Church History
Fourth Crusade & Sack of Constantinople (1204)
Western Crusaders diverted to Constantinople and sacked the Christian capital for three days: looting churches, desecrating altars, melting sacred vessels, and establishing a Latin Empire (1204-1261). This devastation deepened the East-West schism irreparably. Many Orthodox consider 1204 more historically decisive than 1054. Countless relics and artworks were stolen.
Sources
- Niketas Choniates, O City of Byzantium (Orthodox eyewitness account of 1204) archive.org
- Timothy Ware, The Orthodox Church (Ch. on East-West division) archive.org
- Metropolitan Hierotheos Vlachos, A Night in the Desert of the Holy Mountain (context of Western assault)