A ''chartophylax'' (, from χάρτα, "document" and φύλαξ, "guard, keeper"), sometimes also referred to as a ''
chartoularios
The ''chartoularios'' or ''chartularius'' (), Anglicized as chartulary, was a late Roman and Byzantine administrative official, entrusted with administrative and fiscal duties, either as a subaltern official of a department or province or at th ...
'', was an ecclesiastical officer in charge of official documents and records in the
Greek Orthodox Church
Greek Orthodox Church (, , ) is a term that can refer to any one of three classes of Christian Churches, each associated in some way with Christianity in Greece, Greek Christianity, Antiochian Greek Christians, Levantine Arabic-speaking Christian ...
in
Byzantine
The Byzantine Empire, also known as the Eastern Roman Empire, was the continuation of the Roman Empire centred on Constantinople during late antiquity and the Middle Ages. Having survived the events that caused the fall of the Western Roman E ...
times.
The post existed in
Constantinople
Constantinople (#Names of Constantinople, see other names) was a historical city located on the Bosporus that served as the capital of the Roman Empire, Roman, Byzantine Empire, Byzantine, Latin Empire, Latin, and Ottoman Empire, Ottoman empire ...
as well as the provincial dioceses, and holders of the post were responsible for the archives and chancery. Some monasteries also included a ''chartophylax'' or, for the women's convents, a ''chartophylakissa'', in charge of their records. Gradually, by virtue of his office's importance, the ''chartophylax'' of the
Patriarch of Constantinople
The ecumenical patriarch of Constantinople () is the archbishop of Constantinople and (first among equals) among the heads of the several autocephalous churches that comprise the Eastern Orthodox Church. The ecumenical patriarch is regarded as ...
rose to become one of the most important officials in the clergy, despite his nominally low rank.
Codinus calls the Grand Chartophylax the judge of all causes, and the patriarch's right arm. He adds that this officer was the depository or keeper of all the
charter
A charter is the grant of authority or rights, stating that the granter formally recognizes the prerogative of the recipient to exercise the rights specified. It is implicit that the granter retains superiority (or sovereignty), and that the ...
s relating to the