Michael I of Constantinople (Cerularius or Keroularios (Greek: Μιχαὴλ Κηρουλάριος;
c. 1000 – 21 January 1059) was the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople from 1043
to 1059. His disputes with Pope Leo IX over church practices in the 11th century
played a role in the events that led to the Great Schism in 1054.[1]
Background
Michael Cerularius was born in Constantinople around 1000 and joined the Church at
a young age.[citation needed]
Schism
Michael I quarreled with Pope Leo IX over church practices in which the Roman
Church differed from Constantinople, particularly the use of unleavened bread in
the Eucharist.[2] Dissenting opinions were also exchanged over other theological
and cultural issues, ranging from the issue of papal supremacy in the Church to the
Filioque clause and other disagreements between the patriarchates.[citation needed]
In 1054, Pope Leo IX sent a letter to Michael I, citing a large portion of the
Donation of Constantine believing it genuine:[3]
"The first pope who used it [the Donation] in an official act and relied upon
it, was Leo IX; in a letter of 1054 to Michael Cærularius, Patriarch of
Constantinople, he cites the "Donatio" to show that the Holy See possessed both an
earthly and a heavenly imperium, the royal priesthood".
Some scholars say that this letter of September 1053, the text of which is
available in Jacques Paul Migne, Patrologia Latina, vol. 143, coll. 744–769, was
never actually dispatched, but was set aside, and that the papal reply actually
sent was the softer but still harsh letter Scripta tuae of January 1054.[4]
Pope Leo IX assured Michael I that the donation was completely genuine, not a fable
or old wives' tale,[citation needed] arguing that only the apostolic successor to
Peter possessed primacy in the Church.
This letter of Pope Leo IX addressed both to Patriarch Michael I and Archbishop Leo
of Ohrid, was in response to a letter sent by Archbishop Leo to Bishop John of
Trani that categorically attacked the customs of the Latin Church that differed
from those of the Greeks. Especially criticised were the Roman traditions of
fasting on the Saturday Sabbath and consecration of unleavened bread. Leo IX in his
letter accused Constantinople of historically being a center of heresies and
claimed in emphatic terms the primacy of the bishop of Rome over the patriarch of
Constantinople. Michael I would have none of it. It can be argued that in 1054,
Michael's letter to Leo IX initiated the events which followed because it claimed
the title "Ecumenical patriarch" and addressed Pope Leo IX as "brother" rather than
"father".[citation needed]
Pope Leo IX sent an official delegation on a legatine mission to meet with Michael
I. Members of the papal delegation were Cardinal Humbert of Silva Candida, papal
secretary Frederick of Lorraine, and Archbishop Peter of Amalfi. Soon after their
arrival in Constantinople, news was received that Pope Leo IX had died on 19 April.
Since the official position and authority of papal legates was dependent upon the
pope who authorised them to represent him, the news of Leo IX's death placed his
envoys in an awkward position.[5] In spite of this, they decided to proceed with
their mission, but even before any religious discussions were held, problems arose
regarding some basic formalities and ceremonies. During the initial audience,
Michael I refused to meet with papal envoys in their official capacity and left
them waiting with no further audience for months.
During that time, from April to July 1054, Cardinal Humbert and his colleagues
continued with their activities in Constantinople, taking part in informal
religious discussions on various issues. This was seen as inappropriate by
Patriarch Michael I. Despite the fact that their legatine authority officially
ceased after the pope's death, Cardinal Humbert and his colleagues decided to
engage in open dispute with the patriarch. On Saturday, 16 July 1054, they produced
a charter of excommunication (lat. charta excommunicationis),[6] directed against
Patriarch Michael I, Archbishop Leo of Ohrid, and all of their followers. On the
same day, Cardinal Humbert and his colleagues entered the church of the Hagia
Sophia during the divine liturgy and placed the charter on the altar.[5]
Soon after that, the patriarch decided to react. On 20 July 1054, a synod of 21
metropolitans and bishops was held in Constantinople, presided over by Michael I.
The council decided to excommunicate Cardinal Humbert and his colleagues.[7][8]
Only the three men were anathematised, and a general reference was made to all who
support them - there was no explicit excommunication of the entire Western
Christianity, or of the Church of Rome. On Sunday 24 July, the conciliar anathema
was officially proclaimed in the Hagia Sophia Church.
The events of 1054 caused the East–West Schism and led to the end of the alliance
between the Byzantine emperors and the Popes. Later popes allied with the Normans
against the Byzantine Empire. Patriarch Michael I closed the Latin churches in his
area, which exacerbated the schism. In 1965, those excommunications were rescinded
by Pope Paul VI and Patriarch Athenagoras following their 1964 meeting in
Jerusalem.[9]
Although the excommunication delivered by Cardinal Humbert was invalid, the 1965
gesture represented a significant step towards restoring communion between Rome and
Constantinople.[citation needed]
