The emperor chose the patriarch of Constantinople, leading the Church official in the Byzantine Empire.
The emperor became an autocrat and the head of the church as well as the state.
The Byzantine emperor was an absolute ruler. He also exerted control over the church of the empire, the Orthodox Christian Church.
In the Byzantine Empire, the emperor held more power than the patriarch. The emperor was considered the supreme authority in both secular and religious matters, often intervening in church affairs and influencing the appointment of patriarchs. This relationship between church and state was a defining characteristic of Byzantine governance, with the emperor asserting authority over religious institutions to maintain control and unity within the empire.
The Patriarch of the Greek Orthodox Church was also the Byzantine Emperor, head of both Church and State.
The Patriarch
The Emperor.
The Byzantine army supported the emperor. There was a schism between the Catholic and Orthodox churches in the eleventh century. From that time onward the emperor was seen as the head of the Orthodox church, and the Pope as the head of the Catholic church.
The Byzantines believed their emperor represented Jesus Christ on Earth. Ans. The Emperor.
The Church was made an extra arm of Government by Constantine, and the emperors kept control and used the bishops as part of the government process, also merging the competing factions within within the eastern church to gain a state religion.
In the Orthodox the emperor claims authority over all religious leaders. And in the Roman Catholic the pope claims authority over all kings and emperors.
There has never been an emperor of the Eastern Orthodox Church. The Church is headed by a Patriarch, who is first among equals. There was an Emperor in Constantinople during the Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire until 1453 AD, who was the secular Head of State.
The Byzantine Church was used for worship. Following the death of the Roman Emperor Constantine, the Roman Empire split into the Roman Empire and the Byzantine Empire. Eventually, the Bishop of Rome became the head of the church in the Roman Empire. Over the years, that church became the Roman Catholic Church. The Bishop of Constantinople became the head of the Byzantine Church. That church evolved into the Greek Orthodox Church and still exists today.
In the Byzantine Empire, the relationship between the patriarch of Constantinople and the emperor was complex and often intertwined, with both figures wielding significant influence. While the emperor held political power and often sought to assert control over the church, the patriarch had substantial authority in spiritual matters and could sway public opinion. However, the emperor typically respected the patriarch's wishes to maintain stability and legitimacy in governance. This dynamic led to a partnership where both entities influenced each other's realms, although tensions occasionally arose over authority and autonomy.