The Archbishopric of Ohrid in the time of the Despotate of Epirus (1204 – 1230)

Daniel Ziemann 

(Summary) 

This paper aims at showing how the archbishops of Ohrid, first and foremost Demetrios Chomatenos, tried to develop their own position at the cost of the patriarchs of Constantinople. Demetrios’ politics aimed at establishing Ohrid as one of the most important ecclesiastical centers in Europe’s Orthodox Church. These ambitions were tied to the political destiny of the Despotate of Epirus; its downfall buried the ambitions of Demetrios. But despite the radical political changes during that time, Ohrid retained its great importance for the Orthodox Church in Southeastern Europe in the following centuries. Keywords: Archbishopric of Ohrid, Demetrios Chomatenos, The Despotate of Epirus