The Cult of Saints in Late Antiquity

Petition of Eastern Monks to Pope Agapitus (JH 1761)

This document is a petition signed by 96 individuals who held office in monasteries in the city of Constantinople and in Syria and Palestine (for its nature and context, see Source). Each signatory states his office and the monastery to which he belongs. The first 66 signatories are from monasteries in and around Constantinople, followed by 30 from monastic communities in Syria or Palestine.

We include here only instances where it is clear that a monastery is named after a saint, described as a 'saint', 'martyr', or 'apostle', or by some other form of words which leaves no ambiguity. Numbering of the signatures is as in the edition by Eduard Schwartz. For each institution in Constantinople, a reference is given to its entry in the catalogue of the churches and monasteries of Constantinople by Raymond Janin.


3) Διόσκορος ἐλέει θεοῦ πρεσβύτερος καὶ ἡγούμενος μονῆς τῆς ἁγίας μάρτυρος Εὐφημίας ἀξιώσας ὑπέγραψα.

''[I] Dioskoros, by the grace of God presbyter and abbot of the monastery of the Holy Martyr Euphemia [martyr of Chalcedon, S00017], assented and signed [literally 'having assented, signed'].'

Janin 1969, 125.


6) Ἀντωνῖνος ἐλέει θεοῦ πρεσβὑτερος καὶ ἡγοὑμενος μονῆς τοῦ αγίου πατρός ἡμῶν Εὐσεβίου ἀξιὡσας ὑπἑγραψα.

‘I, Antoninos, by the grace of God presbyter and abbot of the monastery of our Holy Father Eusebios, assented and signed.’

Although the language used here is slightly ambiguous, it is known from other sources that this monastery was dedicated to a Saint Eusebios: see Janin 1969, 117-18. However it is not known which of several saints named Eusebios was referred to: for possibilities see S01010, S01082, S01653 (though others are possible too).


14) Ζήνων ἐλέει θεοῦ πρεσβύτερος καὶ ἡγούμενος μονῆς τῆς οὔσης καὶ διακειμένης πλησίον τοῦ οἴκου τῆς ἁγίας ἐνδόξου παρθένου καὶ θεοτόκου Μαρίας ἐν τῆι πηγῆι ἀξιώσας ὑπέγραψα.
     
'I, Zenon, by the grace of God presbyter and abbot of the monastery situated near the church of the Holy, Glorious Virgin and God-bearer Mary [S00033] in [the district of] Pege, assented and signed.'

For the monastery of the Theotokos at Pege, one of the best known monasteries in Constantinople, see Janin 1969, 223-8.


24) Βασίλειος ἐλέει θεοῦ πρεσβύτερος καὶ ἡγούμενος μονῆς τοῦ ἁγίου Συμεώνη ἐπίκλην τῶν Κυρακωνᾶ ἀξιώσας ὑπέγραψα.

'I, Basileios, by the grace of God presbyter and abbot of the monastery of the Holy Symeon [probably Symeon the Elder, S00343] known as [the monastery] of Kyrakonas, assented and signed.'

Janin 1969, 291 (Janin says that the identity of this Symeon is unknown, but given the date it seems unlikely to be anyone but Symeon the Elder).


25) Ἰωάννης ἐλέει θεοῦ πρεσβύτερος τοῦ ἁγίου ἀποστόλου Θωμᾶ ἐν τοῖς Μοδέστου ἀξιώσας ὑπέγραψα.

'I, Ioannes, by the grace of God presbyter of the Holy Apostle Thomas [S00199] in [the district of] Modestos, assented and signed.'

Janin 1969, 252.


30) Θεόκτιστος ἐλέει θεοῦ πρεσβύτερος καὶ ἡγούμενος μονῆς τῆς ἁγίας ἐνδόξου παρθένου καὶ θεοτόκου Μαρίας πλησίον τῶν Ἰωβ ἀξιώσας ὑπέγραψα.

'I, Theoktistos, by the grace of God presbyter and abbot of the monastery of the Holy, Glorious Virgin and God-bearer Mary [S00033] near [the monastery] of Job, assented and signed.'

Janin 1969, 186, 272. According to Janin, the monastery of Job was named after its founder, not the Old Testament patriarch.


31) Κοσμᾶς ἐλέει θεοῦ πρεσβύτερος καὶ ἡγούμενος μονῆς τοῦ ἁγίου προδρόμου καὶ βαπτιστοῦ Ἰωάννου ἐν τοῖς Στουδίου ἀξιώσας ὑπέγραψα.

'I, Kosmas, by the grace of God presbyter and abbot of the monastery of the Holy Forerunner and Baptist John [S00020] in [the district] of Stoudios, assented and signed.'

For this very well-known monastery, see Janin 1969 430-40.


32) Πέτρος ἐλέει θεοῦ πρεσβύτερος καὶ ἡγούμενος μονῆς τῆς ἁγίας ἐνδόξου παρθένου καὶ θεοτόκου Μαρίας καὶ τοῦ ἁγίου καὶ ἐνδόξου μάρτυρος Διομήδους ἐπίκλην Ἱερουσαλὴμ ἀξιώσας ὑπέγραψα.

