The Great Schism refers to the division that led to the separation of the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church in 1054. There are a few different synonyms or alternate phrases used to describe this event including the East-West Schism, the Schism of 1054, or the Great Schism of the Churches. Some historians also use the term the Papal Schism to refer specifically to the period of time when there were multiple claimants to the position of Pope, although this was a separate issue from the broader split between the Eastern and Western Churches. No matter what term is used, the Great Schism remains one of the most significant events in Christian history.