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==The First Century of the Second Millennium: A.D. 1001 to 1100==

==The First Century of the Second Millennium: A.D. 1001 to 1100==

The second millennium began in the 1000s with a century of turmoil as Christianity grew larger and Islam continued to challenge it.  Two key dates were 1054, when the schism or split occurred between the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches, and 1055, when the Seljuk Turks captured Baghdad in present-day Iraq.  Both events then set the stage for a massive struggle between Christian and Moslem forces in Palestine.

The second millennium began in the 1000s with a century of turmoil as Christianity grew larger and Islam continued to challenge it.  '''Two key dates were 1054, when the schism or split occurred between the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches, and 1055, when the Seljuk Turks captured Baghdad in present-day Iraq.''' Both events then set the stage for a massive struggle between Christian and Muslim forces in Palestine.

In 1054, the Byzantine empire established its own church, known as the “Eastern Orthodox Church.”  This church resulted from the “Great Schism” in the Roman Catholic Church, which was much different from the Protestant Reformation that occurred centuries later.  This Great Schism resulted in two separate churches, each of which claimed to be the true Catholic Church.  In contrast, the Protestant Reformation did not result in two large churches making similar assertions of authority.

'''In 1054, the Byzantine empire established its own church, known as the “Eastern Orthodox Church.”  This church resulted from the “Great Schism” in the Roman Catholic Church''', which was much different from the Protestant Reformation that occurred centuries later.  This Great Schism resulted in two separate churches, each of which claimed to be the true Catholic Church.  In contrast, the Protestant Reformation did not result in two large churches making similar assertions of authority.

The Great Schism began with a controversy over the popular use of icons and then spread to other issues such as whether priests could marry and whether divorce would be allowed.  There was also a doctrinal dispute underlying a single term, “filioque”.   

The Great Schism began with a controversy over the popular use of icons and then spread to other issues such as whether priests could marry and whether divorce would be allowed.  There was also a doctrinal dispute underlying a single term, “filioque”.   

“Filioque” means “and the Son,” a phrase from the Nicene Creed, the statement of faith that united Christians against heresies.  Roman Emperor Constantine adopted this Creed in A.D. 325.  The Nicene Creed includes this:  “We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son.”<ref> http://anglicansonline.org/basics/nicene.html</ref>  The Western Church (Rome) believed that the Holy Spirit originates from both Jesus and His Father, but Eastern Christians believed that the Holy Spirit originates ''only'' from God the Father.

“Filioque” means “and the Son,” a phrase from the Nicene Creed, the statement of faith that united Christians against heresies.  Roman Emperor Constantine adopted this Creed in A.D. 325.  The Nicene Creed includes this:  “We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son.”<ref> http://anglicansonline.org/basics/nicene.html</ref>  The Western Church (Rome) believed that the Holy Spirit originates from both Jesus and His Father, but '''Eastern Christians believed that the Holy Spirit originates ''only'' from God the Father.'''

The dispute over the use of icons is easier to understand.  The word “icon” comes from the Greek word “eikon” for “image”.  The Eastern Orthodox Church embraced icons but rejected three-dimensional statutes.  The Eastern Orthodox Church also allowed its priests to marry, and permitted divorce.  The Roman Catholic Church took the opposite position on all three issues by allowing statutes, prohibiting marriage by priests, and prohibiting divorce.  There were also minor differences.  In an Orthodox wedding ceremony there is no public exchange of vows between husband and wife.  That is considered for them to decide privately.

The dispute over the use of icons is easier to understand.  The word “icon” comes from the Greek word “eikon” for “image”.  The Eastern Orthodox Church embraced icons but rejected three-dimensional statutes.  The Eastern Orthodox Church also allowed its priests to marry, and permitted divorce.  The Roman Catholic Church took the opposite position on all three issues by allowing statutes, prohibiting marriage by priests, and prohibiting divorce.  There were also minor differences.  In an Orthodox wedding ceremony there is no public exchange of vows between husband and wife.  That is considered for them to decide privately.

These churches – the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church – also disagreed about the authority of the pope, a dispute that contributed centuries later to a split between Catholics and Protestants.  To this day there have been many unsuccessful attempts to reunite East and West.  But now there are many little differences.  Both churches make a sign of the Cross, but the final “cross” motion in making the sign is from left-to-right for the Catholics and from right-to-left for the Eastern Orthodox.  Another difference is that the Eastern Orthodox Church absolutely prohibits cremation after death, while the practice has recently become widespread among Catholics.  The Eastern Orthodox Church also determines the date for Easter in a different manner from the Western Church, and often they are on different Sundays.

These churches – the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church – also disagreed about the authority of the pope, a dispute that contributed centuries later to a split between Catholics and Protestants.  To this day there have been many unsuccessful attempts to reunite East and West.  But now there are many little differences.  Both churches make a sign of the Cross, but the final “cross” motion in making the sign is from left-to-right for the Catholics and from right-to-left for the Eastern Orthodox.  Another difference is that the Eastern Orthodox Church absolutely prohibits cremation after death, while the practice has been allowed by many Catholics.  The Eastern Orthodox Church also determines the date for Easter in a different manner from the Western Church, and often they are on different Sundays.

