Περίληψη : Γεωγραφική Θέση Northwestern Asia Minor, modern northwestern Turkey. Ιστορική Περιοχή Bithynia

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1 Περίληψη : Nicomedia, according to the tradition, has been a bishopric already since the 1 st century. It was the first metropolis of the province of Bithynia. It had a constant presence in the notitiae episcopatuum (lists of ecclesiastical dioceses) as a suffragan of the patriarchate of Constantinople. It is usually placed on the 7 th position among the suffragan metropolis of the Patriarchate of Constantinople and it possessed eight suffragan bishoprics. Γεωγραφική Θέση Northwestern Asia Minor, modern northwestern Turkey Ιστορική Περιοχή Bithynia Διοικητική Υπαγωγή Patriarchate of Constantinople 1. Metropolis of Nicomedia: foundation and evolution Christianity was spread in Nicomedia very early and according to the ecclesiastical tradition the first bishop of Nicomedia was Prochoros, one of the seven deacons. 1 Thus, it is likely that Nicomedia was an organized bishopric seat already from the 1 st century. 2 The first written testimony for the Church of Nicomedia preserves Eusebius of Caesarea, who makes mention of an epistle of Dionysios of Corinth, around 170, addressed to the Nicomedians about the heresy of Marcion. 3 Nicomedia had a constant presence in the notitiae episcopatuum(lists of ecclesiastical dioceses) as a metropolis of the province of Bithynia, subordinated to the Patriarchate of Constantinople. Until the 9 th century it is usually placed on the 7 th position among thirty-eight metropolises (Notitia no. 1), which steadily increased to 91 (Notitia no. 12). Nicomedia initially possessed eight suffragan bishoprics. 2. The confronting with the metropolis of Nicaea The metropolis of Nicomedia, which was the political metropolis and historically speaking the first ecclesiastical metropolis of Bithynia as well, was in a state of rivalry with the metropolis of Nicaea, since the First Ecumenical Council against Arianism had been held in the rival city of Nicaea in 325. The religious quarrels were poisoning the relations between the two cities and were reflecting the already existing disputes between them since the Antiquity. 4 The promotion of Nicaea to the rank of a metropolis was honorary, it happened during the reign of Valentinian ( ) and Valens ( ), without aiming to undermine and confine Nicomedia s rights. The quarrel was solved at the occasion of the confrontation that was manifested between the metropolises of Nicomedia and Nicaea about the dependency of the bishopric seat of Basilinopolis, within the framework of the Fourth Ecumenical Council, at Chalcedon in 451. More precisely, according to the Acts of the Council, the metropolitan of Nicaea Anastasios excommunicated the priests of Nicomedia that happened to go to Basilinopolis to celebrate the mass. At the opposition and the strong reaction of Eunomios of Nicomedia, Anastasios claimed that Basilinopolis acquired the status of a town, and so the right to be organized ecclesiastically, very recently, from Julian, after a suggestion of advisors from Nicaea. This event contributed to the final confirmation by the Council that Nicomedia, according to the canons, was the only real metropolis of Bithynia, whereas Nicaea had an honorary title and simply preceded over the bishoprics The Christian community during the early Byzantine period During that period, Nicomedia was connected with the persecutions against the Christians. 6 In 303 Diocletian gave the order for the persecutions against the Christians, starting from the 23 rd of February, day of the pagan feast Terminalia. The persecution began with the plundering of the Christian church of Nicomedia and the issue of an edict against the Christian cult. On the 30 th of April 311 an Δημιουργήθηκε στις 20/2/2017 Σελίδα 1/8

