they were still different churches even before the schism ... the schism just made it so they no longer talked with each other, mutually excommunicating each other
From the early IVth century onwards, I belive it would make sense to call it the "Nicene" church (following the council of Nicea canons). That way, one can oppose the "Nicene" to the "Arian" currents during the IVth and early Vth century.I'm trying to find a name for what the combined Orthodox-Catholic church was called before the East-West schism. There were other churches in Asia and Africa, so there must be a name to differentiate it from them, but I can't seem to find it anywhere.
From the early IVth century onwards, I belive it would make sense to call it the "Nicene" church (following the council of Nicea canons). That way, one can oppose the "Nicene" to the "Arian" currents during the IVth and early Vth century.
Later on, the appropriate term might be "Chalcedonian" or "Nicene-Chalcedonian" after the council of Chalcedon. That way, during the Vth to VIIth century, we have a "chalcedonian" vs "Nestorian" and "Monophysite" branches.
Eventually, the "Nicene-Chalcedonian" branch split into "Orthodox" (Greek) and "Catholic" (Latin) churches.
"Miaphysitism" is a sort of euphemism for monophysitism. In general, the monophysites tended to call themselves "Miaphysites" while their ennemies called themselves "monophysites". In fact there does not seem to be much difference between the two. Most modern scholars prefer "monophysite" over "miaphysites" because it is clearer and therefore easier to understand and remember (which is often a challenge given the "byzantine" subtleties involved).This, though I think the term is Miaphysite, Monophysites are completely different. But yeah, the best term for the pre-East-West Schism combined Catholic/Orthodox church is either Chalcedonian or Nicene-Chalcedonian, representing the councils of Chalcedon and Nicea, where their doctrines were fully established.
The antagonism between the imperial (chalcedonian) church and the monophysites is seen by many as a serious weakening factor for the eastern Empire which paved the way for the Sassanian invasion of the early VIIth century and the subsequent arabic conquests.