Politics and Orthodoxy in the Works of the Patriarch of Constantinople Photius

The article is dedicated to the research on the interconnection of politics and Orthodox Christianity, particularly in the formation of political ideas on the basis of Orthodox theology. This phenomenon represents one of the main characteristics of the Byzantine civilization and after the baptism of Rus' it has become one of the components of the Russian political tradition. Aiming at clarification of the political ideas stable within the Orthodox tradition the author studies one of the significant Church and society figures of the Orthodox Church of the IX-th century - patriarch of Constantinople Photius (about 820-891). The article contains the detailed analysis of his epistle to the Bulgarian prince Boris-Michael about the duties of the prince which is concentrated on the problems of state governance. The Orthodox theology leads the patriarch Photius to the thought that the ideal of the statehood is "good society", built on the support of the moral perfection of person, principles of philanthropy and justice. In a practical way it means the formation of the circle of state managers, capable to fulfill the power functions on the basis on the mentioned values, to operate the coordination of "mild" and "firm" methods of management and also thought out social-economic course in order to support wide levels of society. The proposed by the patriarch Photius model of society is orientated to the balance between stability and development.