Sincere question: If the Orthodox were the true church because the Pope excommunicated Patriarch Michael I in 1066 1054, why wouldn't the Greek Melkites be the true church after the Patriarch excommunicated Patriarch Cyril IV in 1724? Or more generally how do we know one branch is favored over another or whether both are favored differently?

Sincere question: If the Orthodox were the true church because the Pope excommunicated Patriarch Michael I in 1066, why wouldn't the Greek Melkites be the true church after the Patriarch excommunicated Patriarch Cyril IV in 1724? Or more generally how do we know one branch is favored over another or whether both are favored differently?