The primary effect of the Great Schism in the Catholic Church, which occurred in 1054, was the formal division between Eastern Orthodoxy and Western Christianity, crystallizing into two distinct churches: the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church. This schism arose from a combination of theological disagreements, cultural differences, and political tensions, including disputes over papal authority and the filioque controversy concerning the procession of the Holy Spirit. The Great Schism not only deepened the rift between these two major branches of Christianity but also influenced religious, cultural, and political developments in Europe and the Mediterranean region for centuries.