Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches share many core beliefs regarding Jesus Christ, including his divine and human natures, his virginal birth, his death and resurrection, along with his anticipated return to earth. Both denominations also recognize the teachings expressed in the first seven ecumenical councils. At the root of the Great Schism between the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches was the ways in which the idea of the Trinity was expressed. While the Eastern Orthodox Church emphasized the distinct personhood of each member of the Trinity, the Roman Catholic Church emphasized the Trinity’s unity of essence (site). This division proceeded with the filioque controversy, which was another one of the primary theological triggers of the Great Schism. The churches also have different views on the perpetual virginity of Mary as well as the nature of original sin. Both churches believe in the concept of original sin, but there is a difference in consequences. Both branched hold baptism as the way to cleanse the soul of sin
Saints plays a central role in the spiritual lives of Roman Catholics and Eastern Orthodox Catholics. The Greek Orthodox Church states that their practice of kneeling before or kissing the images of Mary and deceased saints is a way of showing reverence to their memories, not worshiping them. The Orthodox Church only worships God but the church does offer veneration to individuals who have been important human instruments of God in the history of salvation (Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, 2016). The physical representation of the saints also takes on different forms in each branch. Roman Catholics tend use statutes to represent their saints while Eastern Orthodox churches more often use paintings to represent their saints. Another difference is how the saints are picked or managed; Roman Catholics have a very