Filioque clause

The early period of the Christian church was troubled by a number of heresies dissensions about the nature and relationship of the three Persons of the Trinity. In the West the [Holy Spirit]? was seen as coming from the Father and the Son, though subordinate to neither. In the Eastern part of the (as yet) undivided Catholic church the spirit was seen as coming from the Father through the Son. The phrase and the son, (in Latin, filioque), was first added to the Nicene creed in Spain in the 4th century. The formula was adopted at Rome as early as 447 by [Pope Leo I]?. The [Eastern orthodox]? churches refused to accept a formula which they saw as an innovation in doctrine, and the dispute, though it had not caused the severence of communion over a 600 year period, contributed to the Great Schism of the Eastern and Western branches. In addition to the difference in wording and doctrine, a related issue was the right of the Pope to unilaterally make a change to something originally agreed to by the whole Church at the First Council of Nicaea.

The Roman Catholic Church has not proved unwilling to negotiate on the topic -- the Eastern rite churches of the Catholic Church -- the Maronites, the Melkites, the Ruthenians, etc. -- returned to union with the papacy at various dates but were not required to say the "and the Son" formula in their liturgies.

/Talk