2 edict was issued for the religious toleration, known as Edict of Milan (Edictum Mediolani) by Constantine, later emperor Constantine I (the Great) and by Licinius ( ), by which Christianity was recognized as a religion. Licinius, however, residing at Nicomedia, within the framework of his confrontation with Constantine, proceeded to new persecutions against the Christians, which were ended after 324. The exact number of the victims at Nicomedia is not known; it amounts, however, to thousands. Among the martyrs at Nicomedia were the legionaries Dorotheos and Gorgonios, as well as Anthimos, bishop of Nicomedia. 7 During the times of Valens ( ) Nicomedia was considered, along with Constantinople, Nicaea and Kotyaion, center of Novatians creed. At the same time, in the city existed a great number of Arians, who proceeded to persecutions against the Orthodox population, enforced by the fact that Valens himself was an adherent of Arianism. Within the period of , an embassy of eight Orthodox priests that had gone to Nicomedia in order to meet him, found a tragic end on a boat, which was set on fire at his command The deeds of the metropolitans of Nicomedia In the year 337 the metropolitan of Nicomedia Eusebios baptized Constantine I at the suburb Achyron. 9 In 401, the translation of the metropolitan of Nicomedia Gerontios, because of his odd opinions about the daemons, caused troubles on the population. 10 Theophylaktos, metropolitan of Nicomedia between the years 800 and 815, displayed a charitable work. He built a church dedicated to Saints Cosmas and Damianos and pious institutions, two-story buildings equipped with beds and indispensable supplies for the poor. He founded as well a remarkable hotel that he named phrontisterion (a mean/place to take care of people) and he proceeded to monthly food distribution to the poor; he notably kept minute archives. 11 The metropolitans of Nicomedia in general played occasionally an important role in the political and ecclesiastical affaires. Characteristic is the case of the metropolitan of Nicomedia (probably of Stephan) who was sent by the emperor Basil II ( ) to the general Bardas Skleros, 12 for negotiations between the years 976 and 979. During the reign of Michael IV Paphlagon ( ), the eunuch Antonios Paches was promoted to a metropolitan of Nicomedia and later he participated in the conspiracy against the patriarch of Constantinople Alexios of Stoudios ( ) The metropolis of Nicomedia during the late Byzantine period During the office of patriarch Athanasios I ( ) the metropolis of Nicomedia was granted kat epidosen (upon temporary entrusting) to the metropolis of Apamaeia of Bithynia. From synodical documents we are informed that the metropolitan of Apameia had requested the dioecese of Nicomedia to be handed over to his metropolis and his proposal was accepted by the patriarch of Constantinople. 