John III Sobieski towards the Orthodox and the Uniate Churches

John III Sobieski had to deal with the problem of confl icted religious denominations, i.e. the Eastern Churches: the Uniate Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church, which had been in confl ict for almost 80 years. The King's actions were dependent on various aspects of international politics. Religious matters were an important part of shaping relations with Russia and the Cossacks and remained within the area of interest of the Holy See. Having established peace with Russia, the King left aside the concept of establishing an autocephalous Eastern Orthodox Church in the territory of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and adopted a strategy of expanding the union in the Eastern Orthodox Church dioceses by trying to convince individual hierarchs to this concept. For bishops the king nominated individuals who favoured the union and enjoyed trust among the Cossack community, but most of all, who were experienced offi cials and soldiers holding high esteem among local nobleman elites. The policy-making of John III Sobieski contributed to expanding the Catholic Kiev Metropolis of the Eastern Rite (united with Rome) over the Przemyśl, Lutsk and Lviv bishoprics. The aim of Sobieski's policies related to religious denominations was to lead to a change in religious attitudes by way of people identifying themselves with the state's interests.