Περίληψη : The church of Sardis is one of the seven churches in Asia Minor mentioned in the Apocalypse of John. It was the metropolis of the province of Lydia since the early Byzantine period and constantly occupied the sixth place among the metropolises under the jurisdiction of the Patriarchate of Constantinople in the ecclesiastical taktika (notitiae episcopatuum). Its metropolitans were involved in all the religious disputes of the Byzantine Empire until the 13 th century. In 1369, due to the Ottoman conquest, it came under the jurisdiction of the metropolis of Philadelphia. Άλλες Ονομασίες metropolis of Sarde Γεωγραφική Θέση Western Asia Minor, modern western Turkey Ιστορική Περιοχή Lydia Διοικητική Υπαγωγή Patriarchate of Constantinople 1. Early Byzantine period The church of Sardis is one of the seven churches in Asia Minor mentioned in the Apocalypse of John. Clement of Sardis, probably one of the first επισκόπους (bishops), is mentioned in the Synaxarion of Constantinople. The martyrdoms of martyrs Therapon and Apollonius, also included in the Synaxarion, reveal that the Christian community of Sardis flourished during the early Christian period (probably as early as the 2 nd century). Meliton, an apologist of Christianity and a voluminous writer, lived in Sardis in the 2 nd century. The fact that he maintained that the celebration of Easter must coincide with the Jewish Passover was the reason why the work of Meliton was not included in the ecclesiastical canon and was lost forever. His views were considered heretical and were persecuted by patriarch John Chrysostom (398 404). On the other hand, it seemed that the pagan community declined. The temple of Artemis, worshipped in Sardis throughout the antiquity, was abandoned in the 3 rd century despite the efforts of emperor Julian (361 363), who appointed his teacher Chrysanthios αρχιερέα (high priest) of Lydia. The revival of the pagan religions was temporary. Pagans lived in Lydia until the 6 th century, when John of Ephesus commenced his missionary activity. According to an inscription dating after 539, the pagans of Sardis were exiled or imprisoned. There were also flourishing communities of Jews and Monophysite Christians in Sardis. The majestic synagogue of the Jewish community was situated in the centre of the city. The coexistence of Christians and Jews was peaceful and it seemed that the Jews were fully incorporated in the local society. On the contrary, the coexistence of Orthodox and Monophysite Christians, whose communities had a different religious leader, was problematic due to the dogmatic disputes of the 5 th and 6 th century. In the 5 th century the metropolitan of Sardis was involved in a dispute on Monophysitism with the bishops of Yrkanis and Hierocaesarea of Lydia. The spread of Monophysitism in the province was such that in 457, following the condemnation of Monophysitism at the Fourth Ecumenical Council (Chalcedon, 451), a council of the bishops of the province of Lydia, Δημιουργήθηκε στις 15/1/2017 Σελίδα 1/8
