John metropolitan of Thessalonica (ca. 1198)
Obverse
St. Demetrios standing, holding spear, his left hand resting on shield set on the ground. Inscription: |Δ|Η|Μ|ΗΤ|ΡΙ|Ο|Σ: Ὁ ἅγιος Δημήτριος. Circular inscription, beginning at 1 o'clock, between two borders of dots.
Α...ΔΗΜΗΤΡΙΕΚΑΙΑΓΙΑΘΕΟΤΟΚΕ
Ἅγιε Δημήτριε καὶ ἁγία Θεοτόκε
Reverse
The Virgin seated frontally on a high-backed throne holding Christ on her lap. Sigla: ̅ΘΥ̅ : Μήτηρ Θεοῦ. Circular inscription, beginning at 12 o'clock, between two borders of dots.
ΟΗΘΕΙΤΕΙΜΗΤΡΟΠΟΛΙΤΗΘΕΣ......ΚΗΣ
βοηθεῖτε Ἰωάννῃ μητροπολίτῃ Θεσσαλονίκης
Obverse
St. Demetrios standing, holding spear, his left hand resting on shield set on the ground. Inscription: |Δ|Η|Μ|ΗΤ|ΡΙ|Ο|Σ: Ὁ ἅγιος Δημήτριος. Circular inscription, beginning at 1 o'clock, between two borders of dots.
Α...ΔΗΜΗΤΡΙΕΚΑΙΑΓΙΑΘΕΟΤΟΚΕ
Ἅγιε Δημήτριε καὶ ἁγία Θεοτόκε
Reverse
The Virgin seated frontally on a high-backed throne holding Christ on her lap. Sigla: ̅ΘΥ̅ : Μήτηρ Θεοῦ. Circular inscription, beginning at 12 o'clock, between two borders of dots.
ΟΗΘΕΙΤΕΙΜΗΤΡΟΠΟΛΙΤΗΘΕΣ......ΚΗΣ
βοηθεῖτε Ἰωάννῃ μητροπολίτῃ Θεσσαλονίκης
| Accession number | BZS.1958.106.10 |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 43.0 mm; field: 39.0 mm |
| Previous Editions | DO Seals 1, no. 18.85. |
Translation
Ἅγιε Δημήτριε καὶ ἁγία Θεοτόκε βοηθεῖτε Ἰωάννῃ μητροπολίτῃ Θεσσαλονίκης.
St. Demetrios and Holy Theotokos, help John metropolitan of Thessalonica.
Bibliography
- Catalogue of the Byzantine Seals at Dumbarton Oaks and at the Fogg Museum of Art, vol. 1: Italy, North of the Balkans, North of the Black Sea
- Le Corpus des sceaux de l’empire byzantin, vol. 5, L’Église
- A Collection of Dated Byzantine Lead Seals
- Byzantine Lead Seals, vol. 2
- Byzantine Lead Seals, vol. 1
- Silk Trade and Production in Byzantium from the Sixth to the Ninth Century: The Seals of Kommerkiarioi
- Les listes de préséance byzantines des IXe et Xe siècles
- Byzantinische Bleisiegel in Berlin (West)
- Le kommerkion d'Abydos, Thessalonique et le commerce bulgare du 9e siècle
- Recherches sur les douanes à Byzance: L'octava, le "kommerkion" et les commerciares
- Byzantinische Rang- und Ämterstruktur im 8. und 9. Jahrhundert: Faktoren und Tendenzen ihrer Entwicklung
- Les plus anciens recueils des miracles de Saint Démétrius et la pénétration des Slaves dans les Balkans
- L'éparque de Thessalonique: les origines d'une institution administrative (VIIIe-IXe siècles)
Commentary
Only one prelate named John is known to have occupied the throne of Thessalonica after the tenth century. He succeeded Eustathios of Thessalonica in 1195/6; his tenure presents problems as it may have been interrupted for some months in 1198. See the discussion by Laurent.