Schism in Christianity

In Christianity, a schism occurs when a single religious body divides and becomes two separate religious bodies. The split can be violent or nonviolent but results in at least one of the two newly created bodies considering itself distinct from the other.

In the early Christian church, the formation of a distinction between the concepts of "heresy" and "schism" began. In ecclesiastical usage, the term "heresy" refers to a serious confrontation based on disagreements over fundamental issues of faith or morality, while the term "schism" usually means a lesser form of disunity caused by organizational or less important ideological differences.[1] Heresy is rejection of a doctrine that a Church considered to be essential. Schism is a rejection of communion with the authorities of a Church.

Definition

In Christian theology, the concept of the unity of the Church was developed by the Apostles, Holy Fathers and apologists. The greatest contribution to the doctrine of church unity was made by the apostles Peter and Paul, Ignatius of Antioch, Irenaeus of Lyons, Cyprian of Carthage, Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, John Chrysostom, and John of Damascus. Christian ecclesiology insists on the statement that unity and the Church are synonymous, as John Chrysostom wrote: "the name of the Church is not one of separation but of unity and harmony".[2][3]

Canon 751 of the Latin Church's 1983 Code of Canon Law, promulgated by Pope John Paul II in 1983, defines schism as the following: "schism is the refusal of submission to the Supreme Pontiff or of communion with the members of the Church subject to him".[4] This definition is reused in the Catechism of the Catholic Church.[5]

List of Christian schisms

Early Christian schisms

Christological spectrum within the Great Church after the Council of Nicea

Since the early days of Christianity, many disputes have arisen between members of the Church.

The following instances of denominations are considered as schisms of Early Christianity by the current mainstream Christian denominations. Many of the earliest schisms originated from the differing views of the Trinity.

Name of schism Original location of schism Start date Schism resolved Original Church body Resulting Church bodies or schismatic bodies Notes
Marcionian schismRoma, Italia, Roman Empirec. 144c. 10th centuryGreat ChurchMarcionitesAccording to Tertullian and other writers of early proto-orthodox Christianity, the movement known as Marcionism began with the teachings and excommunication of Marcion of Sinope around 144. Marcion arrived in Rome c. 139–140, soon after the Bar Kokhba revolt, and is said to have contributed 200,000 sestertius to the church, using his personal wealth to fund an ecclesiastical organization.[6] He was influenced by Gnosticism and taught that the teachings of Christ is incompatible with the actions of the God of the Old Testament.[7]

By the reign of emperor Commodus (180–192), Marcionism was divided into various opinions with various leaders; among whom was Apelles, whom Rhodo describes as "priding himself on his manner of life and his age, acknowledges one principle, but says that the prophecies are from an opposing principle, being led to this view by the responses of a maiden by name Philumene, who was possessed by a demon". However, "others, among whom were Potitus and Basilicus, held to two principles, as did Marcion himself. Others consider that there are not only two, but three natures. Of these, Syneros was the leader and chief.”[8]

In the early 3rd century, a splinter group of Marcionites was established by Prepon the Syrian, who claimed the existence of an intermediate spiritual entity between the good and evil gods.[9]

Montanian schismArdabau, Mysia, Provincia Asia, Roman Empirec. 157c. 9th centuryMontanistsThe schism started after the excommunication of Montanus, along with Prisca and Maximilla, who taught that the Holy Spirit enables new prophecies after Jesus Christ.[10]
Sabellian schismRoma, Italia, Roman Empire220–Sabellians
Patripassians
The schism started after Pope Callixtus I excommunicated Sabellius, who taught that the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are different modes or aspects of one God, rather than three distinct persons in God Himself.[11]
Monarchian schismAntiochia, Provincia Syria, Roman Empire269–Monarchians
Adoptionists
Modalistic Monarchians
Monarchianism first developed in the 2nd century, but only after Patriarch of Antioch Paul of Samosata was condemned by Synods of Antioch in 269 was it declared as heretical.[12]
Donatian schismCarthago, Provincia Africa Proconsularis, Roman Empire313c. 7th centuryDonatistsThe schism started when a commission appointed by Pope Miltiades condemned the Donatists, who denied the validity of sacraments administered by priests and bishops who had been traditores under the Diocletianic persecution.
Arian controversyNicaea, Provincia Asia, Roman EmpireJuly 325c. 7th centuryAriansIt began in 318 as a dispute between Pope Alexander I of Alexandria and a priest in his diocese named Arius, both Christian theologians from Alexandria.[13]
Quartodeciman schismRoman Empire–QuartodecimansThe Quartodeciman controversy in the Church was the question of whether to celebrate Easter on Sunday (the first day of the week), or at the time of sacrifice of the Passover lamb. According to Eusebius, in the last decade of the 2nd century a number of synods were convened to deal with the controversy, ruling unanimously that the celebration of Easter should be observed and be exclusively on Sunday. These synods were held in Palestine, Pontus and Osroene in the east, and in Rome and Gaul in the west.[14]

It is not known how long the Nisan 14 practice lasted. The church historian Socrates of Constantinople knew of quartodecimans who were deprived of their churches by John Chrysostom,[15][16] and harassed in unspecified ways by Nestorius,[17] both bishops of Constantinople. This indicates that the Nisan 14 practice, or a practice that was called by the same name, lingered into the 4th century.

Luciferian schismRoman Empire362–LuciferiansLucifer of Cagliari might have been excommunicated, as is hinted in the writings of Ambrose of Milan and Augustine of Hippo, as well as Jerome, who refers to his followers as Luciferians.[18]
Pneumatomachian controversyRoman Empire30 July 381–Pneumatomachians
Semi-Arians
In 381, the First Council of Constantinople was called in an attempt to deal with the binitarians, who were mainly Semi-Arians at that time. However, when the Trinity was officially defined, the offended binitarians (Pneumatomachi and Semi-Arians) walked out.[19]
Apollinarian schismConstantinopolis, Provincia Europae, Dioecesis Thraciae, Praefectura praetorio Orientis, Eastern Roman Empire30 July 381late 4th centuryApollinariansApollinarism or Apollinarianism is a Christological position proposed by Apollinaris, bishop of Laodicea in Syria, that argues that Jesus had not a human body and sensitive soul, but a divine mind and body, the Divine Logos taking the place of the latter.[20] It was deemed heretical by the First Council of Constantinople, and after Theodosius I ratified the conciliar canons, it virtually died out within the following decades.[20][21]
Nestorian schism of 431Ephesus, Provincia Asia, Dioecesis Asiana, Praefectura praetorio Orientis, Eastern Roman EmpireSeptember 431–NestoriansEastern Roman Emperor Theodosius II convoked the Council of Ephesus, which became two rival councils, each led by patriarchs Cyril I of Alexandria and John I of Antioch, resulting in two sets of canons. The emperor finally ratified the canons of Cyril's party in September 431.[22]
Chalcedonian schismChalcedon, Provincia Bithynia, Dioecesis Pontica, Praefectura praetorio Orientis, Eastern Roman Empire451–Monophysites
Miaphysites
[23]
Acacian schismEastern Roman Empire484519AcaciansBetween 498 and c. 505, there had been a Papal schism between Laurentius, who was elected by the Byzantine party, and Symmachus.
Nestorian schism of 486Vēh-Ardašīr, Māḥozā, Asōristān, Kušt-i Xwarārān, Sasanian EmpireFebruary 4861552
(majority; with the Catholic Church)
Church of the EastAfter the Council of Ephesus, churches aligned with Nestorius, centred on the School of Edessa, were separated from the rest of the Christian Church. Anathemised in the Roman Empire, they relocated to the Sasanian Empire, where they were welcomed by the Persian Christians, who had already declared independence from Constantinople in 424 in an attempt to cast off accusations of foreign allegiance.

The Church of the East herself accepted the teaching of the first two ecumenical councils but ignored the 431 Council and those that followed, seeing them as concerning only the patriarchates of the Roman Empire, all of which were for it "Western Christianity."[24]

Schism of the Three ChaptersAquileia, Italia, Eastern Roman Empire553581 (Milan)
606 (Grado)
698 (Aquileia)
Patriarchate of Aquileia, dioceses in Liguria, Aemilia, Milan, and the Istrian peninsulaPart of the larger Three-Chapter Controversy.[19]
Armenian schism of 555Dvin, Armin, Sasanian Empire555–Armenian Apostolic ChurchArmenian Catholicosate of Dvin withdrew communion with the Chalcedonians but also adopted moderate form of the Aphthartodocetae (Julianism) or Phantasiasm by condemning "books on the corruption" (of the body of Christ), thus also standing outside of the Miaphysite Churches.

In 726, during the Council of Manzikert John of Odzun established communion with the Syriac Orthodox Church, condemned Aphthartodocetae, and canonized Severus for the Armenians.[25]

Coptic-Syriac schism of 586Alexandria, Aegyptus, Eastern Roman Empire586616MiaphysitesCoptic Orthodox Church
Syriac Orthodox Church
It started with Pope Damian of Alexandria's dialogue with Patriarch Peter of Antioch, in which Damian accused his colleague of tritheism and was in turn accused of Sabellianism. Although Damian pulled support for his understanding of the Trinity from the Bible and the teachings of early Church Fathers, he was never able to persuade Peter and, as a result, he ordered that Peter's name not be mentioned in the Divine Liturgy while Peter remained alive.

