Sergios metropolitan (of Chalcedon) (seventh century)
Obverse
Standing St. Euphemia, holding a martyr's cross. On either side the inscription: Η|ΑΓ|ΙΑ|Ε|Υ|ΦΗ|ΜΙ|Α: ἡ ἁγία Εὐφημία. Wreath Border.
Reverse
Inscription of four lines. Wreath border.
+.ΕΡ
ΓΙΟΥΜΗ
ΤΡΟΠΟΛ
ΙΤΟΥ+
Σεργίου μητροπολίτου
Obverse
Standing St. Euphemia, holding a martyr's cross. On either side the inscription: Η|ΑΓ|ΙΑ|Ε|Υ|ΦΗ|ΜΙ|Α: ἡ ἁγία Εὐφημία. Wreath Border.
Reverse
Inscription of four lines. Wreath border.
+.ΕΡ
ΓΙΟΥΜΗ
ΤΡΟΠΟΛ
ΙΤΟΥ+
Σεργίου μητροπολίτου
| Accession number | BZS.1958.106.5057 |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 29.0 mm; field: 23.0 mm |
| Previous Editions | DO Seals 3, no. 77.7b. |
Translation
Σεργίου μητροπολίτου
Sergios metropolitan
Bibliography
- Catalogue of Byzantine Seals at Dumbarton Oaks and at the Fogg Museum of Art, Vol. 3: West, Northwest, and Central Asia Minor and the Orient (Open in Zotero)
- Le Corpus des sceaux de l’empire byzantin (Open in Zotero)
- La géographie ecclésiastique de l’empire byzantin, vol. 2, Les églises et les monastères des grands centres byzantins (Open in Zotero)
Commentary
The image of St. Euphemia confirms the attribution of this seal to a metropolitan of Chalcedon.
In line 1 (rev.), the third letter can be readily distinguished as Ρ; we can be certain that only two spaces are involved between the initial cross and the rho. the name of this prelate was therefore Sergios and not Georgios.
Chalcedon, modern Kadiköy, located on the Asiatic coast opposite Constantinople, was established as a metropolis in 451 by Emperor Marcian; it presents the unusual feature that at no time did it have suffragans. Despite the fact that it was the site of a hippodrome, a palace, and of numerous churches and monastic establishments, most traces of its Byzantine past have disappeared (Janin, Grand centres, 31-35, 423-26; Laurent, Corpus V/1, 289; ODB I, 403). The most famous of its sanctuaries was the church of St. Euphemia (martyred in 303), a fourth century foundation (destroyed by the Persians) which served as the site of the Council of 451. This saint (on whom see F. Halkin, Euphémie de Chalcédoine [Brussels, 1965]) is usually depicted on the seals of the metropolitans.