14 The request had been submitted probably because the metropolitan of Nicomedia resided at Constantinople and was absent from his spiritual flock, which suffered hardships from invasions. In the patriarchal documents of the 13 th and the 14 th century there is a constant mention of the metropolitan of Nicomedia, a fact that indicates his participation in the endemousa synodos of the Patriarchate of Constantinople. During that period, the metropolitan of Nicomedia bore the title of exarch of the whole of Bithynia, as the metropolitans of Nicaea and Chalcedon did. In 1393, the metropolitan of Nicomedia Makarios bore the title of katholikos krites of the Romans Καινή Διαθήκη, Novum Testamentum Graece, ed. Nestle-Aland (Stuttgart 1898/re-print 1979), "Πράξεις Aποστόλων" 6, line Θρησκευτική και Hθική Eγκυκλοπαιδεία, vol. 9, line s.v. Nικομηδεία (Kωνσταντινίδης, Eμμ.). 3. Ευσέβιος Καισαρείας, Eusèbe de Césarée, Histoire Ecclésiastique, vol. 1, ed. G. Bardy (Sources Chretiennes 31, Paris 1952), p. 203 (IV. 23.4). 4. Foss, Cl., Survey of Medieval Castles of Anatolia II, Nicomedia (The British Institute of Archaeology at Ankara, Monograph 21, Ankara 1996), p. Δημιουργήθηκε στις 20/2/2017 Σελίδα 2/8

3 11 Robert, L., La titulature de Nicée et Nicomédie: la gloire et la haine, Harvard Studies in Classical Philology 81 (1977), pp Mansi, J. D. (ed.), Sacrorum Conciliorum nova et amplissima collectio (ανατ. Gratz 1960), vol. II.1.3, pp See Στεφανίδου, Σ., Eκκλησιαστική Iστορία (Athens 1978), pp , Foss, C., Survey of Medieval Castles of Anatolia II, Nicomedia (The British Institute of Archaeology at Ankara, Monograph 21, Ankara 1996), p. 3, n. 15, 16, p. 4 Συνέκδημος Ιεροκλή, Le Synekdèmos d Hiéroklès, ed. E. Honigmann (Bruxelles 1939), p. 33, For the victims of the persecutions see Lactantius, De Mortibus Persecutorum, ed. J. L. Creed (Oxford 1984), pp , Ευσέβιος Καισαρείας, Eusèbe de Césarée, Histoire Ecclésiastique, vol.3, ed. G. Bardy (Sources Chretiennes 31, Paris 1967), pp. 11 (VIII. 5), 13 (VIII.6) 39, 63 (IX. 9) Γεώργιος Μοναχός, Georgius Monachus Chronicon, vol. 2, ed. C. de Boor ( Stuttgart 1904, re-print 1978), p. 477 Πασχάλιον Χρονικόν, Chronique Pascale, ed. L. Dindorf (CSHB, Bonn 1832), pp. 515, 516. Πασχάλιον Χρονικόν, Chronicon Pascale AD, ed. M. Whitby M.Whitby (Liverpool 1989), p (Σκουταριώτης) «Ανωνύμου Σύνοψις Χρονική», in Σάθας, Κ. Ν. (ed.), Μεσαιωνική Βιβλιοθήκη 7 (Παρίσι 1894, re-print Athnes 1972), p. 60 Σωκράτης σχολαστικός, Socratis Historia Ecclesiastica, in Migne, J. P. (ed.), Patrologiae cursus completus, Series Greca (Paris ), vol. 67, line 500 (IV.16). 9. Μαλάλας, Ioannis Malalae Chronographia, ed. I. Thurn (CFHB 35, Berlin 2000), p Γεώργιος Μοναχός, Georgius Monachus Chronicon, vol. 2, ed. C. de Boor ( Stuttgart 1904, re-print 1978), p. 525 Βίος Κωνσταντίνου, Eusebius Werke, Uber das Leben des Kaisers Konstantin, Die Griechischen Christlichen Schriftsteller der ersten Jahrunderte, ed.-trans. F. Winkelmann (Berlin 1975), pp (4. 62). 10. Σωζομενός, Sozomenus Kirchengeschichte, ed. J. Bidez G. Hansen (Berlin 1849), pp (8.6). 11. Βίος Θεοφυλάκτου, ed. S. Vogt, Saint Théophylacte de Nicomédie, Analecta Bollandiana 50 (1932), p (BHG 2451). 