Final answer:
The Byzantine Empire distinguished itself from the Latin Church by using Greek and local languages for Christianity, accepting married priests, and sharing church authority among multiple patriarchs, as opposed to the Latin Church's use of Latin, insistence on celibacy, and supreme papal authority.
Step-by-step explanation:
Distinguishing Factors Between the Byzantine and Latin Churches
The Byzantine Church and the Latin Church, representing the eastern and western realms of Christianity respectively, diverged in several critical ways that sharply distinguished one from the other. The Byzantine Empire, speaking Greek, facilitated Christianity in various local languages and upheld the authority of Patriarchs, recognizing the Patriarch of Constantinople as holding significant power. This stood in contrast to the Latin-speaking west, where the church was under the leadership of the Pope, and the use of Latin in liturgy and the Bible was rigidly maintained.
The Great Schism of the eleventh century, which saw the mutual excommunication of the leaders of the eastern and western churches, was a profound manifestation of the divisions between the two, driven by linguistic, cultural, and doctrinal differences. The Byzantine Church allowed married priests and acknowledged the authority of multiple patriarchs, while the Latin Church mandated celibacy for its clergy and placed the Pope as the supreme authority over the entire church.
It is important to note that following the Crusader sacking of Constantinople and the collapse of the Byzantine Empire, the migration of Greek-speaking Byzantine scholars contributed significantly to the revival of ancient Greek and Roman knowledge in the west, enhancing understanding and propagation of what came to be known as Western Civilization.