Advice for a new and relatively unskilled player - religion and the Schisms

[Azhcristokos]

So, first off, this mod is AMAZING. It has resurrected my interest in CK2 by expanding some of the original version's underdeveloped mechanics (not to diss on Paradox; I love them) like ambitions and religion. I am really excited to dive into it and have experimented a little with it already. I do have some important questions though.

My first ambition is to reunify all of Christianity under either a Nestorian or a Coptic/Apostolic ruler. The problem, of course, is that this is impossible until the Great Schism splits the Chalcedonians into the Roman Catholic and Orthodox Churches. What is the best way to ensure that the Schism occurs as soon as possible? I do know that I must work to prevent the crowning of a Patriarch Supreme, so I will work to keep the Pope and Ecumenical Patriarch in power and following the Latin and Greek Rites respectively. I also know that there is a long event chain that I believe builds up a hidden modifier that eventually triggers the Schism but I wasn't exactly clear on how to make sure these events happen.

Also, I just want to make sure I am not mistaken: Chalcedonian heresies that overthrow the main religion can in turn Mend the Schism and Enforce the Councils of Ephesus and Chalcedon, yes?

Edit: I did figure out by reading some of the code that the year has to be at least 950 and that it requires that Constantinople and Rome are controlled by a Greek and Latin patriarch respectively. My first file as Chalcedonian Byzantium is only up to 800 though. Sigh!

Anyways, I'd appreciate any advice you guys can offer. Really excited to delve into this mod!

 

[Rylock]

Eventually I'll want to add in something for uniting Christianity prior to the Schism -- the issue with it currently is that entire system requires a religion head to exist, and Chalcedonian Christianity technically doesn't have one (or, rather, it has several). So it would need to be a whole new thing. In the meantime, it means that, yes, you either have to wait for the Schism to first occur or you have to "reunite" Christianity under your rule the old-fashioned way (ie. without an event).

Insofar as making sure the Schism happens, ultimately so long as there is both a Pope in Rome with Latin Rites and a Ecumenical Patriarch in Constantinople with Greek Rites, it should eventually happen. Your ability to influence that is pretty limited, however, when you're not Chalcedonian.

Also, I just want to make sure I am not mistaken: Chalcedonian heresies that overthrow the main religion can in turn Mend the Schism and Enforce the Councils of Ephesus and Chalcedon, yes?

So long as they have a religion head, yes.