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Year 7

The Eastern Orthodox Church

I can explain the features of the Eastern Orthodox Church and the extent to which Christianity was transformed by the Great Schism.

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New
New
Year 7

The Eastern Orthodox Church

I can explain the features of the Eastern Orthodox Church and the extent to which Christianity was transformed by the Great Schism.

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. The Eastern Orthodox Church was led by a patriarch.
  2. The patriarch was based in the city of Constantinople.
  3. Eastern Orthodoxy and Roman Catholicism share many similarities and several differences.
  4. There were elements of both change and continuity within Christianity after the Great Schism in 1054.

Common misconception

Different religious denominations believe very different things from each other.

Different denominations within a religion will almost certainly believe the same fundamental things about their religion, but will differ over the details of belief or liturgy.

Keywords

  • Schism - a schism is a split between strongly opposed parties

  • Patriarch - patriarch is the title used by the head of the Eastern Orthodox Church

For the final task, students can stand in the classroom along a continuum line to demonstrate what they believe to be the extent of the transformation of Christianity. Students can then be chosen to explain the reason behind where they are standing.
Teacher tip

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Members of the Roman Catholic Church were organised according to their...
piety
Correct answer: importance
wealth
location
Q2.
The leader of the Catholic Church is known as the ...
Correct answer: pope
cardinal
archbishop
bishop
Q3.
Pope Leo IX was unhappy that many members of the clergy had ...
Correct answer: their own families
their own land
their own ideas
Q4.
was when people could buy a position in the Church.
Correct Answer: Simony, simony
Q5.
Leo came into conflict with the Normans in southern...
Correct Answer: Italy, italy
Q6.
Under Leo and Gregory's reforms, some __________ lost their power and status in society.
bishops
Correct answer: women
kings
cardinals

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Eastern Orthodox Christianity was the religion of the Empire.
Correct Answer: Byzantine, byzantine
Q2.
The periodic destruction of __________ took place throughout the Byzantine Empire.
churches
religious texts
Correct answer: religious artwork
Q3.
The Eastern Orthodox Church forbade the religious use of...
Correct Answer: sculptures, sculpture
Q4.
What happened to the relationship between the Eastern and Western Churches after the Great Schism?
It improved.
It stayed the same.
Correct answer: It got worse.
Q5.
Match the practice or belief to the correct Church.
Correct Answer:Catholic eucharist,used unleavened bread

used unleavened bread

Correct Answer:Orthodox eucharist,used leavened bread dipped in wine

used leavened bread dipped in wine

Correct Answer:Catholic belief about the Holy Spirit,the Holy Spirit comes from both God and Jesus

the Holy Spirit comes from both God and Jesus

Correct Answer:Orthodox belief about the Holy Spirit,the Holy Spirit comes only from God

the Holy Spirit comes only from God

Q6.
Which of these statements best compares the two Churches after the Great Schism?
Correct answer: Some differences in belief and practice, but many similarities.
Many differences in belief and practice, with no real similarities.
Many similarities in belief and practice, with no real differences.

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