The Monastery of Saint Symeon the Younger, 10th-early 11th century. Seal (Lead, 31 mm, 28.65 g, 12 h). Θ / CV/M-Є/ⲰN St. Symeon Thaumastorites (the Younger), nimbate, seated on his column, raising both hands in prayer, within double pearled border decorated with crosses and globules.
Rev. +ЄV/ΛOΓIA TOV AΓIOV / CVMЄⲰ/N ('Blessing of Saint Symeon') in five lines, within double pearled border decorated with crosses and globules. DO Seals V, 10.1. E. Stepanova (2017): Seals and Eulogiai of the Monastery of Symeon Stylites the Younger in Античная древность и средние века 45, 99-112, fig. 4. Good fine.
From an important collection of Roman and Byzantine seals, tesserae and amulets, formed before 2021.
The monastery of Saint Symeon Stylite the Younger was located on top of a hill known as the 'Wondrous Mountain', near the city of Antioch. It was one of the most beloved centers of pilgrimage in the Byzantine world, marking the place where the ascetic Saint Symeon had lived on top of his pillar for much of his life in the 6th century. In her dedicated article, Stepanova suggests that this seal type, with the legend 'Blessing of Saint Symeon', may have been attached to containers in which the miraculous earth gathered near the column was placed.
