Medieval Church
Jennifer & Haley
The Medieval Church
During the Middle Ages, two distinct Christian churches emerged: the Orthodox Christian Church in the east and the Roman Catholic Church in the west. (The two branches split permanently in 1054.
The Roman Catholic Church became the main stabilizing force in Western Europe. The church provided religious leadership as well as secular, or worldly, leadership. It also played a key role in reviving and preserving learning.
At the head of the Roman Catholic Church was the pope, whom followers believed to be the spiritual representative of Jesus on earth. Below the pope came cardinals, archbishops, bishops, and local priests. For peasants and town dwellers, everyday life was closely tied to local priests and the village church.
The main responsibility of the church was to serve the spiritual needs of medieval society. Local priests instructed peasants and townspeople in the faith and provided comfort to them in troubled times.
The Church taught that all men and women were sinners but that Christians could achieve salvation, or eternal life in heaven, through faith in Jesus, good works, and participation in sacraments, or sacred spiritual rituals. To escape the punishment of hell, they needed to take part in the sacraments of the Church