Sergios II, patriarch of Constantinople (1001–19)
Obverse
The Mother of God standing, holding Christ on her left arm. At left and right, sigla M-R-ΘV: Μή(τη)ρ Θ(εο)ῦ. Faint traces of a circular inscription. No visible border.
. . . ΗΘΕΙ ΤΩ . . .
[Θ(εοτό)κε βο]ήθει τῷ [σῷ δούλῳ]
Reverse
Inscription of six lines preceded by decoration. No visible border.
ΣΕΡΓΙΩ
ΑΡΧΙΕΠΙ
.Κ,ΚΩΝΣΤΑΝ
.ΙΝΟΥΠΟΛ
ΝΕΑΣΡΩ
Μ
Σεργίῳ ἀρχιεπι[σ]κ(όπῳ) Κωνσταν[τ]ινουπόλ(εως) Νέας Ῥώμ(ης).
Obverse
The Mother of God standing, holding Christ on her left arm. At left and right, sigla M-R-ΘV: Μή(τη)ρ Θ(εο)ῦ. Faint traces of a circular inscription. No visible border.
. . . ΗΘΕΙ ΤΩ . . .
[Θ(εοτό)κε βο]ήθει τῷ [σῷ δούλῳ]
Reverse
Inscription of six lines preceded by decoration. No visible border.
ΣΕΡΓΙΩ
ΑΡΧΙΕΠΙ
.Κ,ΚΩΝΣΤΑΝ
.ΙΝΟΥΠΟΛ
ΝΕΑΣΡΩ
Μ
Σεργίῳ ἀρχιεπι[σ]κ(όπῳ) Κωνσταν[τ]ινουπόλ(εως) Νέας Ῥώμ(ης).
| Accession number | BZS.1958.106.2207 (formerly DO 58.106.2207) |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 44.0 mm |
| Previous Editions | DO Seals 6 no. 116.1; Zacos, Seals 2: no. 12; Laurent, Corpus 5.3: no. 1630. Cf. Galavaris, “Thokos,” no. 16 (p. 174). |
Translation
Θεοτόκε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ Σεργίῳ ἀρχιεπισκόπῳ Κωνσταντινουπόλεως Νέας Ῥώμης.
Mother of God, help your servant Sergios, archbishop [patriarch] of Constantinople, the New Rome.
Bibliography
- Catalogue of Byzantine Seals at Dumbarton Oaks and in the Fogg Museum of Art, Vol. 6, Emperors, Patriarchs of Constantinople, Addenda (Open in Zotero)
- Byzantine Lead Seals, Vol. 2 (Open in Zotero)
- Le Corpus des sceaux de l’empire byzantin (Open in Zotero)
- The Representation of the Virgin and Child on a ‘Thokos’ on Seals of the Constantinopolitan Patriarchs (Open in Zotero)
- La géographie ecclésiastique de l’empire byzantin, Vol. 1, Le siège de Constantinople et le patriarcat oecuménique, Pt. 3, Les églises et les monastères (Open in Zotero)
- Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium (Open in Zotero)
- Byzantine Monastic Foundation Documents: A Complete Translation of the Surviving Founders’ Typika and Testaments (Open in Zotero)
Commentary
Prior to his elevation to the patriarchal throne, Sergios served as hegoumenos of the monastery τοῦ Μανουήλ (Skylitzes, 341, line 11 and Janin, Églises, 320). His reign is remembered for his opposition to the fiscal obligation known as allelengyon. The law stipulated that wealthier property holders pay the taxes of poorer neighbors who defaulted. He was willing, however, to countenance the charistike, the private management of religious foundations. See ODB 3:1878 and Monastic Foundation Documents 1:202–3.