12. Ζωναράς, Ioannis Zonarae Epitomae Historiarum, vol. 3, ed. Th. Buttner-Wobst (CSHB, Bonnae 1907), p Σκυλίτζης, Ioannis Scylitzae Synopsis Historiarum, ed. I. Thurn (CFHB 5, Berlin, New York 1973), p Foss, Cl., Survey of Medieval Castles of Anatolia II, Nicomedia (The British Institute of Archaeology at Ankara, Monograph 21, Ankara 1996), p. 24 n. 75 Laurent, V. (ed.), Les Actes des Patriarches de Constantinople [= Regestes ] (Paris 1970), no Acta Patriarchatus Constantinopolitani, Acta et Diplomata, vol. 2, ed. F. Miklosich I. Müller (ed.) (Vindobonae 1862), p Βιβλιογραφία : Fedalto G., Hierarchia Ecclesiastica Orientalis 1: Patriarchatus Constantinopolitanus Series Episcoporum Ecclesiarum Christianarum Orientalium, Padova 1988 Janin R., Les églises et les monastères des Grands Centres Byzantins. Bithynie, Hellespont, Latros, Galésios, Trébizonde, Athènes, Thessalonique, Paris 1975 Στεφανίδης Β., Εκκλησιαστική Ιστορία απ αρχής μέχρι σήμερον, 2, Αθήνα 1959 Lemerle P., L emirat d Aydin, Byzance et l Occident. Recherches sur "la geste d Umur Pacha", Paris 1957, Bibliotheque Byzantine, Etudes 2 Σπυρόπουλος Ν., "Νικομήδεια", Mεγάλη Eλληνική Eγκυκλοπαίδεια, τόμ. 18, Δημιουργήθηκε στις 20/2/2017 Σελίδα 3/8

4 Κωνσταντινίδης Ε., "Νικομήδεια", Θρησκευτική και Hθική Eγκυκλοπαιδεία, τόμ. 9, Αθήνα 1966, στ Trapp E., "Die Metropoliten von Nikaia und Nikomedia in der Palaiologenzeit", Orientalia Christiana Periodica, 35, 1969, Δικτυογραφία : Medieval Sourcebook: Eusebius: Conversion of Constantine Γλωσσάριo : endemousa synodos (permanent synod) of Constantinople A consulting synod of ecclesiastic officials dwelling in Constantinople, convened every year in the capital to discuss current matters, the demands of bishops and prelates etc. exarch At the Byzantine ecclesiastical administration the exarch, from the 5 th century onwards, was the head of an ecclesiastical province and later became another title of the Ecumenical Patriarch, certifying that he was the head prelate within the jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. The office of exarch was abolished during the 6 th century, although exarchs were metropolites or representatives of metropolites who supervised the ecclesiastical provinces or the ecclesiastical and monastic foundations. During the late 14 th century as exarchs are referred the metropolites who were located at ancient dioceses and supervised all the ecclesiastical sees and the charitable institutions of the ecclesiastical province and later the authorized representatives of the Patriarch (patriarchal exarchs). Fourth Ecumenical Council (Chalcedon, 451) The Fourth Ecumenical Council assembled in 451 at Chalcedon in order to retract the interpetation of the council of Ephesus (449) on the nature of Jesus Christe. Terminalia Roman festival on the 23rd of February honoring god Terminus protector of the boundaries. Πηγές Ιωάννης Σκυλίτζης, Thurn, Ι. (ed.), Ioannis Scylitzae Synopsis Historiarum (CFHB 5, Berlin, New York 1973), p Καινή Διαθήκη, Novum Testamentum Graece, ed. Nestle Aland (Stuttgart 1898, re print. 1979), ʺΠράξεις Aποστόλωνʺ 6, line. 5. Ιωάννης Ζωναράς, Buttner Wobst, Th. (ed.), Ioannis Zonarae Epitomae Historiarum 3 (CSHB, Bonnae 1907), σελ Ευσέβιος Καισαρείας, Bardy, G. (ed.), Eusèbe de Césarée, Histoire Ecclésiastique 1 (Sources Chretiennes 31, Paris 1952), p. 203 (IV. 23.4). Nesbitt, J. Oikonomidès, N. (ed.), Catalogue of Byzantine Seals at Dumbarton Oaks and in the Fogg Museum of Art 3 (Dumbarton Oaks, Washington D.C. 1996), no. 83. Miklosich, F. Müller, I. (ed.), Acta Patriarchatus Constantinopolitani, Acta et Diplomata 1 (Vindobonae 1860), 2 (Vindobonae 1862), 3 (Vindobonae 1865). Mansi, J. D. (ed.), Sacrorum Conciliorum nova et amplissima collectio II.1.3 (ανατ. Gratz 1960), pp Βίος Θεοδώρου Συκεώνος, Festugière A.J. (ed.), Vie de Théodore de Sykeon (Subsidia Hagiographica 48, Bruxelles1970). Hunger, Η. (ed.), Das Register des Patriarchats von Konstantinopel (CFHB19/1, Wien 1981). Δημιουργήθηκε στις 20/2/2017 Σελίδα 4/8