The schism between the Alexandrian and Antiochene churches lasted for almost a decade after Damian's death.

Armenian schism of 607Dvin, Armin, Sasanian Empire607–Armenian Apostolic ChurchGeorgian Orthodox ChurchDuring the Third Council of Dvin, the Armenian Church condemned both the Chalcedonian Definition and Monophysitism. This Council mended the internal schism within the Armenian Church and established the formal split between the Armenian and Georgian Churches, who decided to join with Constantinople in upholding the Chalcedonian Definition.[26]
Monothelite controversyEastern Roman Empire63816 September 681Great ChurchMonothelites
Monoenergists
The schism began with publication of the Ecthesis in 638, and was solidified by publication of Typos of Constans in 648. It was eventually resolved in the Sixth Ecumenical Council in Constantinople (681).[27]
Maronite schismGreek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch16 September 681c. 1182
(with the Catholic Church)
Maronite ChurchThe Maronites kept their Monothelitist doctrine after the Third Council of Constantinople and elected their own patriarch shortly after. It reunited with the Catholic Church during the Crusades with the mediation by Latin Patriarch Aimery of Limoges.[28][29][30]

Medieval schisms

Name of schism Original location of schism Start date Schism resolved Original Church body Resulting Church bodies or Schismatic bodies Notes
First Byzantine IconoclasmKōnstăntīnoúpolĭs, Théma Thrāíkēs, Eastern Roman Empirec. 72613 October 787Great ChurchIconoclastsThe schism was resolved by the Second Council of Nicaea.[31]
Second Byzantine IconoclasmKōnstăntīnoúpolĭs, Théma Thrāíkēs, Eastern Roman Empire8154 March 843IconoclastsThe schism was triggered in 815 by Emperor Leo V's convocation of the Council of Constantinople. It was later overturned one final time by another Council of Constantinople, in 843.[31]
Cathar movement–1147–Catholic ChurchCathars–
Waldensian movement–1215–Waldensians–
Bosnian movementBanate of Bosnia1252–Catholic Church
Eastern Orthodox Church
Bosnian Church–
StrigolnichestvoRussiac. 1359c. 1430Eastern Orthodox ChurchStrigolnikiOne of the major sects of medieval Russia.[32]
Bohemian ReformationPraha, Čechy, České království, Holy Roman Empire18 October 1412–Catholic ChurchHussitesBefore Jan Hus left Prague, he decided to take a step which gave a new dimension to his endeavors. He no longer put his trust in an indecisive King, a hostile Pope or an ineffective Council. On 18 October 1412, he appealed to Jesus Christ as the supreme judge. By appealing directly to the highest Christian authority, Christ himself, he bypassed the laws and structures of the medieval Church.[33] For the Bohemian Reformation, this step was as significant as the 95 theses nailed to the door of the Wittenberg church by Martin Luther in 1517. [34]
Heresy of the JudaizersRussiac. 1487c. 1504Russian Orthodox ChurchJudaizersOne of the major sects of medieval Russia.[32]

Breaks of communion

These are schisms involving most of the clergy to defect from a regional basis.

Medieval schism

Name of schism Original location of schism Start date Schism resolved Original Church body Resulting Church bodies or schismatic bodies Notes
Photian schismHagia Sophia, Kōnstăntīnoúpolĭs, Théma Thrāíkēs, Eastern Roman Empire863867Great ChurchCatholic Church
Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople
East–West SchismHagia Sophia, Kōnstăntīnoúpolĭs, Théma Thrāíkēs, Eastern Roman Empire16 July 1054–Catholic Church
Eastern Orthodox Church
The first action that led to a formal schism occurred in 1053 when Patriarch Michael I Cerularius of Constantinople ordered the closure of all Latin churches in Constantinople.[35][36][37] In 1054, the legates of Pope Leo IX travelled to Constantinople to deny Cerularius the title of "ecumenical patriarch" and insist that he recognize the pope's claim to be the head of all of the churches,[38] and to seek help from the Byzantine emperor, Constantine IX Monomachos, in view of the Norman conquest of southern Italy, and to respond to Leo of Ohrid's attacks on the use of unleavened bread and other Western customs,[39] attacks that had the support of Cerularius.[40] When the leader of the legation, Cardinal Humbert of Silva Candida, learned that Cerularius had refused to accept the demand, he excommunicated him on 16 July, and in response Cerularius excommunicated all the legates in a synod on 20 July.[38] The validity of the Western legates' act is doubtful because Pope Leo IX had died and Ecumenical Patriarch Michael I Cerularius' excommunication only applied to the legates personally.

At the time of the excommunications, many contemporary historians, including Byzantine chroniclers, did not consider the event significant.[41][42][43][44] Relations continued as usual. There were pre-modern endeavors to end the schism, such as during the Second Council of Lyon (29 June 1274) and Council of Florence (6 June 1439), but both formally ended in repudiations in Council of Constantinople (1285) and Synod of Constantinople (1484), respectively.

On 7 December 1965, Pope Paul VI and Ecumenical Patriarch Athenagoras I nullified the anathemas of 1054. The efforts of successive Ecumenical Patriarchs towards reconciliation with the Catholic Church, insofar, have often been the target of sharp internal criticism.[45][31]

Bulgarian schism of 1185Tarnovo, Second Bulgarian Empirec. 11851235Ecumenical Patriarchate of ConstantinopleArchbishopric of TarnovoThe Bulgarian church joined the Catholic Church in 1204.[46][47]
Bulgarian schism of 1235Second Bulgarian Empire1235–Catholic ChurchTarnovo PatriarchateBulgaria returned to the Eastern Orthodox Church as an autocephalous church.[46][47]
Serbian schismSkopje, Kingdom/Empire of Serbia16 April 13461375Ecumenical Patriarchate of ConstantinopleSerbian Patriarchate of Peć[48]
Moscow–Constantinople schism of 1467Russiac. 14671560Russian Orthodox ChurchIt started de facto in 15 December 1448, when Jonah of Moscow was consecrated as metropolitan of the Russian Church without the consent of the patriarch of Constantinople. It became a de jure schism when Dionysius I of Constantinople demanded that all the Russian hierarchs submit to Gregory the Bulgarian, who was recognized by both Rome and Constantinople as the metropolitan of the newly established metropolis of Kiev, but this was rejected by Ivan III of Russia, who declared a complete rupture of relations with Constantinople.[49] Relations were gradually restored and in 1560, the patriarch of Constantinople considered the metropolitan of Moscow to be his exarch.

Early modern period

Name of schism Original location of schism Start date Schism resolved Original Church body Resulting Church bodies or schismatic bodies Notes
Ruthenian Schism of 1596St. Nicholas Church, Brest, Brest Litovsk Voivodeship, Grand Duchy of Lithuania, Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth9 October 1596–Eastern Orthodox ChurchRuthenian Uniate Church
Ethiopian schism of 1622Ethiopian EmpireMarch 162214 June 1632Coptic Orthodox ChurchLatin Patriarchate of EthiopiaEmperor Susenyos I converted to Catholicism. The newly appointed patriarch Afonso Mendes, however, rejected the validity of the Ethiopian sacraments and rebaptism and reordination and tried to impose an adopted variant of the Roman Rite.[50][51][52]
Ethiopian schism of 1632Ethiopian Empire14 June 1632–Catholic ChurchEthiopian Orthodox Tewahedo ChurchSusenyos declared freedom of religion for both Latin Catholics and Oriental Orthodox and then resigned for his son Fasilides, who immediately restored the Tewahedo Church with the consecration abuna by the Coptic pope.[50][51][52]
Ruthenian Schism of 1646Zakarpattia, Kingdom of Hungary1646–Eastern Orthodox ChurchRuthenian Greek Catholic ChurchUnion of Uzhhorod was signed by 63 Ruthenian presbyters led by Vasyl Tarasovych and Petro Parfenii, forming Greek Catholic Eparchy of Mukachevo out from jurisdiction of Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople into communion with Papacy as Uniate.
Coonan Cross OathMattancherry, Kingdom of Cochin3 January 165331 January 1663
(majority)
Catholic ChurchMalabar ChurchWith the Oath, the Saint Thomas Christians renounced the full communion with Rome leading to a schism. The majority returned in 1663 under Palliveettil Chandy. Some factions of the Puthankoottukar also reunited with Rome later on.[53][54]
Settlement of 1690Parliament House, Edinburgh, Kingdom of Scotland7 June 1690–Church of EnglandChurch of ScotlandThe act abolished the episcopate in the Scottish church. The Scottish Episcopal Church became the new Scottish member of the Anglican Communion.[55][56]
Romanian Schism of 1698Gyulafehérvár, Principality of Transylvania, Kingdom of Hungary, Habsburg monarchy7 October 1698–Eastern Orthodox ChurchRomanian Greek Catholic ChurchThe church was forcefully fused into Romanian Orthodox Church in 1948 and was legalized again in 1989.

