Nicholas deacon of the Great Church, and "man" of John, metropolitan of Melitene (eleventh century)
Obverse
Inscription of five lines, a cross above. Border of dots.
ΚΕ̅,θ,
νικολα
διακο
νσ
με
Κ(ύρι)ε β(οή)θ(ει) Νικολάῳ διακόνῳ τῆς Με
Reverse
Inscription of five lines preceded and followed by decoration. Border of dots.
γαλεκ
.λισιασ
.τμε
.ινι
ανν
γάλ(ης) Ἐκ[κ]λισίας [τ]ῷ τοῦ Με[λ]ιτην(ῆς) Ἰωάννου
Obverse
Inscription of five lines, a cross above. Border of dots.
ΚΕ̅,θ,
νικολα
διακο
νσ
με
Κ(ύρι)ε β(οή)θ(ει) Νικολάῳ διακόνῳ τῆς Με
Reverse
Inscription of five lines preceded and followed by decoration. Border of dots.
γαλεκ
.λισιασ
.τμε
.ινι
ανν
γάλ(ης) Ἐκ[κ]λισίας [τ]ῷ τοῦ Με[λ]ιτην(ῆς) Ἰωάννου
| Accession number | BZS.1951.31.5.629 |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 28.0 mm; field: 13.0 mm |
| Previous Editions | DO Seals 5 no. 42.11; Laurent, Corpus 5.2: no. 1126. |
Translation
Κύριε βοήθει Νικολάῳ διακόνῳ τῆς Μεγάλης Ἐκκλισίας τῷ τοῦ Μελιτηνῆς Ἰωάννου.
Lord, help Nicholas, deacon of the Great Church, and "man" of John, metropolitan of Melitene.
Commentary
Lines 4 and 5 (rev.): Laurent reads: Με[λ]ιτηνϊωάννου.
This deacon served in the patriarchate of Constantinople but declares himself to be the "man of" a specific metropolitan of Melitene, the famous John (see BZS.1958.106.291, BZS.1958.106.336, and BZS.1958.106.7). The present specimen helps us to understand better the meaning of the expression ὁ τοῦ when employed with the names of certain ecclesiastics, especially after the twelfth century. Cf. Seibt, BSl 35 (1974): 81, who agrees with Laurent's date.