Great Schism

American  

noun

1. a period of division in the Roman Catholic Church, 1378–1417, over papal succession, during which there were two, or sometimes three, claimants to the papal office.

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Great Schism British  

noun

1. the breach between the Eastern and Western churches, usually dated from 1054

2. the division within the Roman Catholic Church from 1378 to 1429, during which rival popes reigned at Rome and Avignon

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Example Sentences

Sure, go ahead and ask us to believe that John Wick’s lineage stretches back to Beowulf, the Battle of Hastings and the Great Schism.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 5, 2025

In recognition, for the first time since the Great Schism of 1054, the Patriarch of Constantinople attended the installation of a new Bishop of Rome.

From BBC • Apr. 21, 2025

Their meeting in Cuba in 2016 was the first between a pope and a Russian Orthodox patriarch since the Great Schism of 1054 divided Christianity into Eastern and Western branches.

From Reuters • Sep. 12, 2022

The Great Schism of 1054 split Christianity between the Western church, loyal to the pope in Rome, and the Eastern church in Constantinople.

From Seattle Times • May 21, 2022

This double election was the beginning of the Great Schism, which was to last for forty years and expose the papacy to new attacks on every side.

From An Introduction to the History of Western Europe by Robinson, James Harvey