This collection of articles is an additional volume to the previously published 5-volume book by A. M. Velichko "The History of the Byzantine Emperors," which provides more in-depth studies on the issues considered in this essay. All of them, to one degree or another, relate to the idea of ​ ​ a "symphony of authorities," the relationship between the priestly and political authorities, the Church and the state at various periods of the existence of Christian civilization - both in Byzantium (Holy Roman Empire), and in the West, and in Russia.