ChurchLuciferiansLucifer 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.
Meletian schismAntiochia, Syria, Roman Empire361415Great ChurchMeletians
Eustathians		The 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--Great ChurchCollyridiansThe existence of this sect is seen as doubtful by many scholars.
Monarchian schism–381–Great ChurchMonarchians
Adoptionists
Modalistic monarchianism		Monarchianism first developed in the 2nd century, but was only considered heresy after the 4th century.
Appolinarian schismLaodicea, Syria, Roman Empire381late 4th centuryGreat ChurchAppolinarians
Nestorian schismEphesus, Asia, Roman Empire431-Great ChurchNestoriansThe Church of the East, independent since 410, refused to condemn Nestorius, leading to broken communion with the Great Church.
Monophysite schismChalcedon, Bithynia, Roman Empire451–Great ChurchMonophysites
Acacian schism–484519Great ChurchAcacians
Schism of the Three ChaptersAquileia, Italia, Eastern Roman Empire553581
606
698 		Great ChurchPatriarchate of Aquileia, dioceses in Liguria, Aemilia, Milan, and the Istrian peninsulaPart of the larger Three-Chapter Controversy.
Armenian schismDvin, Armenia, Sasanian Empire607-Great ChurchArmenian Apostolic ChurchThe Armenian Church adopted Miaphysitism, and broke communion with the Georgian Church.
Monothelite schism–629–Great ChurchMonothelites
First Iconoclasm–13 October 787Great ChurchIconoclasts
Second Iconoclasm–815843Great ChurchIconoclasts
East–West SchismConstantinople, Eastern Roman Empire16 July 1054–Great ChurchCatholic 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.

12th–15th century Christian schisms

16th–17th century Christian schisms

18th–19th century Christian schisms