ordered by emperor Zeno (474 475/476 491), was held in Sardis, condemning the Monophysite dogma anew. The missionary activity of John of Ephesus (6 th century), however, resulted in the conversion of many pagans to Monophysitism. The community of Monophysites survived until 571, when the Monophysite bishop of Sardis Elisaios was imprisoned in Constantinople, following a greater persecution against the Monophysites. 2. Middle Byzantine period The metropolitans of Sardis acquired great prestige during the middle Byzantine period and were actively involved in the ecclesiastical disputes. The most noted metropolitan of Sardis during that period was Euthymios, who participated in the Seventh Ecumenical Council (Nicaea, 787). 1 Euthymios was persecuted for his iconolatric beliefs and was exiled at the time of Nikephoros I (802 813). He did not return to Sardis ever since. According to the letters of Theodore of Stoudios, the successor of Euthymios was also an iconodule, who was finally beheaded. 2 Apart from the disputes on iconoclasm of the 8 th and 9 th century, the metropolitans of Sardis were also involved in thephotian schism as supporters of patriarch Photios and in the dispute over the fourth marriage of Emperor Leo VI (886 912). Metropolitan Peter was considered one of the main associates of Photios. In 869 he was sent on an embassy to Rome. A metropolitan with the same name was a supporter of patriarch Euthymios (907 912) and was defrocked soon after the defrocking of the patriarch. 3. Late Byzantine period At the beginning of the 13 th century, Nikephoros Chrysoberges, the former master of the rhetors and a well known writer, was the metropolitan of Sardis. During the 2 nd half of the 13 th century, the metropolis of Sardis was an object of dispute between the supporters of emperor Michael VIII Palaiologos (1259 1282) and the supporters of patriarch Arsenios I Autoreianos (1254 1259, 1261 1265). The metropolitans were either in favour of the official imperial policy or against it but the metropolitan throne of the city remained under imperial control, either that of Michael VIII or Andronikos II Palaiologos. In 1285 the metropolis of Sardis was temporarily administered by the metropolitan of Corfu Gerasimos. In the records of the Second Council of Blachernai (1285), metropolitan Gerasimos also signed as metropolitan of Sardis ( πρόεδρος Σάρδεων [sic]). 3 It seems that the arrival of the Ottomans and the subsequent turmoil in the provinces of Asia Minor affected the church of Sardis. At the end of the 13 th and the beginning of the 14 th century, metropolitan Kyrillos of Sardis moved to Constantinople and took action against patriarch Athanasios I (1289 1293, 1303 1309) by forbidding the mention of the name of the patriarch during mass in the parishes under his jurisdiction. The patriarch often mentions the metropolitan of Sardis in his letters and blames him for acquiring a fortune in Constantinople and being away from his flock. It is possible that Athanasios I managed to banish the metropolitan of Sardis from the capital. A little later, however, the metropolitan of Sardis assumed the archbishopric of Methymna by service (kat epidosin), and returned to his seat. Following the conquest of the city by the Ottomans some time between 1310 and 1320, the church of Sardis soon declined. The last known metropolitan of Sardis was Gregory. The metropolitan of Philadelphia assumed the administration of the metropolis of Sardis prior to 1365, although the official synodic order dates from 1369. In that document, it was decreed that the ενορία των Σάρδεων (parish of Sardis) came under the jurisdiction of the metropolis of Philadelphia and that the metropolis of Philadelphia assumed Δημιουργήθηκε στις 15/1/2017 Σελίδα 2/8