18th and 19th centuries

Name of schism Original location of schism Start date Schism resolved Original Church body Resulting Church bodies or schismatic bodies Notes
Anglican-Episcopal schismPhiladelphia, Philadelphia County, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States of America27 September 17851789Church of EnglandEpiscopal ChurchAfter Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence on 4 July 1776, several states passed laws making prayers for the king and British Parliament acts of treason. The Episcopal Church was then organized in 1785, and communion with the Church of England was formally restored in 1789.
French schismKingdom of France12 July 179015 July 1801Catholic ChurchConstitutional Church
Greek schismKingdom of Greece25 July 183329 June 1850Ecumenical Patriarchate of ConstantinopleChurch of Greece[57][58]
Padroado-Propaganda SchismIndia, Southeast Asia24 April 18381 September 1886Catholic ChurchRoman Catholic Archdiocese of Goa and DamanIt came to the schism, when dissolved the sees of Cochin, Cranganore, Malacca and Mylapore and was fully healed with the creation of Patriarchate of the East Indies.
Romanian schismUnited Principalities of Moldavia and Wallachia3 December 186425 April 1884Ecumenical Patriarchate of ConstantinopleRomanian Orthodox Church[59][57][58]
Bulgarian schismḲosṭanṭīnīye, Sancak-i Ḳosṭanṭīnīye, Eyālet-i Rūm-ėli, Ottoman Empire30 September 187222 February 1945Bulgarian ExarchateOn 23 May 1872, Anthim I declared the autocephaly of the Bulgarian Exarchate. The patriarchs of Constantinople, Alexandria, and Antioch later declared the exarchate schismatic and declared its adherents excommunicated. The schism was later lifted in 1945.

20th centuries

Name of schism Original location of schism Start date Schism resolved Original Church body Resulting Church bodies or schismatic bodies Notes
Georgian schism of 1917Special Transcaucasian Committee, Russian Provisional Government25 March 1917 N.S.31 October 1943Russian Orthodox ChurchGeorgian Orthodox Church
UAOC schism of 1919Ukrainian People's Republic1 January 191927 November 1937Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church (1919–1937)Most of the clergy fell victim to the Great Purge.
Turkish schism of 1922Kayseri, Government of the Grand National Assembly15 September 1922–Ecumenical Patriarchate of ConstantinopleAutocephalous Turkish Orthodox PatriarchateMost of the Karamanlides remained loyal towards and were not exempted from the population exchange with Greece.
AOCC schism of 1927Commonwealth of Massachusetts, United States of America2 February 1927c. 1933
(majority)
Russian Orthodox ChurchAmerican Orthodox Catholic ChurchSome continuing churches exist as of 2026.
BAOC schism of 1927Minsk, Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics9 August 1927c. 1939Belarusian Autocephalous Orthodox ChurchMost of the clergy fell victim to the Great Purge.
Russian schism of 1927Palace of the Patriarchate, Sremski Karlovci, Južnobački okrug, Srem Oblast, Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes5 September 192717 May 2007Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia
UAOC schism of 1942Pinsk, Wolhynien und Podolien, Reichskommissariat Ukraine, German Reich8 February 194212 March 1995Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church (1942—1944)Mostly exists in exile since 1944. Despite its current name, Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church in Diaspora, became an autonomous branch of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople in 1995.
Croatian schism of 1942Independent State of Croatia4 April 19428 May 1945Serbian Orthodox ChurchCroatian Orthodox Church
BAOC schism of 1942Minsk, Generalbezirk Weißruthenien, Reichskommissariat Ostland, German Reich30 August 1942–Russian Orthodox ChurchBelarusian Autocephalous Orthodox ChurchMostly exists in exile since 1944.
Macedonian schism of 1967Ohrid, Socialist Republic of Macedonia, Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia19 July 196716 May 2022Serbian Orthodox ChurchMacedonian Orthodox ChurchThe church reunited for a interim period and was officially granted autocephaly on 5 June 2022.
Ethiopian–Coptic schism of 1976Palace of Prince Asrate Kassa, Addis Ababa, Provisional Military Government of Socialist Ethiopia14 July 19761992Coptic Orthodox ChurchEthiopian Orthodox Tewahedo ChurchThe Coptic church refused to recognise the Ethiopian patriarchs following the execution of Abuna Theophilos until the enthronement of Abune Merkorios.
UAOC schism of 1989Ukraine22 October 198915 December 2018Russian Orthodox ChurchUkrainian Autocephalous Orthodox ChurchTheir merger into the Orthodox Church of Ukraine caused the Moscow–Constantinople schism of 2018.
UOC-KP schism of 1992Ukraine11 June 1992Ukrainian Orthodox Church – Kyiv Patriarchate
MOC schism of 1993Cetinje, Republic of Montenegro, Federal Republic of Yugoslavia31 October 1993–Serbian Orthodox ChurchMontenegrin Orthodox Church
Moscow–Constantinople schism of 1996Danilov Monastery, Danílovskiy rayon, Yuzhny administrativny okrug, Gorod federal'nogo znacheniya Moskva, Russian Federation23 February 199616 May 1996Eastern Orthodox ChurchEcumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople
Russian Orthodox Church
It began on 23 February 1996 when the Russian Orthodox Church severed full communion with the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople,[60] and ended on 16 May 1996 when the Russian Orthodox Church and the Ecumenical Patriarchate reached an agreement.[60][61]

21th centuries

Name of schism Original location of schism Start date Schism resolved Original Church body Resulting Church bodies or schismatic bodies Notes
PNCC schism of 20032003–Union of Utrecht (Old Catholic)Polish National Catholic Church
Abkhazian schismAbkhazia, Georgia15 September 2009–Georgian Orthodox ChurchAbkhazian Orthodox ChurchEffectively in schism since the War in Abkhazia but only declared de jure autocephaly in 2009.
Presbyterian schism of 2018Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom9 June 2018–Church of ScotlandPresbyterian Church in IrelandThe Presbyterian Church in Ireland voted to loosen its ties to the Church of Scotland over same-sex marriage.[62]
Moscow–Constantinople schism of 2018Danilov Monastery, Danílovskiy rayon, Yuzhny administrativny okrug, Gorod federal'nogo znacheniya Moskva, Russian Federation15 October 2018–Eastern Orthodox ChurchEcumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople
Russian Orthodox Church
Includes other schisms in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Ukraine.
Tigrayan schismTigray Region, Ethiopia7 May 2021–Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo ChurchTigrayan Orthodox Tewahedo Church
Abune Mathias–Abune Sawiros schismOromia Region, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia22 January 202316 February 2023Orthodox Tewahedo Church of Oromia and Nations and Nationalities[63]
Anglican schism of 2025Kigali, Republic of Rwanda16 October 2025–Anglican CommunionGlobal Fellowship of Confessing AnglicansPart of Anglican realignment.

Disputed leadership elections

Classical period

Name of schism Original location of schism Start date Schism resolved Original Church body Resulting Church bodies or Schismatic bodies Notes
Hippolytian(?) schismRoma, Italia, Roman Empire20 December 21728 September 235Diocese of Rome
Novatian schismRoma, Italia, Roman Empire2518th centuryNovatianistsThe schism started after Novatian was consecrated bishop by three bishops of Italy and declared himself to be the true Pope in opposition to Pope Cornelius. He held that lapsed Christians, who had not maintained their confession of faith under persecution, may not be received again into communion with the church.[64]
Meletian schismAntiochia, Provincia Syria, Dioecesis Orientis, Praefectura praetorio Orientis, Roman Empire361415Patriarchate of AntiochMeletians
Eustathians
The schism originated when Patriarch Meletius of Antioch was opposed by those faithful to the memory of Patriarch Eustathius of Antioch due to the unclarity of his theological position.

Medieval schisms

Name of schism Original location of schism Start date Schism resolved Original Church body Resulting Church bodies or Schismatic bodies Notes
Wibertine schismBrixen, Prince-Bishopric of Brixen, Holy Roman Empire15 June 108022 April 1121Catholic ChurchGregory VII line
Clement III line
During the Investiture Controversy, Emperor Henry IV organised a synod to declare Pope Gregory VII deposed in 1080 and appointed Antipope Clement III in 1084. His son Henry V continued to appoint antipopes until 1121. The controversy was resolved between 1122 and 1123.[65][66][67]
Double papal election of 1130Church of San Marco, Roma, Papal States14 February 113029 May 1138Innocent II line
Anacletus II line
Anacletus II died in 25 January 1138 and was succeeded by Victor IV until his submission to Innocent II on 29 May 1138.
Double papal election of 1159Old St. Peter's Basilica, Roma, Papal States7 September 1159January 1180Alexander III line
Victor IV line
Victor IV died in 20 April 1164 and was succeeded by Paschal III, and then Callixtus III until the latter's submission to Alexander III on 29 August 1178. On 29 September 1179, Innocent III was elected, who eventually was captured by forces loyal to Alexander III and spent his remaining days in the abbey of La Trinità della Cava.
Epirote schismArta, Empire of Thessalonicac. 1227c. 1233Ecumenical Patriarchate of ConstantinopleArchbishopric of OhridIt is related to the Struggle for Constantinople (1204–1261). Demetrius of Ohrid did not recognise the Ecumenical Patriarch in the Empire of Nicaea and saw the creation of the Eparchy of Žiča as illegitimate. The conflict escalated when crowned Theodore of Epirus emperor in c. 1225. The schism officially started when the Nicene patriarch rejected the demands of the Council of Arta in 1227. Under Theodore's son Manuel Doukas, a synod resolved the schism.[68]
Arsenite SchismKōnstăntīnoúpolĭs, Théma Thrāíkēs, Eastern Roman Empire28 December 12661315Arsenius I's supporters
Joseph I's supporters
After Michael VIII Palaiologos captured Constantinople, he blinded his young co-emperor John IV Doukas Laskaris, for which Patriarch Arsenius excommunicated him, even refusing to lift it after his deposition from the patriarchate. On 28 December 1266, Joseph I was elected patriarch and promptly absolved the emperor, and their supporters went into dispute over it.

