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by Arthur Turfa (Author)
Christianity s East-West split lasts to this day. Both halves of the Church drifted apart prior to the Great Schism of 1054. Poor communication, personality conflicts, few theologians conversant in both Latin and Greek as well as political tensions contributed to the division and thwarted reconciliation attempts. The Filioque, use of azymes, papal supremacy, and purgatory were the most contentious issues. A weak Byzantine Empire struggled and failed to secure Western military assistance. Lutherans saw Orthodoxy as a purer form of Christianity. In the 1570s, Tübingen Lutherans contacted Jeremias II. He sought to establish ties with a non-papal Church in the West. The contacts addressed the four issues inherited from Ferrara-Florence and more. Modern Lutheran-Orthodox dialogue has had some success. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the Standing Committee of Orthodox Bishops in America adopted the 1998 Lutheran-Orthodox Common Statement on Faith in the Holy Trinity, allowing use of the original Nicene Creed in ecumenical and Lutheran services Convening an ecumenical council is nearly impossible; but the gap between East and West could be narrowed.
