Great Schism- 1054 AD

Q: Pope, why did you have somebody excommunicate the patriarch of Constantinople?

A: I had the patriarch of Constantinople excommunicated because I wanted rule the church by myself and give the patriarch less power.

Q: Why did you excommunicate the Pope, patriarch of Constantinople?

A: I had the Pope excommunicated because of revenge to him doing so to me. He wanted me to have less power so when I excommunicated him he lost power.

Background-

Both of the excommunications caused a split in the church. Two sides of the Church were created. They were called, the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church.

"Schism of 1054." World History: Ancient and Medieval Eras. ABC-CLIO, 2010. Web. 10 Nov. 2010.