This situation lasted until 1315, when a reconciliation was pronounced by the patriarch Nephon I of Constantinople.

Syriac Orthodox schism of 1292Gawikat, Armenian Kingdom of CiliciaNovember 12921445Syriac Orthodox ChurchMichael II line (Gawikat)
Ignatius Constantine line (Malīṭīná)
Following the death of the patriarch Philoxenus I Nemrud in July 1292, Ignatius Constantine was consecrated on November 1292 in Melitene. On the same month, Michael II was also consecrated in Gawikat. In 1293, the two claimants to the Syriac patriarchate of Antioch were joined by Ignatius bar Wahib in Mardin.

In c. 1360 the patriarchate in Melitene lapsed, and then in 1444–1445, Ignatius Behnam Hadloyo of the Mardin line was also recognized as the legitimate patriarch by hierarchs of the Gawikat line.

Papal schism of 1328Old St. Peter's Basilica, Roma, Papal States12 May 132825 July 1330Catholic ChurchJohn XXII line
Nicholas V line
Nicholas V was appointed by Louis IV becoming the first antipope installed by an emperor against a well established pope in almost two centuries.[67]
Syriac Orthodox schism of 1364Monastery of Saint Jacob, Salaḥ, Ṭūr ʿAḇdīn, Emirate of Hasankeyf13641840Syriac Orthodox ChurchIgnatius Ismail line (Mardīn)
Ignatius Saba I line (Salaḥ)
This schism established the lineage of Syriac Orthodox Patriarchs of Tur Abdin until 1839–1840.[69]
Western SchismFondi, Contea di Fondi, Kingdom of Naples20 September 137811 November 1417Catholic ChurchUrban VI line
Clement VII line
Pope Gregory XI, the last Avignon pope, decided to return to Rome on 17 January 1377,[70] then he died in the Vatican palace on 27 March 1378.[71] The Romans put into operation a plan to use intimidation and violence (impressio et metus) to ensure the election of a Roman pope after 70 years in Avignon.[72] On 8 April 1378, the cardinals elected Bartolomeo Prignano, as Pope Urban VI.[73] The majority of the cardinal-electors quickly regretted their decision and removed themselves to Anagni.[74] Meeting at Fondi, thirteen cardinals elected Count Robert of Geneva as Pope Clement VII on 20 September 1378.[75] The dissident cardinals argued that the election of Urban VI was invalid because it had been out of fear of the rioting Roman crowds.[76][77]

Later the two papal lines were joined by a third, when on 5 June 1409, the Council of Pisa attempted to depose both the Roman and Avignon pontifical claimants,[78] but proceeded to inflame the problem even further by electing Petros Philargos as Alexander V.[79] It was eventually resolved in the Council of Constance and the election of Oddone Colonna as Pope Martin V. However, two Avignonian cardinals acted as Antipope Benedict XIV known as the "hidden pope" up to c. 1437.

Papal schism of 1439Basel, Fürstbistum Basel, Holy Roman Empire5 November 14397 April 1449Eugene IV line
Felix V line
–
Georgian schismKingdom of Imeretic. 1470c. 1545Georgian Orthodox ChurchCatholicate of AbkhaziaThe communion was restored in a joint synod in 1540s.[80]

Early modern period

Name of schism Original location of schism Start date Schism resolved Original Church body Resulting Church bodies or Schismatic bodies Notes
Assyrian schism of 1552Musul, Sancak-i Musul, Eyālet-i Baġdād, Ottoman Empire1552–Church of the EastShemon VII Ishoyahb line
Shimun VIII Yohannan Sulaqa line
Syriac Orthodox schism of 1662Ḥaleb, Sancak-i Ḥaleb, Eyālet-i Ḥaleb, Ottoman Empire1662–Syriac Patriarchate of AntiochIgnatius Andrew Akijan line
Ignatius Abdulmasih I line
Assyrian schism of 1669Amid, Sancak-i Hamid, Eyālet-i Diyār-i Bekr, Ottoman Empirec. 1670–Church of the EastJoseph I lineHe was consecrated as bishop of Amid and converted to Eastern Catholicism leading to his defrocking by Eliya IX of the Shemon line. He was recognised as patriarch in c. 1677 by Ottoman authorities before getting Papal backing to become head of the Chaldean Catholic Church replacing the Shimun line.
Melkite schism of 1673Ḳosṭanṭīnīye, Sancak-i Ḳosṭanṭīnīye, Eyālet-i Rūm-ėli, Ottoman Empire16731682Melkite Patriarchate of AntiochCyril V Zaim line
Neophytos of Chios line
Melkite schism of 1685Ḳosṭanṭīnīye, Sancak-i Ḳosṭanṭīnīye, Eyālet-i Rūm-ėli, Ottoman Empire5 July 1685October 1694Cyril V Zaim line
Athanasius III Dabbas line
Melkite schism of 1724Ḳosṭanṭīnīye, Sancak-i Ḳosṭanṭīnīye, Eyālet-i Rūm-ėli, Ottoman Empire8 October 1724–Melkite Catholic Patriarchate of Antioch
Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch
On 24 September 1724, Cyril VI Tanas was elected patriarch of Antioch and sought communion with Rome. Patriarch Jeremias III of Constantinople declared the election invalid and appointed Sylvester of Antioch, whom he consecrated on 8 October, forming parallel successions. The papacy moved with great caution, and only recognized Cyril VI in 1730.
Ultrajectine schism of 1724Amsterdam, Graafschap Holland, Dutch Republic15 October 1724–Catholic Church
(Archdiocese of Utrecht)
Jansenist Church of HollandDominique Marie Varlet consecrated Cornelius van Steenoven as archbishop of Utrecht on 15 October 1724 without papal mandate. Pope Benedict XIII formally declared the consecration "illicit and execrable" and censured Varlet on 21 February 1725. After the restoration of Roman Catholic hierarchy in 1853, the Ultrajectine church renamed itself Old Catholic.
Armenian schism of 1740Ottoman Empire26 November 1740–Holy See of CiliciaMichael I line
Abraham Petros I Ardzivian line
Michael was elected in 1737. His opponents elected Abraham Ardzivian in 1740 who sought an union with Rome forming the Armenian Catholic Church.[81][82]
Assyrian schism of 1780Musul, Sancak-i Musul, Eyālet-i Baġdād, Ottoman Empirec. 17801804Church of the EastEliya XII line
Yohannan VIII Hormizd line
Yohannan outlived his cousin Eliya thus reuniting the Shemon VII Ishoyahb factions. In 1827, he outlived Joseph V and became the head of the Chaldean Catholic Church replacing the Joseph I line.

Late modern period

Name of schism Original location of schism Start date Schism resolved Original Church body Resulting Church bodies or Schismatic bodies Notes
Mormon succession crisisCarthage, Hancock County, Illinois, United States of America27 June 1844–Church of Christ (Latter Day Saints)LDS church
Bickertonite church
Strangite church
Church of Christ (Temple Lot)
Church of Christ With the Elijah Message
Cutlerite church
Community of Christ
Watch Tower Society presidency disputePittsburgh, Allegheny County, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States of America8 August 1917–Watch Tower SocietyJoseph Franklin Rutherford's faction
former Watch Tower Society directors
Ethiopian Schism of 1991Transitional Government of Ethiopia199128 July 2018[83]Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo ChurchEthiopian Orthodox Church in Exile
Bulgarian Schism of 1996Republic of Bulgaria4 July 199620 May 2015[84]Bulgarian Orthodox ChurchBulgarian Orthodox Church – Alternative synod

Foundations of Protestant denominations

16th century schisms

Protestant regions within the Holy Roman Empire (including Switzerland and Bohemia)

These include Reformations in those regions where the original clergy was largely replaced.

Name of schism Original location of schism Start date Schism resolved Original Church body Resulting Church bodies or Schismatic bodies Notes
Protestant ReformationWorms, Freie und Reichsstädte Worms, Oberrheinischer Reichskreis, Holy Roman Empire25 May 1521–Catholic ChurchLutheransAlthough the Reformation is usually considered to have begun in 1517, this edict is the first overt schism associated with it.
Reformation in ZürichZürich, Republik Zürich, Corpus helveticum, Holy Roman Empire1523–ZwingliansInitially sparked during the Affair of the Sausages by Huldrych Zwingli in 1522, his ideas gained the support of the magistrates of the city of Zürich and Katharina von Zimmern, the princess-abbes of Fraumünster. One of the earliest episodes of the Reformation in Switzerland.[85]
Radical ReformationZürich, Republik Zürich, Corpus helveticum, Holy Roman Empire1525–ZwingliansAnabaptistsAnabaptism in Switzerland began as an offshoot of the church reforms instigated by Huldrych Zwingli.
Reformation in SwedenVästerås, Västmanlandskap, Svealand, Kingdom of Sweden22 June 1527–Catholic ChurchChurch of SwedenIt resulted in both Sweden and Finland becoming Protestant countries, as the latter formed an integral part of Sweden at the time.

