The Empire

According to the BPP, the Byzantine Empire was considered a terrestrial image of the kingdom of God, and the emperor was seen as God’s vicegerent or viceroy on earth. This put the reflections on the empire in an eschatological context and made them an essential part of the Christian Philosophy of history. The Byzantine Empire was ‘‘a chosen vessel’’ for the salvation of the human race and a realization of Divine Providence. It conveyed the plan of salvation, bringing to completion the highest achievements of mankind, providentially granted to Jews, Hellenes, and Romans. Among the most important of them were the universal form of state and the universal language. It was the Roman Empire that for the first time brought the whole human race together in one unity and agreement, imposing legislation and a state constitution of more than a regional or national importance. Due to its might, it participated in the Majesty of the Kingdom of God, for it transcended, as far as an earthly realm could, every other power on earth. According to the conception of translatio imperii, the Byzantine Empire was considered a successor of the Roman Empire, its capital Constantinople was titled ‘‘New Rome,’’ and the Byzantines called themselves ‘‘Romans’’ (rhomaioi). The Greek language of the Byzantine Empire was another gift by the Divine Providence to complete its universal nature. Greek not only expresses the spiritual and cultural heritage of Hellenes, but what is more important - this is the language of the Christian kerugma, the language conveying the way to salvation. Therefore, the Byzantine Empire has embodied the two great powers that came forth to civilize and unite the whole world - the monarchy of the Roman Empire and the teaching of Christ. The capital Constantinople was also called the ‘‘Queen of Cities’’ and the ‘‘New Jerusalem.’’ It was considered as both a political and religious center of the Christian world. Constantinople was hailed in hymns and stimulated the emergence of a particular literary genre of the Laudes Constantinopolitanae.