Although the Eastern orthodox church shares roots with the Roman Catholic church, they have many contrasting beliefs.

One major issue that divided the two churches is that controversy of icon use in their rituals and worship. The western church deemed the images appropriate while the Eastern church, influenced by the Iconoclasm movement of Leo III, believed such icons were against the teachings of the Old Testament.

Another major dividing issue between the two churches was the possession of power.Traditionally, the Pope was the top leader of the church and all matters of divinity were his concerns, but this changed when Eastern Europe adopted Caesaropapism. With this practice there was no separation of church and government. The emperor in the east began controlling the church through his newly appointed eastern Pope, and therefore controlled all divine and earthly matters. An example of this can be seen through Constantine's...