Symphonia (theology)

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Symphonia (from the Greek. Συμφωνία - "harmony", "consent") is a term for a harmonious relationship between church and state, seen as an ideal, which has shaped orthodoxy especially in Eastern Europe. The concept of symphonia stands in many ways in contrast to a separation of church and state .

history

The Symphonia goes back to the Roman Emperor Constantine the Great (324–337). Under Emperor Justinian I (482-565) the interplay between the late antique state and the Christian church reached its climax; Justinian I claimed to have received his rule directly from God.

In the second half of the 9th century, Basil I described the Byzantine formula of the relationship between state and church power in the so-called “ Epanagoge ”: “Secular power and the clergy are related to one another as body and soul and are for the state order just as indispensable as body and soul in living people. The state welfare lies in the connection and the agreement between them. "

today

The so-called Symphonia doctrine is still seen today in most Eastern European countries as the basis for the relationship between church and state. In a harmonious "harmony", church and state should share power over society for the benefit of the people. The secular and ecclesiastical areas are closely linked and interlock in many places. But both also have their own area, are independent and equal. The ideal of the "Symphonia" is an Orthodox state. The “Symphonia” can theoretically also be reconciled with a democratic form of government.

Individual evidence

  1. Jelena W. Beljakowa: The term "symphonia" in Russian history . In: East-West. Europäische Perspektiven , Vol. 11 (2010), Issue 1, pp. 16–22 ( online , accessed on March 18, 2020).
  2. ^ A b Archbishop Longin von Klin: The attitude of the church to the welfare state . Commission of the Orthodox Church in Germany. 2009. Archived from the original on August 10, 2011. Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Retrieved May 19, 2010. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.kokid.de
  3. Julia Lis: The role of orthodoxy in politics and society in Eastern Europe . maiak. December 15, 2009. Retrieved September 30, 2010.