by J.R. Grace
Hello, I am J.R., I am currently a 5th grader at a Catholic school in Houston, TX, a 1-time P.S.I.A. vocabulary regional 2nd placer, 1-time vocabulary state qualifier, 2-time maps, graphs, and charts regional 1st placer, 2-time maps, graphs, and charts state 6th placer, 1-time spelling regional qualifier, 1-time mathematics regional qualifier, 2-time spelling bee homeroom 1st placer, 1-time spelling bee school qualifier, and 1-time spelling bee school 3rd placer. I started web programming in January of 2026, and have been learning HTML ever since. I am a history nerd and a curious Roman Catholic, so of course I came across The Great Schism. I am currently writing a book about it called, "Who Left Whom?: The Mystery of the Great Schim," which is (hopefully) a final answer to the debated question about if it was the Eastern Orthodox that split from Roman Catholicism or vice versa using unbiased perspectives from all 3 perspectives: Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and Protestant and Non-Christian. Anyway, this website is about it.
In the 500s, the Ecumenical Council of Niceae wrote what is now known as the Nicene Creed, "I believe in the Father Almighty, maker of Heaven and Earth, and of all things visible and invisible. I believe in the one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only son of God, who precedes from the Father, who with the Father is adored and glorified, God from God, Light from Light, True God from True God, begotten not made, consubsantial with the father. Through him all things are made, for us men and for our salvation He came down from Heaven, and by the Holy Spirit, He became incarnate from the Virgin Mary. For our sake, was crucified under Pontius Pilate, suffered death and was buried. He rose again on the third day in accordance with the scriptures, he ascended into Heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father. With the Father and the son he is adored and glorified. He has spoken through the prophets. I believe in the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic church, through one baptism and the forgiveness of sins, and life everlasting. Amen"
In 318, a person named Arius began telling people that Jesus was divine, but not fully divine. This is why St. Nicholas famously (and allegedly) slapping him across the face in the Council of Niceae. In the 500s, Arianism, as it was called, began spreading throughout the westernmost part of the Christian borders (Modern Spain, Portugal, North Morrocco). Finally, Arianism was driven out with the help of St. Athanasius of Alexandria.
During this time, many christians (mostly the west), believed that the Holy Spirit precedes from the Father and the Son,