Most of the clergy remained in place.

English ReformationPalace of Westminster, Westminster, Middlesex, Kingdom of England3 November 1534–Church of EnglandOriginally started as an attempt by King Henry VIII of England to circumvent his inability to obtain a papal-sanctioned annulment from his marriage to Catherine of Aragon. In 1531, Henry created the title Supreme Head of the Church of England for himself, which was put into law by the 1534 Act of Supremacy. The parliament of Ireland followed suit in 1537, but most of the Irish population remained Catholic. The schism was formally ended when Mary I reunited the English Church with the Roman Catholic Church, but it was reignited by Pope Pius V's excommunication of Elizabeth I through the bull Regnans in Excelsis, issued on 25 February 1570.

Most of the clergy remained in place.

Reformation in GenevaGenève, République de Genève, Holy Roman Empire21 May 1536–CalvinistsPart of the Reformation in Switzerland.
Reformation in Denmark–NorwayKøbenhavn, Sokkelund Herred, København Amt, Sjælland, Denmark–Norway2 September 1537–Church of Denmark
Church of Norway
On 2 September 1537, Christian III of Denmark signed a new Church order for the kingdoms of Denmark and Norway and all his other possessions.
Reformation in HungaryErdőd, Szatmár vármegye, Eastern Hungarian Kingdom20 September 1545–Hungarian ProtestantsIn 1545, the First Synod of Erdőd, then in Eastern Hungary, adopted the Lutheran Augsburg Confession. Then, on August 1549, the Pentapolitana of Upper Hungary (now mostly in Slovakia) adopted the Confessio Pentapolitana written by Leonard Stöckel, which was recognised by Ferdinand I in Royal Hungary.

Part of Reformation in the Kingdom of Hungary.

Reformation in FranceParis, Kingdom of France27 May 1559–Reformed Church of France
Scottish ReformationParliament House, Edinburgh, Edinburghshire, Kingdom of ScotlandAugust 1560–Church of ScotlandMost of the clergy remained in place.[86]
Unitarian schism in PolandBrzeziny, Łęczyca Voivodeship, Greater Poland Province, Crown of the Kingdom of Poland, Polish–Lithuanian Union10 June 156520 July 1658Reformed Church of PolandPolish BrethrenThe Polish Brethren were expelled during the Deluge.
Brownist schismLondon, City of London, Kingdom of EnglandMarch 1566–Church of EnglandLondon underground churchThe forerunners of the Pilgrims and modern Congregationalism.
Lutheran–Calvinist split in HungaryDebrecen, Bihar vármegye, Eastern Hungarian Kingdom26 February 1567–Hungarian ProtestantsEvangelical-Lutheran Church in Hungary
Reformed Church in Hungary
Hungarian Calvinists held their first synod in Debrecen and adopted the Helvetic Confession on 24–26 February 1567.[87]

Part of Reformation in the Kingdom of Hungary.

Calvinist–Unitarian schism in HungaryTorda, Torda vármegye, Eastern Hungarian Kingdom28 January 1568–Reformed Church in HungaryUnitarian Church of TransylvaniaThe Unitarian Church was first recognized by the Edict of Torda, issued by the Transylvanian Diet under its Unitarian Prince John II Sigismund Zápolya (January 1568),[88] and was first led by Ferenc Dávid (a former Calvinist bishop, who had begun preaching the new doctrine in 1566). Early on, the Unitarian Church had notable successes: it included 425 parishes, made use of the monumental St. Michael's Church in Cluj-Napoca,[89] and attracted members of the eastern Transylvanian Székely community in large numbers.[88]

Part of Reformation in the Kingdom of Hungary.

17th century schisms

Name of schism Original location of schism Start date Schism resolved Original Church body Resulting Church bodies or schismatic bodies Notes
Baptist movementAmsterdam, Graafschap Holland, Dutch Republic1609–Church of EnglandBaptistsThe movement later came to be called General Baptists, as they held Arminian soteriology, in contrast to the Reformed Baptists who held Calvinistic soteriology.
Reformed Baptist movementKingdom of Englandc. 1630–Reformed Baptists
Arminian expulsionDordrecht, Graafschap Holland, Dutch Republic1619–Dutch Reformed ChurchRemonstrants
Sabbatarian expulsionDés, Principality of Transylvania7 July 1638c. 1944Unitarian Church of TransylvaniaSzekler SabbatariansThe Sabbatarians were expelled from the church and remained their own group until they were murdered during the Holocaust.
Great EjectionPalace of Westminster, Westminster, Middlesex, Kingdom of England19 May 1662–Church of EnglandPuritansEjection followed the 1662 Act of Uniformity in England. Several thousand Puritan ministers were forced out of their positions in the Church of England following the Restoration of Charles II. It was a consequence (not necessarily an intended one) of the Savoy Conference of 1661.
Nonjuring schismPalace of Westminster, Westminster, Middlesex, Kingdom of England24 April 1688c. 1779Non-JurorsAfter Glorious Revolution, clergy had to swear an oath of allegiance to the new monarchs. The consecutively deaths of all their original bishops, James II, William III and George Hickes caused many to return to the Church of England in 1710s. The remaining group began to split into "Usagers" and "Non-Usagers" over liturgical questions. The last non-juring bishop in regular succession died in 1779. Another line ended in 1805 with some alleged minor groups continuing into the 19th century.[90][91][92][93]
Parliament House, Edinburgh, Kingdom of Scotland7 June 1690[94]–Church of ScotlandScottish Episcopal ChurchAn act was passed which restored previously expelled Presbyterian clergy and forbade the bishops to continue their ministry.[95]
Palace of Westminster, Westminster, Middlesex, Kingdom of Great Britain3 March 171224 October 1804Scottish Episcopal ChurchQualified chapelsThe Toleration Act 1712 allowed the Episcopalians to practice as long as they swore an oath of abjuration. Following failed Jacobite risings, "qualified chapels" were limited to those clergy ordained by the Churches of England and Ireland. After the death of the Jacobite pretender Charles Edward Stuart, the Episcopalians started to abandon their resistance against the ruling dynasty. The qualified chapels gradually merged into the Episcopal Church after the church adopted the Thirty-nine Articles of the Anglican church.[91][96][97][98]

18th century schisms

Name of schism Original location of schism Start date Schism resolved Original Church body Resulting Church bodies or schismatic bodies Notes
Non-subscribing schismDungannon, County Tyrone, Ulster, Kingdom of Ireland25 June 1726–Synod of UlsterPresbytery of AntrimOn the Synod of Dungannon, ministers who did not subscribed to the Westminster Confession of Faith were expelled.[99][100]
First SecessionScotland, Kingdom of Great BritainDecember 17332 October 1929Church of ScotlandAssociate PresbyteryThe dispute ties back to the Church Patronage Act of 1711. They merged with other offspring. The majority of the latest iteration United Free Church of Scotland merged back in 1929.[101]
Old Side–New Side controversyPhiladelphia, Philadelphia County, Province of Pennsylvania, Thirteen Colonies, British Empire27 May 174129 May 1759Synod of PhiladelphiaSynod of New YorkPart of the Old and New Lights controversy.[102][103][104]
Burgher Oath schismEdinburgh, Scotland, Kingdom of Great Britain10 April 17478 September 1820
(New Lights)
1852
(Old Lights)
Associate PresbyteryBurghers
Anti-Burgher
[105]
Second SecessionColinsburgh, Fife, Scotland, Kingdom of Great Britain17612 October 1929Church of ScotlandRelief ChurchThe split occurred after the Inverkeithing case which is also related to the 1711 act. They merged with other offspring. The majority of the latest iteration United Free Church of Scotland merged back in 1929.[101]
Anglican-Methodist schism in the United StatesLovely Lane Chapel, Baltimore, Baltimore County, State of Maryland, United States of AmericaDecember 1784–Church of EnglandMethodist Episcopal ChurchJohn Wesley ordained ministers for America on 1 September 1784, but the formal establishment of the Methodist Episcopal Church was dated from the Christmas Conference in December 1784. In 1788, Thomas Coke attempted a secret unification with the Episcopal Church, which was ultimately blocked by Francis Asbury.
Swedenborgian movementEngland and Wales, Kingdom of Great Britain7 May 1787–The New ChurchIn 1787, 15 years after Emanuel Swedenborg's death, his followers formally founded the New Church.

Part of Restorationism.

