Johannes, diakonos, kouboukleisios and chartophylax, 2nd half 10th century. Seal (Lead, 23 mm, 5.15 g, 12 h). +KЄ ROHΘЄI TⲰ CⲰ Δ૪ΛO Decorated patriarchal cross on three steps, with branches springing from base, six-pointed stars within the branches. Rev. +IⲰAN/N' ΔIAKON’ / K૪R૪KΛЄI/C, S XAPTO/ΦVΛAK’ in five lines. Unpublished in the standard references. A beautiful seal of a major church official. Extremely fine.



Originally, as the name indicates, a chartophylax was the guardian of documents in the archives of the patriarch in Constantinopolis. By the 11th century he had become the principle archon to the patriarch, and effectively his right hand man.