Niketas, metropolitan bishop of Kiev and Russia, 1121-1126. Seal (Lead, 21 mm, 15.21 g, 12 h). [MH]P – ΘV Nimbate Mother of God 'Episkepsis', raising both hands in prayer, medallion of Christ in front.
Rev. +CΦPAΓIC / NIKHTA PⲰ/CIAC EΠICK/OΠOV in four lines. Zacos II 645. Wassiliou-Seibt, Corpus 2671. An intriguing seal of great importance to the history of the Kievan Rus'. Very fine.
From a Swiss collection, acquired before 2021.
Though earlier conversion attempts had been made since Photios' tenure as patriarch of Constantinople in the 9th century, the mass baptism of the Rus' in 988 under Vladimir the Great formed a pivotal moment in the religious and cultural history of both Ukraine and Russia. A bishopric was promptly installed in Kiev, with the bishops appointed by Constantinople, such as our Niketas, who became the metropolitan of the Kievan Rus' in autumn 1122. During his tenure, the see came into conflict with the grand prince of the Kievan Rus', Vladimir II Monomakh, who wished to found a bishopric in Smolensk. This city, however, already belonged to the bishopric of Pereyaslavl. Monomakh had managed to have the seat of the latter city remain vacant after the death of its last bishop in 1123. Undaunted, the metropolitan, Niketas, disregarded the wishes of the prince and installed a new bishop, who was only recognized after the death of Monomakh in 1125, by his son Mstislav (cf. A.Poppe: Die Metropoliten und Fürsten der ‘Kiever Rus’ in: G. Podskalsky (ed.): Christentum und Theologische Literatur in der Kiever Rus’ (988-1237), München 1982, 287-288.