Anglican-Methodist schism in Great BritainEngland and Wales, Kingdom of Great Britain1795–Wesleyan Methodist ChurchFormal schism between the English Anglicans and Methodists was entrenched by the decision of the Methodist Conference of 1795 to permit the administration of the Lord's Supper in any chapel where both a majority of the trustees and a majority of the stewards and leaders allowed it.
Burgher schismScotland, Kingdom of Great Britain17991900BurghersAuld Lichts
New Lichts
Part of the Old and New Lights dispute. The Auld Licht Burgher returned to the Church of Scotland before leaving during the Disruption.[104] Both factions finally reunited in the United Free Church of Scotland.[106]

19th century schisms

Name of schism Original location of schism Start date Schism resolved Original Church body Resulting Church bodies or schismatic bodies Notes
Stone movementCane Ridge Meeting House, Cane Ridge, Bourbon County, Commonwealth of Kentucky, United States of America10 September 1803–Presbyterian Church in the United States of AmericaSpringfield PresbyteryOn 10 September 1803, Barton W. Stone and others formed the Springfield presbytery, breaking away from the Kentucky Synod of the Presbyterian Church. Later, the presbytery was dissolved on 28 June 1804 and they adopted the name "Christian" to identify their group. Most of this movement united with the Campbell movement on 1 January 1832 with a handshake between Stone and "Raccoon" John Smith, to become the Restoration Movement.

Part of Restorationism.

Unitarian controversyHarvard Divinity School, Cambridge, Middlesex County, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, United States of America1804–Congregational churchesAmerican Unitarian AssociationThe schism broke out when Henry Ware replaced David Tappan, a moderate Calvinist, as Hollis Professor of Divinity.[107] It had its roots in the Old and New Lights dispute of the 1740s.[108]
Anti-Burgher schismScotland, Kingdom of Great Britain18061900Anti-BurghersAuld Lichts
New Lichts
Part of the Old and New Lights dispute. The majority of the Auld Licht Burghers joined the Free Church of Scotland and eventually reunited with the New Lights in the United Free Church of Scotland.[106]
Campbell movementWashington, Washington County, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States of America7 September 1809–Associate Reformed Presbyterian ChurchChristian Association of WashingtonOn 17 August 1809, Thomas Campbell and 21 of his associates formed the Christian Association of Washington, which becomes the Brush Run Church on 4 May 1811. Later they adopted the name "Disciples". They eventually merged with the above-mentioned Stone movement.

Part of Restorationism.

Arian schism in IrelandCookstown, County Tyrone, Ireland, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland18 August 1829–Synod of UlsterRemonstrant Synod of UlsterPart of the Old and New Lights controversy.[109]
Old Lutheran schismBreslau, Province of Silesia, Kingdom of Prussiac. 1830–Prussian Union of ChurchesOld Lutherans
Afscheiding of 1834Ulrum, Provincie Groningen, Kingdom of the Netherlands14 October 1834–Dutch Reformed ChurchReformed Churches under the Cross
Separated Christian Congregations
Irving movementAnnan, Annandale, Dumfriesshire, Scotland, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland14 July 1835–Church of ScotlandIrvingiansEdward Irving was deposed on the charges of heresy in March 1833. He died on 7 December 1834, and then in 14 July 1835, his followers formally established the Catholic Apostolic Church.

Part of Restorationism.

Thomas movementUnited States of America1837–Restoration MovementJohn Thomas and his associatesJohn Thomas was disfellowshipped on 1837, but his movement didn't have any official name until 1864, when it became "Christadelphians", to enable them to be conscientious objectors.

Part of Restorationism.

Prayer controversy of MagdeburgGnadau, Provinz Sachsen, Königreich Preußen, Deutscher Bund29 June 1841–Prussian Union of ChurchesFriends of the LightIn 1859, it merged with German Catholics to form the Union of Free Religious Congregations in Germany.
Disruption of 1843Scotland, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland23 May 18432 October 1929
(majority)
Church of ScotlandFree Church of ScotlandThe main conflict was over whether the Church of Scotland or the British Government had the power to control clerical positions and benefits. On 18 May 1843, 121 ministers and 73 elders led by David Welsh met at the Church of St Andrew in George Street, Edinburgh.[110] After Welsh read a Protest, the group left St. Andrews and walked down the hill to the Tanfield Hall at Canonmills. There they held the first meeting of the Free Church of Scotland, the Disruption Assembly. Thomas Chalmers was appointed the first Moderator. On 23 May 1843, a second meeting was held for the signing of the Act of Separation by the ministers. Eventually, 474 of about 1,200 ministers left the Church of Scotland for the Free Church.[111] The majority merged into the United Free Church of Scotland which returned to the Church of Scotland in 1929.[101]
Anglican schism of 1844United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland1844–Church of EnglandFree Church of England
Armenian Evangelical schismḲosṭanṭīnīye, Sancak-i Ḳosṭanṭīnīye, Eyālet-i Rūm-ėli, Ottoman Empire1 July 1846–Armenian Apostolic ChurchArmenian Evangelical ChurchPart of Eastern Protestant reformations/schisms.
Booth movementEast End of London, Middlesex, England and Wales, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland1861–Methodist New ConnexionWilliam Booth and his associatesWilliam Booth became an independent evangelist in 1861, and with his wife Catherine founded the East London Christian Mission on 2 July 1865 in the East End of London.[112] The name "The Salvation Army" developed from an incident on 19 and 20 May 1878.[113]

Part of Holiness movement.

Irvingian schism of 1863Berlin, Provinz Brandenburg, Kingdom of Prussia6 February 1863–Catholic Apostolic ChurchHamburg congregationFrancis Woodhouse wrote the formal expulsion of the Hamburg congregation, which eventually became the New Apostolic Church.

Part of Restorationism.

Mar Thoma schismĀmid/Diyār-i Bekr, Sancak-i Diyār-i Bekr, Kurdistan Eyalet, Ottoman Empire3 April 1865–Malankara ChurchMar Thoma Syrian ChurchPart of Eastern Protestant reformations/schisms.
Free Protestant movementWorms, Provinz Rheinhessen, Großherzogtum Hessen und bei Rhein, German Empire5 November 1875–Evangelical Church in HessenFree Protestants[114]
Salvation Army schism of 1884United States of America24 October 1884–Salvation ArmySalvation Army of AmericaThe international Salvation Army sued the Salvation Army of America, and in 1913 it became American Rescue Workers.
Doleantie of 1886Bijbelgordel7 February 18861 May 2004Dutch Reformed ChurchReformed Churches in the Netherlands[115]
Salvation Army schism of 1892Dominion of Canada30 September 1892–Salvation ArmyUnited Christian WorkersUnited Christian Workers became the Christian Workers' Church of Canada in 1922, and then Associated Gospel Churches in 1925.[116] It was federally incorporated March 18, 1925.[117]
Salvation Army schism of 1896Cooper Union, Manhattan, New York County, State of New York, United States of America8 March 1896–Volunteers of AmericaBallington and his wife Maud Booth founded the Volunteers of America in 8 March 1896 after disagreements with other Salvation Army leaders, including Ballington Booth's brother Bramwell Booth.

20th century schisms

Name of schism Original location of schism Start date Schism resolved Original Church body Resulting Church bodies or schismatic bodies Notes
Liberal Catholic movementEngland and Wales, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland13 February 1916–Church of EnglandLiberal Catholic ChurchJ. I. Wedgwood and Charles Webster Leadbeater, two Theosophists, founded the church. Wedgwood had been consecrated as a bishop in 1916 in England by Frederick Samuel Willoughby; Willoughby had been consecrated as bishop by Arnold Harris Mathew of the Old Roman Catholic Church in Great Britain, but had later been disowned by Mathew. Wedgwood then travelled to Australia and ordained and consecrated Leadbeater.[118][119][120]
Czechoslovak schism of 1924Praha, Bohemia, Czechoslovak Republic30 August 1924–Czechoslovak Hussite ChurchOrthodox Church of the Czech Lands and SlovakiaThe split occurred over apostolic succession.[121]
Split of 1924United States of Americac. 1924–Christian Reformed Church in North AmericaProtestant Reformed Churches in America
KirchenkampfDahlem, Zehlendorf, Berlin, Freistaat Preußen, German Reich20 October 193431 August 1945German Evangelical ChurchConfessing ChurchAfter the war, the Evangelical Church in Germany was founded.
PCUSA schism of 1936Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States of America11 June 1936–Presbyterian Church in the United States of AmericaPresbyterian Church of AmericaIn 1939, after PCUSA filed a lawsuit against the fledgling denomination for its name choice, the denomination adopted its current name, the Orthodox Presbyterian Church (OPC).[122]Part of Fundamentalist–modernist controversy.
GPdI schism of 1952Kota Surabaya, Provinsi Jawa Timur, Republic of Indonesia11 January 1952–Pentecostal Church in IndonesiaBethel Full Gospel Church of Indonesia
STECI schism of 1961Kerala, Republic of India1961–Mar Thoma Syrian ChurchSt. Thomas Evangelical Church of India[123]
Lutheran schism of 1963United States of America1963–Evangelical Lutheran Synodical Conference of North AmericaLutheran Church–Missouri Synod
Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod
Evangelical Lutheran Synod
The churches started to terminate their fellowships from 1955. ELS and WELS remain in fellowship after they left the conference.[124]
Anglican schism of 1966Kerala, Republic of India1966–Church of South IndiaCMS Anglican ChurchFounded by Dalit Christians and sees itself as the true Anglican church in India as opposed to the Syrian dominated united CSI.[125]
GBIS schism of 1970Kota Sukabumi, Provinsi Jawa Barat, Republic of Indonesia6 October 1970–Bethel Full Gospel Church of IndonesiaIndonesian Bethel Church
Church of God schism of 1972Kerala, Republic of India1972–Church of God (Full Gospel) in IndiaChurch of God (Kerala Division)
Church of God (Kerala State)
The church was divided across caste lines.[126]
GKT schism of 1976Kota Surabaya, Provinsi Jawa Timur, Republic of Indonesia5 October 1976–Indonesian Christ the Lord ChurchIndonesian Abdiel Christian Church
LCMS schism of 1976Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States of America3 December 1976–Lutheran Church–Missouri SynodAssociation of Evangelical Lutheran ChurchesDuring the 1960s, many clergy and members of the LCMS grew concerned about the direction of education at their flagship seminary, Concordia Seminary, in St. Louis, Missouri. Professors at Concordia Seminary had, in the 1950s and 1960s, begun to utilize the historical-critical method to analyze the Bible rather than the traditional historical-grammatical method that considered scripture to be the inerrant Word of God. After attempts at compromise failed, on January 20, 1974, the seminary Board of Control chose to suspend the seminary president[127] John Tietjen, leading to a walkout of most faculty and students, and the formation of Seminex. 200 liberal and moderate congregations split from the LCMS to form the Association of Evangelical Lutheran Churches (AELC), leaving the LCMS a more conservative body than it had been in 1969. The AELC itself would later merge with other liberal and moderate Lutheran churches to form the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).