'I, Petros, by the grace of God presbyter and abbot of the monastery of the Holy, Glorious Virgin and God-bearer Mary [S00033], and the Holy and Glorious Martyr Diomedes [martyr of Nicaea, S02161], known as Jerusalem, assented and signed.'

Janin 1969, 95-7, 185-6.


33) Ἐλευθέριος ἐλέει θεοῦ πρεσβύτερος καὶ ἡγούμενος μονῆς τοῦ ἁγίου καὶ ἐνδόξου μάρτυρος Κυριακοῦ ἀξιώσας ὑπέγραψα.

'I, Eleutherios, by the grace of God presbyter and abbot of the monastery of the Holy and Glorious Martyr Kyriakos [martyr of Jerusalem, S02542], assented and signed.'

Janin 1969, 292-3.


38) Βαβύλας ἐλέει θεοῦ πρεσβύτερος καὶ ἡγούμενος μονῆς τοῦ ἐν ἁγίοις Δανιὴλ τοῦ ἐν τῶι στύλου καὶ τοῦ ἁγίου Ἰωάννου ἐν τῶι μικρῶι βάθει καὶ τοῦ ἁγίου ἀποστόλου Ἀνδρέου πλησίον τοῦ στύλου ἀξιώσας ὑπέγραψα.

'I, Babylas, by the grace of God presbyter and abbot of the monastery of Daniel the Stylite [S00342], among the saints, and of the Holy John [the Baptist, S00020] in the cave [literally ‘in the little deep’] and of the Holy Apostle Andrew [S00288], near the pillar [of Daniel], assented and signed.'

Janin 1969, 32, 86-7, 418. According to Janin these were three separate monasteries in the same district, the area around Daniel’s pillar in Sosthenion, a suburb just to the north of Constantinople. Babylas was apparently abbot of all three.


41) Ἰωάννης ἐλέει θεοῦ πρεσβύτερος καὶ ἡγούμενος μονῆς τοῦ ἁγίου ἀρχαγγέλου Μιχαὴλ τῆς ἐπίκλην τῶν Χαρισίου ἀξιώσας ὑπέγραψα.

'I, Ioannes, by the grace of God presbyter and abbot of the monastery of the Holy Archangel Michael [S00181], known as [the monastery] of Kharisios, assented and signed.'

Janin 1969, 350. According to Janin, ‘of Kharisios’ refers to the monastery’s location near the Gate of Kharisios.


48) Στρατόνικος ἐλέει θεοῦ πρεσβύτερος καὶ ἡγούμενος μονῆς τοῦ ἁγίου Δομετίου ἀξιώσας ὑπέγραψα.

'I, Stratonikos, by the grace of God presbyter and abbot of the monastery of the Holy Dometios [monk of Syria, S00414], assented and signed.'

Janin 1969, 99-100.


50) Μαρτύριος ἐλέει θεοῦ πρεσβύτερος καὶ ἡγούμενος μονῆς Πέτρου ἤτοι Οὐάλεντος καὶ Δαυδάτου πλησίον τῶν ἁγίων Ἀποστόλων ἀξιώσας ὑπέγραψα.

'I, Martyrios, by the grace of God presbyter and abbot of the monastery of Petros, also of Oualens [Valens] and Daudatos [Adeodatus], near [the church of] the Holy Apostles [S02422], assented and signed.'

Janin 1969, 403. According to Janin it is known from other sources that this monastery was dedicated to John the Baptist. Two of the named founders/patrons have names which are obviously Latin rather than Greek, but their identity is unknown. For the church of the Holy Apostles, see Janin 1969, 41-49.


51) Ἀνδρέας ἐλέει θεοῦ πρεσβύτερος καὶ ἡγούμενος μονῆς διακειμένης ἐν τῶι σεβασμίωι οἴκωι τῆς ἁγίας ἐνδόξου παρθένου καὶ θεοτόκου Μαρίας πλησίον τοῦ ἁγίου ἀποστόλου καὶ εὐαγγελιστοῦ Λουκᾶ ἀξιώσας ὑπέγραψα.

'I, Andreas, by the grace of God presbyter and abbot of the monastery located in the revered church of the Holy and Glorious Virgin and God-bearer Mary [S00033], near that of [church of] the Holy Apostle and Evangelist Luke [S00442], assented and signed.'

Janin 1969, 63, 195 (monastery of Mary); 311 (church of Luke).


52) Μάρκος ἐλέει θεοῦ πρεσβύτερος καὶ ἡγούμενος μονῆς τοῦ ἁγίου μάρτυρος Κυρίκου ἀξιώσας ὑπέγραψα διὰ χειρὸς Αὐξάνοντος διακόνου.

'I, Markos, by the grace of God presbyter and abbot of the monastery of the Holy Martyr Kyrikos [martyr of Tarsus, S00007], assented and signed by the hand of Auxanon the deacon.'

Janin 1969, 293.


54) Ἀττικὸς ἐλέει θεοῦ πρεσβύτερος καὶ ἡγούμενος μονῆς τῶν Εὐκρατάδων πλησίον τῆς ἁγίας Μαύρας ἀξιώσας ὑπέγραψα.

