Part 7/10:
The following centuries saw the divide deepen. The Crusades, aimed initially at reclaiming the Holy Land, turned into sources of violence and resentment, particularly the catastrophic Fourth Crusade (1202-1204), during which Christian knights brutally sacked Constantinople. This horrific event irrevocably damaged Orthodox-Catholic relations and reinforced animosities.
The Wounds of History
After the schism, theological differences became entrenched, with the Catholic Church developing doctrines like papal infallibility, Immaculate Conception, and Purgatory—concepts largely rejected by Orthodoxy. Continued estrangements were exacerbated by lack of dialogue and cultural differences between the two branches.