Part of Fundamentalist–modernist controversy.

Continuing Anglican movementCity of St. Louis, State of Missouri, United States of America16 September 1977–Episcopal Church
Anglican Church of Canada
Fellowship of Concerned ChurchmenIn 1976, the General Convention of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America voted to approve the ordination of women to the priesthood and the episcopate, and also provisionally adopted a new and doctrinally controversial Book of Common Prayer, later called the 1979 version.[128] Between 14–16 September 1977, several thousand dissenting clergy and laypersons responded to those actions by meeting in St. Louis, Missouri, under the auspices of the Fellowship of Concerned Churchmen,[129] where they adopted a theological statement, the Affirmation of St. Louis.[130] The Affirmation expressed a determination "to continue in the Catholic Faith, Apostolic Order, Orthodox Worship, and Evangelical Witness of the traditional Anglican Church, doing all things necessary for the continuance of the same". Out of this meeting came a new church with the provisional name "Anglican Church in North America (Episcopal)". The first bishops of the new church, later named the Anglican Catholic Church, were consecrated on January 28, 1978, in Denver, Colorado.[131][132]
SBC schism of 1987Providence Baptist Church, Charlotte, State of North Carolina, United States of America12 February 1987–Southern Baptist ConventionSouthern Baptist AllianceThe Southern Baptist Alliance subsequently changed its name to the Alliance of Baptists in 1992.
GBI schism of 1990Daerah Khusus Ibukota Jakarta, Republic of Indonesia17 August 1990–Indonesian Bethel ChurchTiberias Ministry

21th century schisms

Name of schism Original location of schism Start date Schism resolved Original Church body Resulting Church bodies or schismatic bodies Notes
GBI schism of 2001Kota Surabaya, Provinsi Jawa Timur, Republic of Indonesia2001–Indonesian Bethel ChurchIndonesian Rose of Sharon Church
GBI schism of 2002Daerah Khusus Ibukota Jakarta, Republic of Indonesia19 July 2002–Indonesian Bethel ChurchIndonesian Antioch Gospel Church[133]
SBC schism of 2002Atlanta, Fulton County, State of Georgia, United States of America2002–Southern Baptist ConventionCooperative Baptist Fellowship
GBI schism of 2003Kota Surabaya, Provinsi Jawa Timur, Republic of Indonesia17 January 2003–Indonesian Bethel ChurchBethany Indonesian Church
Anglican schism of 2008West Chicago, DuPage County, State of Illinois, United States of America3 December 2008–Episcopal Church
Anglican Church of Canada
Common Cause PartnershipThe partnership founded the Anglican Church in North America on 22 June 2009.[134]

Part of Anglican realignment.

Lutheran schism of 2010Grove City, Franklin County, State of Ohio, United States of America27 August 2010–Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada
North American Lutheran Church
Bethany schism of 2012Kota Makassar, Provinsi Sulawesi Selatan, Republic of Indonesia13 August 2012–Bethany Indonesian Churchid:YHS Church
PCUSA schism of 2012Orlando, Orange County, State of Florida, United States of AmericaJanuary 2012–Presbyterian Church in the United States of AmericaECO: A Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians
GBI schism of 2018Daerah Khusus Ibukota Jakarta, Republic of Indonesia9 October 2018–Indonesian Bethel ChurchVoice of the Gospel Truth Church
Methodist schism of 2022United States of America1 May 2022–United Methodist ChurchGlobal Methodist Church
Anglican schism of 2022Commonwealth of AustraliaAugust 2022–Anglican Church of AustraliaDiocese of the Southern CrossPart of Anglican realignment.
GMS schism of 2024Kota Surabaya, Provinsi Jawa Timur, Republic of IndonesiaDecember 2024–Indonesian Rose of Sharon ChurchGospel Mission Stewards Church

Modern schisms from non-Protestant denominations

Name of schism Original location of schism Start date Schism resolved Original Church body Resulting Church bodies or schismatic bodies Notes
Saint Thomas Christian schismSouthern Indiac. 1665–Malabar ChurchSyro-Malabar Church
Malankara Church
After Coonan Cross Oath led to the first split among the Saint Thomas Christians. Thoma I was ordained by Gregorios Abdal Jaleel of the Syriac Orthodox Church. His cousin Palliveettil Chandy was consecrated by Catholic bishop Joseph Sebastiani leading to a schism between the Eastern Catholic Pazhayakoottukar and Oriental Orthodox Puthankoottukar.[135][136]
Russian schism of 1666Moskva, Tsardom of RussiaApril 1666–Russian Orthodox ChurchOld BelieversBetween 1653 and 1656, Patriarch Nikon of Moscow introduced numerous reforms to liturgical and ritual practices of the Russian Church. Tsar Alexis attempted to reconcile the controversy by convening the 1666–1667 Great Moscow Synod, where the old rite was anathemized and declared heretical, and the reformed rite was proclaimed universally binding, and in which ironically also saw the deposition of Patriarch Nikon. By the 1690s, the turbulence gradually waned, as Peter the Great relaxed the persecution of nonconformists, and the apocalyptic zeal diminished as the world evidently did not end. In the following decades, the surviving dissenter communities who retained the old forms mostly evolved into the Old Believers, a loose movement defined by rejection of Nikon's reforms, but also to more radical sectarians like the Khlysts (flagellants).
Thozhiyoor schism of 1772Kerala, India1772–Malankara ChurchMalabar Independent Syrian Church[137]
German Catholic movementLeipzig, Kreishauptmannschaft Leipzig, Königreich Sachsen, Deutscher Bund23 March 1845–Catholic ChurchGerman CatholicsIn the 15 October 1844 issue of the Sächsische Vaterlandsblätter, Johannes Ronge, a Roman Catholic priest in Silesia, published a vigorous attack upon Wilhelm Arnoldi, bishop of Trier since 1842, for having ordered (for the first time since 1810) the exposition of the alleged seamless robe of Jesus, an event that drew countless pilgrims to the cathedral.[138] Bishop Arnoldi had proclaimed that the artifact had healing powers, and accompanied the exhibition of the holy coat by a promise of plenary indulgence to whoever should make a pilgrimage to Trier to honor it. Ronge denounced the projected pilgrimages as idolatry.

Ronge, who had formerly been chaplain at Grottkau, was then a schoolmaster at Laurahütte.[138] He had already been suspended from his charge on account of his independent views. Ronge's article made a great sensation, and led to his excommunication by the chapter of Breslau in December 1844. The ex-priest received much public sympathy, and a dissenting congregation calling itself the "New Catholics" was soon formed at Breslau.[138] They were later forced to change their name from "New Catholics" to "German Catholics".[139]

In 1859, it merged with Friends of the Light to form the Union of Free Religious Congregations in Germany.

Old Catholic movementMinga, Regiarungsbeziak Obabayern, Kinereich Bayern, German Empire24 September 1871–Old Catholic ChurchAfter the First Vatican Council (1869–1870), several groups of Catholics in Austria-Hungary, German Empire, and Switzerland rejected the Catholic dogma of Papal infallibility in matters of faith and morals, and left to form their own churches.[140]

From 22–24 September 1871, a convention in Munich attracted several hundred participants, including Church of England and Protestant observers. Döllinger, an excommunicated Catholic priest and church historian, was a notable leader of the movement but was never a member of an Old Catholic church.[140]

Later on, these churches formed the Union of Utrecht of the Old Catholic Churches.

