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

The Great Schism gave the Holy See abundant preoccupation, and missionary efforts are no longer heard of, until the Emperor Sigismund, as King of Hungary, bethought himself of re-establishing his claim over Bosnia.

From A History of The Inquisition of The Middle Ages; volume II by Lea, Henry Charles