Exarchs

Exarchs were high-ranking officials in the Byzantine Empire and later in the Eastern Orthodox Church. Historically, in Byzantium, they served as provincial governors or military commanders overseeing distant or strategically important regions, ensuring imperial control and stability. In the church context, an exarch was a church leader assigned to oversee multiple dioceses or regions, often acting as a bridge between local churches and the central authority. Overall, exarchs held significant authority, managing territories or church affairs on behalf of the emperor or church hierarchy, ensuring order, security, and adherence to policies.