5 Duchesne, L. (ed.), Liber Pontificalis 1 (Paris 1955). Schlumberger, G. (ed.), Sigillographie de l empire byzantin (Paris1884). Βίος Θεοφυλάκτου, Vogt, S. (ed.), Saint Théophylacte de Nicomédie, Analecta Bollandiana 50 (1932), pp , esp. p (BHG 2451). Παραθέματα The reception of Hosios Theodoros of Sykeon by the Nicomedians at the beginnings of the 7th century Eν τη Nικομηδέων μητροπόλει υπαντή αυτώ μεγάλη εγένετο υπό των εκείσε καταντήσαντος δε αυτού εν Oπτατιαναίς εν τω προαστείω τω όντι έξωθεν των ανατολικών τειχέων επέκεινα του αγίου μάρτυρος Aνθίμου, εν ω είωθεν πάντοτε καθίσταθαι προς Θεοφύλακτον άνδρα πιστότατον, εγένετο κατάδηλος πάσιν τοις τε πολίταις και επιχωρίοις η αυτού παρουσία, ώστε συνδραμειν προς αυτόν όχλους πολλούς. Βίος Θεοδώρου Συκεώνος, Festugière, A.J. (ed.), Vie de Théodore de Sykeon (Subsidia Hagiographica 48, Bruxelles 1970), p The Fourth Ecumenical Council stated its opinion for the supremacy of the metropolis of Nicomedia Tον μεν αυθεντίαν του μητροπολίτου εν ταις κατά Bιθυνίαν εκκλησίαις ο Nικομηδείας ευλαβέστατος επίσκοπος έξει, του Nικαίας την τιμήν μόνην του μητροπολίτου έχοντος, υποκειμένου δε κατά μίμησιν των άλλων επισκόπων της επαρχίας τω της Nικομηδείας τούτο γαρ και τη αγία παρέστη συνόδω. Mansi, J. D. (ed.), Sacrorum Conciliorum nova et amplissima collectio II.1.3 (re print Gratz 1960), p Βοηθ. Κατάλογοι List of bishoprics subordinated to the metropolis of Nicomedia: bishopric of Proussa or Theoupolis bishopric of Basilinopolis bishopric of Praenetos bishopric of Elenoupolis bishopric of Apollonias bishopric of Daskylion bishopric of Gallos bishopric of Neocaesarea bishopric of Kadosia or Lofon bishopric of Adrianon bishopric of Caesarea Δημιουργήθηκε στις 20/2/2017 Σελίδα 5/8

6 bishopric of Ariste or Eriste, Daphnousia List of the bishops of Nicomedia Prochoros Euandros (2 nd century) Cyril (?) Anthimos (303) Eustolios (314) Marathonios (342, 360) Onesimos (?) Euphrasios (Second Ecumenical Council, Constantinople, 381) Patricios (?) Gerontios (401) Pansophios (?) Diodoros (?) Himerios (Third Ecumenical Council, Ephesus, 431, 432) Eunomios (< , 446, Rabber Council of Ephesus, 449>) Stephan (518, 520) Thalassios (536) John (Fifth Ecumenical Council, 553) Josephus (?) Peter (Sixth Ecumenical Council, 681, /, 691) John (?) Constantine (?) Peter (Seventh Ecumenical Council, Nicaea, 787) Theophylaktos (814) Gregory (9 th century) Δημιουργήθηκε στις 20/2/2017 Σελίδα 6/8

7 Ignatius (843, 846) Theophilos Monomachos (845/846) John ( ) George (Photeian Synod, 879) Gregory ( ) Ignatios (921, 945) Stephan (976, 1003) John (1030) Antonios Paches (1035, 1037) Basil (1071) Stephan (11 th century) Michael (1082) Constantine (1094/5, 1136) Niketas (?) John (1152) Theophylaktos (1157) Michael (1166, 1169) John (1174, 1177) Karakalos (1289, ) Cyril ( ) Maximos ( ) Makarios (1385, 1397) List of Arian bishops of Nicomedia Eusebios (First Ecumenical Council, 325) Amphion (325, 328, 338) Δημιουργήθηκε στις 20/2/2017 Σελίδα 7/8

8 Kekropios (351, 358) The catalogues were composed after Fedalto Δημιουργήθηκε στις 20/2/2017 Σελίδα 8/8