Therefore, since religion is a lever capable of shaking every society and turning it either towards good or towards evil, we gather two conclusions regarding how every government should relate to the functionaries of the religions in the State...

That they ought to supervise them in order not to deviate from their functions, becoming impediments to the purpose of the state by turning towards an exposition...

Otherwise, a mindless one would be rebuked if, having entrusted to the priests, they increased their own power, diminishing that of the latter...

N. I. Saripolos, Treatise on Constitutional Law, vol. III, Athens ²1874, § 689.