'I, Attikos, by the grace of God presbyter and abbot of the monastery of the Eukratades near [the church of] the Holy Maura [martyr of Egypt, S01398], assented and signed.'

Janin 1969, 117 (monastery of the Eukratades), 329-30 (church of Maura).


55) Ἰωσὴφ ἐλέει θεοῦ πρεσβύτερος καὶ ἡγούμενος μονῆς τῆς ἁγίας θεοτόκου καὶ ἀειπαρθένου Μαρίας ἐν τῶι λιθοστρώτωι ἀξιώσας ὑπέγραψα διὰ χειρὸς Ἰωάννου διακόνου.

'I, Joseph, by the grace of God presbyter and abbot of the monastery of the Holy God-bearer and Ever-Virgin Mary [S00033] in [the district of] Lithostrotos assented and signed by the hand of John the deacon.'

Janin 1969, 195.


57) Ἀναστάσιος ἐλέει θεοῦ πρεσβύτερος καὶ δευτεράριος μονῆς τοῦ ἁγίου καὶ ἐνδόξου ἀποστόλου Φιλίππου τοῦ ἐν τῶι βρεφοτροφείωι ἀξιώσας ὑπέγραψα διὰ τὸ μὴ παρεῖναι τὸν ἡγούμενον ἐνταῦθα.

'I, Anastasios, by the grace of God presbyter and vice-abbot of the monastery of the Holy and Glorious Apostle Philip [S00109] in the Brephotropheion [home for orphans], assented and signed in the absence of the abbot.'

Janin 1969, 494.


59) Κυριακὸς ἐλέει θεοῦ πρεσβύτερος καὶ ἀρχιμανδρίτης μονῆς τοῦ ἁγίου Ἰωάννου ἐπίκλην τῶν Σύρων ἀξιώσας ὑπέγραψα.

'I, Kyriakos, by the grace of God presbyter and archimandrite of the monastery of the Holy John [the Baptist, S00020] known as [the monastery] of the Syrians, assented and signed.'

Janin 1969, 479-80.


63) Παῦλος πρεσβύτερος καὶ ἡγούμενος μονῆς τῆς ἁγίας Ἑρμιόνης ἀξιώσας ὑπέγραψα.

'I, Paulos, presbyter and abbot of the monastery of the Holy Hermione [martyr of Ephesus, S02595], assented and signed.'

Janin 1969, 113.


65) Ζωτικὸς ἐλέει θεοῦ πρεσβύτερος καὶ ἡγούμενος μονῆς τοῦ ἁγίου ἀποστόλου Ἀνδρέου τοῦ ὄντος ἐν τῆι Σατορνίνου πόρτηι ἀξιώσας ὑπέγραψα διὰ χειρὸς Μάρκου πρεσβυτέρου καὶ δευτεραρίου, ἐμοῦ προτάξαντος τὸν τίμιον σταυρόν.

'I, Zotikos, by the grace of God presbyter and abbot of the monastery of the Holy Apostle Andrew [S00288] by the Gate of Saturninus, assented and signed by the hand of Markos, presbyter and vice-abbot, myself putting in front the glorious cross.'

Janin 1969, 31-2.


66) Θεόδωρος ἐλέει θεοῦ πρεσβύτερος καὶ ἡγούμενος μονῆς χάριτι θεοῦ ὑπ' ἐμοῦ συστάσης πλησίον τοῦ ἁγίου μάρτυρος Λαυρεντίου ἀξιώσας ὑπέγραψα.

'I, Theodoros, by the grace of God presbyter and abbot of the monastery founded by me through the grace of God near [the church of] the Holy Martyr Laurentios [martyr of Rome, $S00037], assented and signed.'

For the church of Laurence, see Janin 1969, 301-304, and on the monastery founded by Theodoros, 304-5.


The next two entries are by monks from monasteries in the Near East.

88) Ἰωἀννης πρεσβύτερος καὶ ἀρχιμανδρίτης τῆς εὐαγοῦς μονῆς τοῦ κύρου Θωμᾶ Συριστὶ ὑπέγραψα.

'I, Ioannes, presbyter and archimandrite of the holy monastery of Lord Thomas [the apostle, S00199], signed in Syriac.'


95) Φαυστῖνος ἐλέει θεοῦ μοναχὸς καὶ ἀποκρισιάριος μονῆς τοῦ ἁγίου Στεφάνου Μαουζᾶ Ἰαμνίας καὶ ὑπὲρ πάντων τῶν ἐκεῖσε κληρικῶν καὶ μοναχῶν ἀξιώσας ὑπέγραψα.

'I, Phaustinos, by the grace of God monk and representative of the monastery of the Holy Stephen [the first martyr, $S00030] of Maouza Iamnia and on behalf of all the clerics and monks there, assented and signed.'


Text: Schwartz 1940, 142-7.
Summary and translations: David Lambert.

Cult building - independent (church)
Cult building - unspecified
Cult building - monastic

Ecclesiastics - lesser clergy
Ecclesiastics - abbots
Ecclesiastics - monks/nuns/hermits

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