Goan SchismBrahmavar, Udipi, Karnataka, India29 July 1889–Konkani Orthodox Church Alvares Mar Julius was excommunicated from the Catholic Church, stripped naked & paraded through the streets. He left the church with some hundreds of Catholic Christian families in what was Portuguese Goa; to join the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church in British India.
Aglipayan schismCentro de Bellas Artes, Quiapo, City of Manila, Philippine Insular Government, United States of America3 August 1902–Philippine Independent ChurchFollowing the end of the Philippine–American War, Isabelo de los Reyes, together with the members of Unión Obrera Democrática Filipina, formally founded and publicly proclaimed the commencement of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente (abbreviated as IFI and translated to "Philippine Independent Church" in English) on 3 August 1902.[141]
Malankara schism of 1912Kerala, India1912–Malankara Syrian ChurchMalankara Orthodox Syrian Church
Malankara Jacobite Syrian Church
A long-standing schism between the autocephalous Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church and the autonomous Malankara Jacobite Syrian Church under the Syriac Orthodox Church. Though it originated in 1912, it remains a major 21st-century conflict with a terminal legal conclusion made by the Supreme Court of India in 2017.
Malankara schism of 1930Kerala, India1930–Syro-Malankara Catholic ChurchA faction of the Malankara Church formed a full communion with the Catholic Church.[142]
Mariavite schism of 1935Second Polish Republic29 January 1935–Mariavite ChurchCatholic Mariavite ChurchThe schism was result of the deposition of Maria Michał Kowalski.[143]
Greek Old Calendarist schism of 1935Republic of Greece26 May 1935 N.S.–Church of GreeceOld Calendarists in GreeceThe Church of Greece adopted the Revised Julian calendar, also called 'New Calendar' in 1924. At first, resistance to it was muted, with a small number of laymen, priests and monks, whose number grew over the years.[144][145] The situation changed in 1935 when three Church of Greece bishops joined the movement and consecrated four new bishops.[145][144] Metropolitan Chrysostomos (Kavourides) of Florina emerged to become its leader. Three out of those seven bishops ended up rejoining the Church of Greece, and the four remaining ones created the Old Calendarist Holy Synod on 13 May 1935.[146]

Part of True Orthodox movement.

Greek Old Calendarist schism of 1937Kingdom of Greece18 September 1937 N.S.–Old Calendarists in GreeceChrysostomos (Kavourides) line
Matthaios (Karpoudakis) line
The Greek Old Calendarists experienced schism in 1937, due to a disagreement on the validity of the sacraments performed by members of churches which have adopted the reformed calendar.[144] After Chrysostomos, head of the Holy Synod, refused to declare the sacraments of the New Calendarists as graceless, bishop Matthew led the group which seceded from the Holy Synod.[146]

Part of True Orthodox movement.

American-Ruthenian SchismUnited States of America1938-Ruthenian Greek Catholic ChurchAmerican Carpatho-Russian Orthodox DioceseOrestes (Chornock) of Agathonikeia led 37 Uniate parishes into jurisdiction of Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople following series of Latinizations by Papacy and Latin-rite American hierarchy.
Romanian Old Calendarist schism of 1955Socialist Republic of Romania5 April 1955–Romanian Orthodox ChurchOld Calendarists in RomaniaThe Romanian Orthodox Church adopted the revised calendar in 1924, which fomented the Old Calendarist movement there.[144][146] The abbot of Prokof, Glycerius Tănase, became the head of the movement. The Greek Old Calendarist hierarchs did not manage to consecrate him a bishop due to the interventions from the Greek state., and so the Old Calendarist movement in Romania was only composed of priests and laypeople, including several hundreds monks from Mount Athos until 1955, when Metropolitan Galaction Cordun joined the movement.[144][146] Since December 2022, the Old Calendar Orthodox Church of Romania is not in communion with any other groups.[147]

Part of True Orthodox movement.

Sedevacantist movementSt. Peter's Basilica, Vatican Cityc. 1963–Catholic ChurchSedevacantist groupsThe movement believes in a permanent sede vacante since the 1958 conclave, 1963 conclave or the Second Vatican Council.
Assyrian schism of 1964St. Zaia Cathedral, Baġdād, Muḥāfaẓat Baġdād, Republic of Iraq1964–Church of the EastAncient Church of the East
Schism of MontanerOrthodox Church of Montaner, Montaner, Comune di Sarmede, Provincia di Treviso, Regione del Veneto, Italian Republic26 December 1967–Roman Catholic Diocese of Vittorio Venetoalmost all parishioners in MontanerToday, the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox communities still exist within the village, though divisions remain.
Palmarian movementLa Alcaparrosa, El Palmar de Troya, Provincia de Sevilla, Comunidad autónoma de Andalucía, Kingdom of Spain6 August 1978–Catholic ChurchPalmarian Christian ChurchThe origins of the Palmarian Christian Church, commonly known as the Palmarian (Catholic) Church, as a distinct body can be traced back to the alleged Marian apparitions of Our Lady of Palmar, which took place in Andalusia, Spain, from 1968 onward.
Giguère movementCathedral Basilica of Notre-Dame de Québec, Quebec City, Province of Quebec, Canada4 May 1987–Community of the Lady of All NationsIt was founded in 1971 by Marie-Paule Giguère in Quebec as a prayer group, and then was formally approved as a Roman Catholic "pious association" in 1975, but was rescinded by the Archbishop of Quebec after Giguère announced herself the reincarnation of the Blessed Virgin Mary.[148] On 4 May 1987, the Archbishop of Quebec, Cardinal Louis-Albert Vachon, withdrew the approval of his predecessor, and on declared the movement schismatic and disqualified it as a Catholic association due to its false teachings. On 11 July 2007, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith issued a declaration of excommunication against the group for heretical teachings and beliefs after a six-year investigation. The declaration was announced by the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops on 12 September 2007.
Lefebvrian schism of 1988Écône, Commune de Riddes, District de Martigny, Canton du Valais, Swiss Confederation30 June 198824 January 2009Priestly Fraternity of Saint Pius XThe Priestly Fraternity of Saint Pius X, commonly known as the Society of Saint Pius X, is a Traditionalist Catholic priestly fraternity founded in 1970 by Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre.[149] Tensions between the Society and the Holy See climaxed with the 1988 Écône consecrations when Archbishop Lefebvre consecrated four bishops without the papal Mandate and against a personal warning by Pope John Paul II,[150] resulting in the papal declaration that all the consecrators and the consecratees had incurred Latæ Sententiæ excommunication.[151]

On 24 January 2009, Pope Benedict XVI lifted the excommunications of the four consecratees, but the Society did not return into full communion with the Holy See.

Teruel movementRepublic of the Philippines13 July 1991–Holy Trinity Catholic movementIt started in the early 1970s as the Holy Trinity Catholic movement, a Catholic lay organization in Hermosa, Bataan founded by Maria Virginia Leonzon.[152] On 13 July 1991 her son, John Florentine Teruel, was consecrated patriarch by Old Catholic and Orthodox bishops, and the organization formally separated itself from the Catholic Church. It was then registered as the Apostolic Catholic Church on 7 June 1992. By that time, the movement had already spread throughout the Philippines, Hong Kong, Australia, Canada and the United States of America.[152]
Bulgarian Old Calendarist schism of 1993Republic of Bulgaria17 January 1993–Bulgarian Orthodox ChurchOld Calendarists in BulgariaThe Bulgarian Orthodox Church adopted the revised Julian calendar in 1968. The Protection Convent near Sofia became a center of the resistance to this adoption. In 1993, Fotiy Siromakhov of Triadista was consecrated bishop by the Cyprianite Old Calendarist Church to be hierarch of the Bulgarian Old Calendarists.[146] On 16 December 2024, the Supreme Court of Cassation ruled in favor of the Old Calendar Bulgarian Orthodox Church entering the register of religious denominations.[153][154] This action was accepted by the Bulgarian Orthodox Church as the creation of a schism.[155]

Part of True Orthodox movement.

ROCOR schism of 1994Francis F. Palmer House, Manhattan, New York County, State of New York, United States of America5 April 1994–Russian Orthodox Church Outside of RussiaRussian Orthodox Free ChurchThe Russian Orthodox Free Church later became Russian Orthodox Autonomous Church in October 1998.

Part of True Orthodox movement.

ROCOR schism of 2001CanadaOctober 2001–Russian Orthodox Church in ExileThis movement later renamed themselves Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia; in common parlance ROCOR-Vitaly or ROCOR(V).

Part of True Orthodox movement.

Athos schism of 2002Esphigmenou, Mount Athos, Hellenic Republic14 December 2002–Ecumenical Patriarchate of ConstantinopleEsphigmenou monksPart of True Orthodox movement.[156]
Lefebvrian schism of 2026Écône, Riddes, District de Martigny, Canton du Valais, Swiss Confederation1 July 2026–Catholic ChurchSociety of Saint Pius X

See also

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Sources

Further reading

  • Chaillot, Christine; Belopopsky, Alexander (1998). Towards Unity. The Theological Dialogue between the Orthodox Church and the Oriental Orthodox Churches. Geneva: Inter-Orthodox Dialogue. ISBN 9788390695846.
  • Dvornik, Francis (2008). The Photian Schism: History and Legend. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9780521101769.
  • Frend, W. H. C. (2000). The Donatist Church: A Movement of Protest in Roman North Africa. Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0198264088.
  • Ionita, Viorel (2014). "Bilateral Theological Dialogues of Orthodox Churches – a General Introduction". Orthodox Handbook on Ecumenism. Pantelis Kalaitzidis, Thomas Fitzgerald, Cyril Hovorun, Aikaterini Pekridou, Nikolaos Asproulis, Guy Liagre, Dietrich Werner (1st ed.). Oxford: Regnum book international. pp. 457–472. ISBN 978-1-908355-44-7.
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