That’s the Roman perspective. The Orthodox perspective is of course different. The Roman pope was the first among equals, but only the first among equals. All the other Churches (Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch—also founded by St. Peter!, and Jerusalem) remained in communion with one another. It was only Rome that split off. And whatever else was going on, one thing is very important: Rome proposed a change to the Creed that would not necessarily represent a change to theology in Latin, but would in Greek. Whatever political intrigues might have figured in, there was no way the other Churches could accept a change to how they described Jesus Christ in the symbol of the Faith! I have discussed this in heavy detail with a Catholic scholar who was wrestling with this.
The Orthodox actually have the historical Church, and the miracle of the Holy Fire at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre each Holy Saturday illustrates that point each year. The Orthodox Church has not added the strange and innovative teachings that have appeared in the Latin confession.
That’s the Roman perspective. The Orthodox perspective is of course different. The Roman pope was the first among equals, but only the first among equals. All the other Churches (Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch—also founded by St. Peter!, and Jerusalem) remained in communion with one another. It was only Rome that split off. And whatever else was going on, one thing is very important: Rome proposed a change to the Creed that would not necessarily represent a change to theology in Latin, but would in Greek. Whatever political intrigues might have figured in, there was no way the other Churches could accept a change to how they described Jesus Christ in the symbol of the Faith! I have discussed this in heavy detail with a Catholic scholar who was wrestling with this.
The Orthodox actually have the historical Church, and the miracle of the Holy Fire at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre each Holy Saturday illustrates that point each year. The Orthodox Church has not added the strange and innovative teachings that have appeared in the Latin confession.