Inter regulam doctrinae et acceptationem. Some Reflections regarding the Church’s Fidelity to the Prince in the second half of the 16th Century Moldavia

Abstract

: The second half of the 16 th century was, for Moldavia, one of the difficult periods, from many perspectives, both politically and religiously. The instability of the reigns also had an effect on ecclesiastical life, with Orthodox hierarchs taking positions in relation to what was happening in the life of the state. Their responsibility was not confined to what might be called “Church affairs”, but, as members of the elite and linked by office to public life, they had to choose what to do under difficult conditions caused by various factors such as changes of princes, attempts at usurpation, plots, wars, religious propaganda, exile, etc. In this study, several cases are analysed in which high prelates showed their fidelity to a prince, to a dynasty or to the Church they served, focusing on the way in which the churchmen made their choices during key-moments in the history of Moldavia in the second half of the 16 th century .