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Ecclesiastical organization

Thessalonika was organized into a Latin archbishopric and Hagia Sophia was its cathedral. The number of bishops that came under the jurisdiction of the Latin archbishop of Thessalonika was probably maintained, according to what was in force before 1204. The Order of the Knights Hospitallers, which had obtained a seat in Thessalonika, developed significant activity in the kingdom and from there it attempted to expand its acquisitions to Thessaly.

It seems that the privileges and rights of the Orthodox inhabitants of Thessalonika were violated from the very beginning of the Latin rule. Boniface of Montferrat did not proceed to the confiscation and land distribution of the property of the Orthodox Church. During the seditious movement of the Lombard lords, the property of the Church was granted to laymen and the sons of the Greek priests were forced to provide military service.

During the second assembly of Ravennika (1210) it was decided that throughout the region from Thessalonika to Corinth, Church property would be exempted from any feudal obligation. From then onwards the property would be managed by the clergy that was exempted from all encumbrances and chores, with the exception of the obligation to pay the annual Byzantine land tax (acrosticon), that was levied on both Greek and Latin priests.