The Church and the State in the Byzantine Empire: The Holy and the Profane within Society

Abstract

The historical and structural relationship between the Church and the Byzantine Empire form an important tradition. However, this topic is equally traditional, as it is current, especially in Europe. It addresses a particularly complex problem which contains in itself the elements of the relation between the Church and the Byzantine Empire. Specifically, we analyze the historical, cultural, legal, political and ideological aspects of these elements. In the present state of our knowledge, the byzantine life is seen as marked by constant change, although at the same time there was loyal adherence to certain traditions governing the outlook of both Church and Empire. As regards the Byzantine Empire, a specific relationship between Church and State is characteristic, so apart from the ruler who was chosen by the Lord himself, the role of the religious head was limited to the spiritual functions i.e. to the preservation of the purity of faith within the Church. Despite of this character of the relationships, the Emperor also occupied a special place in the church service. This mode of action of the Byzantine Emperor would later become known under the term of caesaropapism. It encompassed in itself the entire Orthodox ecumene which obediently received it.