THE EVOLUTION OF CHURCH-STATE RELATIONS IN THE ROMANIAN SPACE – FROM BYZANTINE SYMPHONY TO CONTEMPORARY CHALLENGES
THE EVOLUTION OF CHURCH-STATE RELATIONS IN THE ROMANIAN SPACE – FROM BYZANTINE SYMPHONY TO CONTEMPORARY CHALLENGES

Summary/Abstract: The article "The Evolution of Church-State Relations in the Romanian Space – From Byzantine Symphony to Contemporary Challenges" explores how the relationship between secular authority and the Church has evolved throughout history, focusing on the Orthodox tradition and the Romanian context. The first part introduces the concept of the Byzantine Symphony, which served as the foundation for the relationship between Church and State in Orthodox tradition, promoting a model of cooperation and balance influenced by Byzantine heritage. After that, we will see how this model was applied in the Romanian space, highlighting the historical particularities of the relationship between rulers and the Church. Special attention is given to the communist period, when the Romanian Orthodox Church was subjected to strict state control under the atheist regime but managed to survive through a complex relationship with the authorities. After 1989, the Church-State relationship was redefined, with both democratization processes and debates on the role of the Church in contemporary society.The second part provides an overview of the legislation regulating Church-State relations after 1990. It analyzes the 1991 Romanian Constitution, which establishes the principle of religious neutrality of the state, and the Statute of Organization and Functioning of the Romanian Orthodox Church, which defines the Church's autonomy. Additionally, it discusses the legal provisions that allow local governments to finance projects in collaboration with the Orthodox Church and other legally recognized religious denominations.

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