the 'Three Chapters' incident revealed the gulf that was widening between East and West.
Yes yes.. (all excited) I know something about this. It is interesting as you seem to have parts to this puzzle that I do not yet have.
One of the theologians (long dead) was Origen. A Council called by Justinian was designed to have Origen declared a heretic. But the Roman Pope (not present for the council) refused to ratify the condemnation. His ratification was needed to make it Ecumenical (effective to the whole Church). Keep in mind that no Latin bishop was there ... the ratification of the Roman Pope was all that was needed to make it Ecumenical.
Because the Roman Pope recognized the ploy ... and refused to sign ... the council then shifted gears ... and condemned several monastic communities (who were sympathetic to Rome and also held a great amount of real estate which would reverted from Rome to the Byzantine church).
Three monastic leaders (called the Tall Brothers) and their communities were condemned as 'Origenists' and Monophysites. The Roman Pope did ratify that.
Like all good politics ... this served several purposes...
1) it removed a large block inside the Byzantine empire which had been loyal to the Roman Pope as head of the Church.
2) it made it seem as if Origen himself had been condemned - keep in mind that Origen had become a darling of the Latin church and theologians.
3) a local council (Eastern bishops only) ... it presumed to be presented as Ecumenical (effective upon the entire Church).
4) In condemning Origenists � it was promulgated as a condemnation of Origen himself. Which it was not. But impressions are everything � so it appeared that Origen had been condemned and Latin bishops began dropping Origen like a hot patato.
Even a rumor that you were associated with a heretic (let lone an accusation) was enough to make your knees knock together.
The Roman Pope had blocked the Ecumenical status of the council... by refusing to ratify the results (the condemnation of Origen). But in doing so ... the Roman Pope would appear to be protecting Monophysites ... so what he did was ... he gave up the Tall Brothers to the council (the reworded council). He ratified the rewording that condemned 'Origenists'.
No doubt the Tall Brothers were pawns in this huge game. But the Pope gave them up - in order not to appear to be slack on Monophysites. If he had appeared slack this could be used against him.
The same thing happened to the Knights Templar in the battle between King Philip and the Pope. The Pope had secretly exonerated them - but before he could make that public - Philip burned them. Each - trying to appear to the public as the 'true defended' of the Church. And so the eexoneration by the Pope was secreted away (useless now) only to come to light recently.
Both sides (the Byzantine church and empire ... and the Roman church and empire) were jockeying to appear to be 'the legitimate defender of Christianity'.
The final blow which caused the schism is almost humorous.
A Papal legate was sent to Constantinople. The legate only spoke Latin - he did not speak Greek. He was received by the emperor in this huge anti-chamber where the Emperor sat high up on an ornate throne clothed in gold and silver robes. As the Roman delegation knelt with face to the floor (as was customary) the chair of the emperor (which was on gears) was dropped through the floor and a fast change of robes and crown - the throne was hoisted back up into position and when the delegation stood up - now - they saw the emperor decked out in gems and emeralds ! ... as if a miracle.
This Roman legate ... was the first to issue an excommunication ... however ... doctrine and dogma had absolutely nothing to do with it.
The legate was invited to Liturgy (what the legate thought would be a Mass) in the church (Sofia ... oh what is its name!!??) and during the Liturgy (Eastern Liturgy ... maybe Basil?) he could not understand the Greek nor were the vestments and such ... like Rome. It was all strange to him. After Liturgy he marched back to his quarters and drew up the excommunication and then back to the church and slapped in on the altar. In the name and by the authority of the Pope of Rome (who � unknown to the legate had died two month ago!) ... the Byzantine church was excommunicated for its ... satanic and demonic acts and regalia ... during Mass.
The shot was fired � and the open battle was on ... for who was the genuine defender of the Catholic Church.
But it was habit at the time - that Kings never make mistakes. And so the Excommunication could not be retracted. After all - Patriarchs do not make mistakes either.
Hard to believe.
It seems dogma and doctrine have so little to do with it. It all seems to be the consolidation of temporal power.
What s that book you are reading?? I want to get this all a little clear in my head. It is still murky to me.
-ray
If you include the Slavic churches, probably nuclear weapons. 
