Horia Ciurtin, Dilemma ‘of the two swords’: theo-political vision of western Christianity and coordinates of the Gregorian reform
The present study is a theo-political analisis of the way in which the secular power and ecclesiastical authority interacted in the Western Middle Ages. Starting from the hermeneutical differences of opinion between post-nicean Fathers and the gelasian concept of demarcation between the two spheres, it highlights the paradigmatic changes occurred with Renovatio Imperii of the Carolingian and then ottonian era. It also shows how the static vision on the relationship between sacerdotium and imperium is radically altered by hegemonic pretensions either of the German Emperors, or the papacy, both powers being tempted by a structural monopoly on the entire Christian community.

Keywords: political theology, Pope Gelasius, Renovatio Imperii, Pope Gregory, Dictatus Papae

HORIA CIURTIN