The Eastern Orthodox Church remains the dominant church in Russia and many countries of Eastern Europe (including Greece) and Asia, but is no longer influential in the home of the former Byzantine empire, which is Turkey, which is 99% Muslim.  There are many adherents of the Eastern Orthodox Church today in the United States.

The Eastern Orthodox Church remains the dominant church in Russia and many countries of Eastern Europe (including Greece) and Asia, but is no longer influential in the home of the former Byzantine empire, which is Turkey, which is 97% Muslim.  There are many adherents of the Eastern Orthodox Church today in the United States.

The Eastern Orthodox Church and particularly its Saint Cyril were extremely influential in converting the Slavic regions of Eastern Europe (including Russia) to Christianity.  Saint Cyril even established a new alphabet for the purpose of teaching the Slavs to read the Bible.  His Cyrillic alphabet remains the basis of the alphabet for Russia and other Slavic countries.

The Eastern Orthodox Church and particularly its Saint Cyril were extremely influential in converting the Slavic regions of Eastern Europe (including Russia) to Christianity.  Saint Cyril even established a new alphabet for the purpose of teaching the Slavs to read the Bible.  His Cyrillic alphabet remains the basis of the alphabet for Russia and other Slavic countries.

After the Great Schism, the Catholic Church strengthened its organizational structure in 1059 when it established the College of Cardinals to elect future popes, thereby ensuring a smooth transition from pope to pope that has continued to this day.  At that time power in Western Europe was centered in two places:  Germany, where the Saxons ruled, and Rome, where the papacy presided.  Their relationship was sometimes friendly, sometimes not-so-friendly.  Smaller kingdoms in France and England existed also.

After the Great Schism, the Catholic Church strengthened its organizational structure in 1059 when it established the College of Cardinals to elect future popes, thereby ensuring a smooth transition from pope to pope that has continued to this day.  At that time power in Western Europe was centered in two places:  Germany, where the Saxons ruled, and Rome, where the papacy presided.  Their relationship was sometimes friendly, sometimes not-so-friendly.  Smaller kingdoms in France and England existed also.

The most important pope in the first century of the new millennium was Pope Gregory VII, who reigned from 1073 to 1085.  He is known for ending the control of the western church by the secular (non-church) rulers, particularly by abolishing “lay investiture,” by which non-church lords had control over the choice of bishops, abbots and other church officials.  Pope Gregory excommunicated the German King Henry IV because he insisted on installing bishops.  Henry IV then crossed the Alps in wintertime to seek forgiveness and absolution from the pope in the Canossa incident in 1077.  Historians today view the incident as an example of humiliation of a king by a religious leader.  Pope Gregory forgave him, but then Henry IV continued to demand control and even removal of Pope Gregory, ultimately causing Gregory to flee from Rome in 1084 in order to survive.  Pope Gregory then died a year later, while Henry IV lived on for another 20 years.  This conflict by Germany and Rome would emerge again with the Protestant Reformation hundreds of years later.

'''The most important pope in the first century of the new millennium was Pope Gregory VII, who reigned from 1073 to 1085.''' He is known for ending the control of the western church by the secular (non-church) rulers, particularly by abolishing “lay investiture,” by which non-church lords had control over the choice of bishops, abbots and other church officials.  Pope Gregory excommunicated the German King Henry IV because he insisted on installing bishops.  Henry IV then crossed the Alps in wintertime to seek forgiveness and absolution from the pope in the Canossa incident in 1077.  Historians today view the incident as an example of humiliation of a king by a religious leader.  Pope Gregory forgave him, but then Henry IV continued to demand control and even removal of Pope Gregory, ultimately causing Gregory to flee from Rome in 1084 in order to survive.  Pope Gregory then died a year later, while Henry IV lived on for another 20 years.  This conflict by Germany and Rome would emerge again with the Protestant Reformation hundreds of years later.

Meanwhile, Christianity continued to grow in power based on the productive feudal system.  The Christians defeated the Muslims in Spain in 1085 at the battle of Toledo, beginning the process of converting Spain back to Christianity after hundreds of years of Moslem rule.   

Meanwhile, Christianity continued to grow in power based on the productive feudal system.  The Christians defeated the Muslims in Spain in 1085 at the battle of Toledo, beginning the process of converting Spain back to Christianity after hundreds of years of Muslim rule.   

Several strict Christian religious orders were established in the 1000s in Europe, including the Carthusian Order (1086) and the Cistercian Order (1098).  There are monks today who continue to belong to these orders.  Both orders require silence and vegetarianism, in addition to giving up all worldly possessions.  The Carthusians lived (and still live) like hermits; the Cistercians spread Christianity and western farming knowledge to Eastern Europe, hosting many retreats for citizens to attend and participate in a week or weekend of prayer and learning.  At its peak, the Cistercians had over 700 monasteries.   

Several strict Christian religious orders were established in the 1000s in Europe, including the Carthusian Order (1086) and the Cistercian Order (1098).  There are monks today who continue to belong to these orders.  Both orders require silence and vegetarianism, in addition to giving up all worldly possessions.  The Carthusians lived (and still live) like hermits; the Cistercians spread Christianity and western farming knowledge to Eastern Europe, hosting many retreats for citizens to attend and participate in a week or weekend of prayer and learning.  At its peak, the Cistercians had over 700 monasteries.