<P> The schism between the Western and Eastern Mediterranean Christians resulted from a variety of political, cultural and theological factors which transpired over centuries . Historians regard the mutual excommunications of 1054 as the terminal event . It is difficult to agree on an exact date for the event where the start of the schism was apparent . It may have started as early as the Quartodeciman controversy at the time of Victor of Rome (c. 180). Orthodox apologists point to this incident as an example of claims by Rome to papal primacy and its rejection by Eastern Churches . </P> <P> Sporadic schisms in the common unions took place under Pope Damasus I in the 4th and 5th centuries . Disputes about theological and other questions led to schisms between the Churches in Rome and Constantinople for 37 years from 482 to 519 (the Acacian Schism). Most sources agree that the separation between East and West is clearly evident by the Photian schism for 13 years from 866--879 . </P> <P> Apart from Rome in the West, "many major Churches of the East claim to have been founded by the apostles: Antioch by Peter and Paul, Alexandria by Mark, Constantinople by Andrew, Cyprus by Barnabas, Ethiopia by Matthew, India by Thomas, Edessa in eastern Syria by Thaddeus, Armenia by Bartholomew, Georgia by Simon the Zealot ." Famous also are the seven churches of Asia (the Roman province of Asia), mentioned in the opening chapters of the Book of Revelation . </P> <P> While the church at Rome claimed a special authority over the other churches, the extant documents of that era yield "no clear - cut claims to, or recognition, of papal primacy ." </P>

What caused the christian church to divide into two branches