Power is embedded in both sides of every relationship, including in religious populations and their interpersonal dynamics in sixth century CE Syria. As seen through three highlighted anecdotes by John of Ephesus and Severus of Antioch, the laity, the holy man, monks, and bishops all reciprocally claim power on and through one another– power which is often rejected or reclaimed by the receiving party. There was no top-down power structure in sixth century Syria. The laity influenced their bishop, monk, and holy men, just as those religious figures influenced the laity.