the place and jurisdiction of the metropolis of Sardis. In the same document, the metropolitan of Philadelphia bears the titles of hypertimos (most honoured) and exarch of the whole Lydia, which until then were conferred to the metropolitan of Sardis. 4 4. The arsenite schism and the metropolitans of Sardis The most noted metropolitan of Sardis during the 2 nd half of the 13 th century was undoubtedly Andronikos, whose activity was associated with the arsenite schism since he was a supporter of patriarch Arsenios I Autoreianos (1254 1259, 1261 1265). Andronikos was one of the first metropolitans who disagreed with the policy of emperor Michael VIII Palaiologos (1259 1282) and was forced to resign (1259). Patriarch Arsenios I, despite his attempts, failed to restore him to the metropolis of Sardis during his second term as a patriarch. The metropolitan throne of Sardis was occupied by Iakovos Chalazas. Chalazas was not accepted by the arsenites but managed to exercise his authority due to the imperial support. He acted as a representative of the emperor in all ecclesiastical issues and tried to convince patriarch Germanos III (1265 1266) to resign. Former metropolitan Andronikos managed to return to the metropolitan throne of Sardis in 1283 and became the leader of the arsenite and anti unionist party of priests and monks. Nevertheless, his cruelty, a result of the persecutions against him, finally isolated him. He was accused of lese majesty (a crime against the state), defrocked and even abused by his opponents. 5. Administrative issues Following the administrative reformation by emperor Diocletian (284 305), Sardis became the administrative centre of the newly established province of Lydia and its church became the metropolis of the bishoprics of the province. No less than eight bishoprics of the province of Lydia were under the jurisdiction of the metropolis of Sardis by the time of the First Ecumenical Council (Nicaea, 325). According to the notitiae episcopatuum (notitia episcopatuum) of the middle and late Byzantine period, however, no less than 25 to 28 bishoprics were under the jurisdiction of the metropolis of Sardis or Sarde. 26, 27 and 25 bishoprics were cited in Notitiae 6, 8 and 14 respectively. The metropolis of Sardis constantly occupied the sixth place among the metropolises under the jurisdiction of the Patriarchate of Constantinople in the ecclesiastical taktika throughout the Byzantine period. Only in Notitia 3 (9 th century) did the metropolis occupy the seventh place. Some changes occurred in the 14 th century, following the conquest of the city of Sardis by the Ottomans. In Notitia 19, dating from the 14 th century and the time of Andronikos III Palaiologos, the metropolis of Sardis and the metropolis of Philadelphia occupied the sixth place simultaneously. In Notitia 20 (14 th century), however, the metropolis of Philadelphia has replaced the metropolis of Sardis and assumes jurisdiction on the bishoprics of the metropolis of Sardis and its place in the ecclesiastical hierarchy. 5 1. Seal of metropolitan Euhtymios (787-815) see Zacos G.-Veglery A., Byzantine Lead Seals, vol. I, plates (Basel 1972), pl. 104 no. 1332: 2. G. Fatouros (ed.), Theodori Studitae Epistulae (CFHB 31/2, Berlin-New York 1991), no. 415.17-18. 3. Laurent, V., Les signataires du second synode des Blakhernes (Ete 1285), Échos d Orient 26 (1927), p. 144.4. Δημιουργήθηκε στις 15/1/2017 Σελίδα 3/8
