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 Apparently unpublished.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, a beloved disciple is commonly referred to as 'parthenos' or its equivalent 'hagnos'.