15th–16th century Moscow–Constantinople schism
The schism between the Ecumenical Patriarchate and part of its Metropolis of Kiev and all Rus (which later became the Moscow Patriarchate) occurred between approximately 1467 and 1560. This schism de facto ended supposedly around 1560.
| Date | approx. 1467–1560 |
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| Also known as | "Schism of the Church of Moscow of 1467–1560" (by V. M. Lurie) |
| Type | Christian schism |
| Cause | 1. Decision of the Ecumenical Patriarchate (July 1439) to enter in union with the Catholic Church at the Council of Florence 2. Fall of Constantinople |
| Participants | 1. Ecumenical Patriarchate 2. Metropolis of Kiev and all Rus' of the Ecumenical Patriarchate 3. Popes Eugene IV and Calixtus III |
| Outcome | Grand Prince Ivan III of Russia refused to recognize Gregory the Bulgarian as head of Moscow's Church, which led to a rupture of communion between the Churches of Moscow and Constantinople in 1460. This break was mended by around 1560. |
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On 15 December 1448, Jonah became Metropolitan of Kiev and All Rus' without the agreement of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, which made the Metropolis of Kiev and all Rus' de facto independent. In response, in 1458 a rival Metropolitan Gregory the Bulgarian was appointed and consecrated by the Pope of Rome as the Byzantine Catholic Metropolitan of Kiev and all Rus'. Metropolitan Gregory was then recognised by Patriarch Dionysius I of Constantinople in 1466; since Constantinople maintained the Union with the Catholic Church until 1484, Kiev returned under Constantinople's jurisdiction. Dionysius therefore demanded in 1467 that all the hierarchs of the Muscovy submit to Gregory, but Moscow peremptorily refused. On the same year, Grand Prince Ivan III of Moscow declared a complete rupture of relations with the Patriarchate of Constantinople.
Relations were gradually restored and in 1560 the Patriarch of Constantinople considered the Metropolitan of Moscow to be his exarch. In 1589–1591, the Church of Moscow was recognized as autocephalous, and the Patriarch of Moscow later became the fifth Patriarch of the Eastern Orthodox Church.