Schisms within Christianity

  • Christianity was beset with internal division over doctrine from the second century CE onwards, leading to the final split of Christianity into three branches, the Roman Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Protestant Church.
  • The Oriental Eastern Church first split from the Roman Catholic Church in 451 CE, followed by the formal split of the Eastern Orthodox Church in 1054 CE. The final schism was the Reformation between 1517-1648 CE.

Timeline of Schisms

  1. Marcionism (144 CE)
  2. Gnosticism (117 CE)
  3. Montanism (c. 135-177 CE)
  4. St. Hippolytus (217-235 CE)
    • the First Antipope.
  5. Novatianism (251-258 CE)
  6. Monarchianism (260 CE)
    • Paul of Samosata, Bishop of Antioch (260-268 CE).
  7. Donatism (313 CE)
    • Donatus Magnus Bishop of Carthage 313 CE, exiled 347 CE, died 377 CE.
  8. Quartodecimanism (325 CE)
    • First controversy over the dating of Easter. First Council of Nicaea (325 CE).
  9. Arius (250-336 CE)
    • Branded a Heretic after 325 CE.
  10. Arianism
  11. Trinitarianism (325 CE)
  12. Pelagianism
  13. Nestorianism (431 CE)
    • Nestorius, Patriarch of Constantinople 428-431 CE First Council of Ephesus 431 CE.
  14. Dyophysitism (451 CE)
  15. Acacian Schism (484-519 CE)
  16. Schism with Celtic Christianity (664 CE)
    • The dating of Easter, style of Tonsure, distinct Penance system, and ‘going into exile for Christ’ was not resolved until the Synod of Whitby 664 CE.
    • Northumbria left the See of Lindisfarne and came under the See of York.
  17. The Great Schism (16 July 1054 CE)
    • The formal split between the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church.
  18. The Reformation (1517-1668 CE)
    • Begun by Martin Luther, produced the final split of Christianity into three branches, the Roman Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Protestant Church.
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