Johannes, bishop, 11th century. Seal (Lead, 29 mm, 15.31 g, 12 h). Θ / IⲰ / O – ΘЄ/O/ΛO/ΓOC Saint John the Theologian standing facing on dais, nimbate, raising right hand in benediction inside fold of his garment and holding book of Gospels in his left. Rev. +OMⲰ/NVMON COI / ΠAPΘЄNЄ / CKЄΠOIC ΘV/THN ('Pure youth, may you protect the priest who is namesake to you') in five lines; above and below, decorations. Apparently unpublished. Cf. Wassiliou-Seibt, Corpus 1584 for a parallel verse. A magnificent episcopal seal. Minor scrape on the reverse edge, otherwise, extremely fine.



The Greek word 'thutès', literally 'sacrificer', was a synonym for 'priest'. In verse legends on seals, the word is often used by bishops. The reverse of our seal invokes John as 'parthenos', a title that usually refers to the Mother of God as 'maiden'. However, the word can also occur in the masculine form, and in Byzantine poetry, the beloved disciple is commonly referred to as 'parthenos' or its equivalent 'hagnos'.