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===New Rome===
When the Roman Emperor Constantine the Great embraced Christianity, he summoned the [[First Ecumenical Council]] at [[Nicea]] in 325 to resolve a number of issues which troubled the Church. The bishops at the council confirmed the position of the metropolitan [[see]]s of Rome and Alexandria as having authority outside their own province, and also the existing privileges of the churches in Antioch and the other provinces.<ref>"Let the ancient customs in Egypt, Libya and Pentapolis prevail, that the Bishop of Alexandria have jurisdiction in all these, since the like is customary for the Bishop of Rome also. Likewise in Antioch and the other provinces, let the Churches retain their privileges" (First Ecumenical Council, [http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf214.vii.vi.viii.html Canon VI]).</ref> These sees were later called [[Patriarchate]]s and were given an order of precedence: Rome, as capital of the empire was naturally given first place, then came Alexandria and Antioch. In a separate canon the Council also approved the special honor given to Jerusalem over other sees subject to the same metropolitan.<ref>"Since custom and ancient tradition have prevailed that the Bishop of Ælia [i.e., Jerusalem] should be honouredhonored, let him, saving its due dignity to the Metropolis, have the next place of honourhonor" (First Ecumenical Council, [http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf214.vii.vi.x.html Canon VII]</ref>
===Five patriarchs===
A major sticking point is the style of church government. The Orthodox Church has always maintained the original position of [[collegiality]] of the bishops.
The Orthodox Church has also emphasised emphasized 'economia', or a certain amount of flexibility in the rules depending upon the exigencies of a particular situation.
Some of the Orthodox Churches unofficially acknowledge [[Apostolic succession]] within the Catholic Church and admit the validity of its episcopal ordination. The relationship between the Antiochian Orthodox and the Maronite Catholic bishops is a case in point. Some Orthodox Churches do not require baptism in the case of a convert already baptized in the Catholic Church, Most Orthodox Churches allow marriages between members of the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church. The Catholic Church allows its clergy to administer the sacraments of Penance, the Eucharist and Anointing of the Sick to members of the Eastern Orthodox Church, if these spontaneously ask for the sacraments and are properly disposed.<ref>[http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/chrstuni/general-docs/rc_pc_chrstuni_doc_19930325_directory_en.html ''Directory for the Application of Principles and Norms on Ecumenism'', 125]; cf. [http://www.intratext.com/IXT/ENG0017/_P2S.HTM ''Code of Canon Law'', canon 844 §3] and [http://www.intratext.com/IXT/ENG1199/_PIN.HTM ''Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches'', canon 671 §3]</ref> It also allows Catholics who cannot approach a Catholic minister to receive these three sacraments from clergy of the Eastern Orthodox Church, whenever necessity requires or a genuine spiritual advantage commends it, and provided the danger of error or indifferentism is avoided.<ref>[http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/chrstuni/general-docs/rc_pc_chrstuni_doc_19930325_directory_en.html ''Directory for the Application of Principles and Norms on Ecumenism'', 123]; cf. [http://www.intratext.com/IXT/ENG0017/_P2S.HTM ''Code of Canon Law'', canon 844 §2] and [http://www.intratext.com/IXT/ENG1199/_PIN.HTM ''Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches'', canon 671 §2]</ref> Catholic canon law allows marriage between a Catholic and an Orthodox only if permission is obtained from the Catholic bishop.<ref>[http://www.intratext.com/IXT/ENG1199/_PML.HTM ''Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches'', canon 813] and [http://www.intratext.com/IXT/ENG0017/_P40.HTM ''Code of Canon Law'', canon 1124]</ref> The Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches authorizes the local Catholic bishop to permit a Catholic priest, of whatever rite, to bless the marriage of Orthodox faithful who being unable without great difficulty to approach a priest of their own Church, ask for this spontaneously.<ref>[http://www.intratext.com/IXT/ENG1199/_PN5.HTM ''Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches'', canon 833]</ref> In exceptional circumstances Catholics may, in the absence of an authorized priest, marry before witnesses. If a priest who is not authorized for the celebration of the marriage is available, he should be called in, although the marriage is valid even without his presence.<ref>[http://www.intratext.com/IXT/ENG0017/_P3Z.HTM ''Code of Canon Law'', canon 1116] and [http://www.intratext.com/IXT/ENG1199/_PN4.HTM ''Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches'', canon 832]</ref> The Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches specifies that, in those exceptional circumstances, even a "non-Catholic" priest (and so not necessarily one belonging to an Eastern Church) may be called in.<ref>[http://www.intratext.com/IXT/ENG1199/_PN4.HTM ''Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches'', canon 832]</ref>
*[http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/587056/Schism-of-1054 Encyclopaedia Britannica: ''Schism of 1054'']
*[http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/paul_vi/speeches/1965/documents/hf_p-vi_spe_19651207_common-declaration_en.html Joint Catholic-Orthodox Declaration of Pope Paul VI and Ecumenical Patriarch Athenagoras I, 7 December 1965]
*[http://www.bbcgreatschism.co.ukorg/radio4/history/inourtime/inourtime_20031016Great-Eastern-Schism.shtml BBC Radio 4 round table: ''In Our Time: html Great Schism'' (16 October 2003)of 1054] (audio)
==Notes==
