الوسيط الديني "الرهبان" : بين حاجة المجتمع و تطلعات السلطة الإمبراطورية خلال العصر البيزنطي الباكر

الملخص EN

Religious groups, particularly monks, played a fundamental role in the Byzantine society, as they were a main part in the Byzantine scene as they did not live isolated but interacted with their surrounding communities.

They acquired their significant position from their religious career which is fundamentally related to the general public opinion.

Thus, monks played a significant role for the sake of the public as they were axes of religious righteousness.

Thus, each village has its monks who lessen pains of its inhabitants, protect their crops from floods and harsh environmental conditions through their continuous supplications to God and through their prayers for rain.

This is in addition to their role in recovery of their patients and dismissal of evil spirits.

Moreover, they intervene as the publics' intermediaries for the aristocracies in order to lessen injustice imposed on peasants because of heavy taxes and because of obstinacy of the richest land owners with the simple and poor people.

Accordingly, monks held a particular significant position and outstanding authority in the Byzantine society.

It also seems that such an authority and distinctive position was very welcomed and accepted by the Byzantine power which sought to manipulate monks politically and to take them as a supportive spiritual tool as “men of God” for the main purpose of implementing their policies.

Such a function of monks was performed sufficiently and perfectly for being very welcomed, blessed and significant religious men in several social atmospheres.

Sometimes, the relationship between monks and the imperial class was not harmonious, as there were sometimes clashes and conflicts between the two sides because of monks' extreme influential power and due to their interest in higher positions which was not in turn welcomed by the Byzantine aristocracy.

Therefore, monks were sometimes subject to obstinacy and persecutions which led them to organize protests and to participate in revolutions against the Byzantine reign.

Accordingly, monks were active political aspects in all political events particularly during the period which this study investigates.