4. Acta Patriarchatus Constantinopolitani, Acta et diplomata graeca medii aevi sacra et profana I, ed. F. Miklosich J. Muller (Vienna 1860), pp. 509-510. 5. J. Darrouzes (ed.), Notitiae Episcopatuum Ecclesiae Constantinopolitanae (Paris 1981), no. 20.6 Βιβλιογραφία : Γουναρίδης Π., Το κίνημα των Αρσενιατών (1261-1310). Ιδεολογικές διαμάχες την εποχή των πρώτων Παλαιολόγων, Αθήνα 1999 Les Regestes des actes du Patriarcat de Constantinople, Darrouzès, J. (ed.), 1: Les actes des Patriarches (fasc.v. de 1310 à 1376), Paris 1977 Κουντούρα-Γαλάκη Ε., Ο βυζαντινός κλήρος και η κοινωνία των «σκοτεινών αιώνων», Αθήνα 1996 Pratsch T., Theodoros Studites (759-826) - zwischen Dogma und Pragma. Der Abt des Studiosklosters in Konstantinopel im Spannungsfeld von Patriarch, Kaiser und eigenem Anspruch, Frankfurt a. M. 1998, Berliner Byzantinistische Studien 4 Γλωσσάριo : 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. maistor ton rhetoron A teacher of rhetoric in the Patriarchal School of Constantinople; also the chief imperial orator. The maistor of rhetoron was appointed by the emperor himself, and his responsibilities included delivering encomiastic speeches for the emperor on various occasions. Notitia episcopatuum The Notitiae episcopatuum are official documents of the Patriarchate of Constantinople and Antioch, containing the ecclesiastical dioceses in hierarchical order.these documents were modfied regularly. Photian schism The schism of Photius was actually a dispute between the patriarch of Constantinople Photius (858-867, 877-886) and pope Nicolas I (858-867), over the jurisdictions of the two sees. It was formulated through the dispute of filioque. service (kat epidosin) The term "service" in canonical law signifies the temporary commission of one ecclesiastical see to another, in order to ensure the function of the see for the sake of the people; the service used to be arranged if it was inevitable for the ordained bishop to attend the site, due to force majeure. Service could not break the ecclesiastical rank. Synaxarion of Constantinople Δημιουργήθηκε στις 15/1/2017 Σελίδα 4/8
A compilation of brief accounts on every saint that was celebrated during a liturgical year, arranged by months. It was one of the first and most thorough compilation of synaxaria and it is considered a valuable source for the Byzantine studies. Its compilation must be dated to the 10th century and was probably linked to the tradition of the Church of Constantinople. It was the model for many synaxaria compiled later (such as the Menologion of Basil II), and it was completed or slightly altered in some parts through the years. It was published in 1902 by the Belgian scholar Hippolyte Delehaye (Synaxarium ecclesiae Constantinopolitanae e codice Sirmondiano [Bruxelles 1902]). Πηγές Novum Testamentum Graece, eds. E. Nestle K. Aland (Stuttgart 1898), pp. 637 638. Acta Patriarchatus Constantinopolitani, Acta et diplomata graeca medii aevi sacra et profana Ι, eds. F. Miklosich J. Müller (Wien 1860), pp. 509 510. Zacos, G. Veglery, A. (eds.), Byzantine Lead Seals I/2 (Basel 1972). Patrum Nicaenorum Nomina, letine graece, coptice, syriace arabice armeniace, eds. H. Geltzer H. Hilgenfeld O. Kuntz (Stuttgart Leipzig 1995). Propylaeum ad acta sanctorum Novembris. Synaxarium Ecclesiae Constantinopolitanae, ed. H. Delehaye (Bruxelles 1902). G. Fatouros (ed.), Theodori Studitae Epistulae (CFHB 31/2, Berlin New York 1991), no. 415.17 18. J. Darrouzès (ed.), Notitiae episcopatuum Ecclesiae Constantinopolitanae (Paris 1981). Laurent, V. (ed.), Les signataires du second synode des Blakhernes (Été 1285), Échos d'orient 26 (1927), pp. 129 149, esp. 144.1. Gouillard, J. (ed.), La vie d Euthyme de Sardes (831), une oeuvre du patriarche Methode, Travaux et Mémoires 10 (1987), pp. 1 101, the Life is in pp. 21 88, see esp. 23.34 ff. A. Μ. Maffry Talbot (ed.), The Correspondence of Athanasius I Patriarch of Constantinople. Letters to the Emperor Andronicus II, Members of the Imperial Family, and Officials (CFHB VII, Washington, D.C., 1975). Lemerle, P. Guillu, A. Svoronos, N. Papachryssanthou, D. (ed.), Actes de Lavra II: de 1204 à 1328 1328 (Archives de l Athos VIII, Paris 1977). Laurent, V. (ed.), Le corpus des sceaux de l empire byzantin, t. V: l Eglise, 1: L Eglise de Constantinople (Paris 1963). J. Bidez (ed.), Sozomenus Kirchengeschichte (Berlin1960). Georgii Acropolitae Opera I, ed. A. Heisenberg (P. Wirth) (Stuttgart 1978). A. Failler (ed.), Georges Pachymérès, Relations Historiques (CFHB XXIV/1, Paris 1984), IΙ: Livres IV VI (CFHB vol. XXIV/2, Paris 1984). Παραθέματα 1. The church of Sardis in the Revelation of John Και τω αγγέλω της εν Σάρδεσιν εκκλησίας γράψον τάδε λέγει ο έχων τα επτά πνεύματα του θεού και τους επτά αστέρας οίδά σου τα έργα ότι όνομα έχεις ότι ζης, και νεκρός ει. Γίνου γρηγορών και στήρισον τα λοιπά α έμελλον αποθανείν, ου γαρ εύρηκά σου τα έργα πεπληρωμένα ενώπιον του θεού μου. Μνημόνευε ουν πως είληφας και ήκουσας και τήρει και μετανόησον. Εάν ουν μη γρηγορήσεις, ήξω ως κλέπτης, και μη γνως ποίαν ώραν ήξω επί σε. Αλλά έχεις ολίγα ονόματα εν Σάρδεσον α ουκ εμόλυναν τα ιμάτια αυτών, και περιπατήσουσιν μετ εμού εν λευκοίς, ότι άξιοί εισιν. Ο νικών ούτως περιβαλείται εν ιματίοις λευκοίς και ου μη εξαλείψω το όνομα αυτού εκ της βίβλου της ζωής και ομολογήσω το όνομα αυτού ενώπιον του πατρός μου και ενώπιον των αγγέλων αυτού. Ο έχων ους ακουσάτω τι το πνεύμα λέγει ταις εκκλησίαις. Δημιουργήθηκε στις 15/1/2017 Σελίδα 5/8
Novum Testamentum Graece, eds. E. Nestle K. Aland (Stuttgart 1898), pp. 637 638. 2. A document of 1369 on the church of Sardis Ο δε πάντα μεταποιών χρόνος και αμείβων και εις τον μη ον χωρείν παρασκευάζων τα καλώς έχοντα μέχρι τούσε τα εαυτού ποιών και της ιδίας φυσικής ακολουθίας εχόμενος και την των Σάρδεων μεγάλην μετρόπολιν, εφ ούτω δόξης προσήκουσαν και τοσαύτην περιφάνειαν σχούσαν από τε χρόνου και της των εν αυτή καλλίστης ευταξίας τε και παιδεύσεως, ως και ταις μεγίσταις και πρώταις συναριθμήναι των μητροπόλεων, και το πρωτείον πλην ολίγων τινών κατά πασών επιφέρεσθαι και το κράτος, καν ταις απάντων εγκειμένην γλώσσαις, ως ήδισμά τι τερπνόν και καλλώπισμα των όσαι της Ασίας προκάθηνται πόλεων, εις τοσούτο νυν αμορφίας προήνεγκε ταύτην και ούτω το κατ αυτήν, θεού δηλαδή συγχωρούντος, διέθετο, ως μηδε σχήμα γουν πόλεως αποσώζειν και μικρόν τινα χαρακτήρα αντί παραδείσου τρυφής, αφανισμού και απωλείας πεδίον γεγενημένην. Και ταύτα μεν τω χρόνω ποιείν και τα πολλώ τούτων έτι χείρω τοις πάσι προσαπειλείν έθος, ύλης ευρίσκοντι την καθʹημών αγανάκτησιν του θεού δια το των αμαρτιών ημών πλήθος, μάλα δικαίως ημίν επιγιγνομένην. Acta Patriarchatus Constantinopolitani, Acta et diplomata graeca medii aevi sacra et profana I, eds. F. Miklosich J. Müller (Wien 1860), p. 509. 3. The metropolis of Sardis in the Notitia 20 (14th c.) στʹ. ο Σάρδεων, πάσης Λυδίας ανθ ου ένι νυν ο Φιλαδελφείας, ων μεν πρότερον επίσκοπος του Σάρδεων, γενόμενος δε μητροπολίτης, έχει νυν τον τόπον και την εξαρχίαν του Σάρδεων και τας λοιπάς επισκοπάς υφ εαυτόν. Notitiae episcopatuum Ecclesiae Constantinopolitanae, ed. J. Darrouzès (Paris 1981), 20.6. Βοηθ. Κατάλογοι 1. List of bishoprics under the jurisdiction of the metropolis of Sardis Philadelphia Tripolis Thyateira Settai (Magidia) Aurelioupolis (Perikomi) Gordos Tralla Sala Silandos Maionia (Opsikion) Apollonos Hieron (Aetos) Yrkanis (Myron) Mostine (Yrtakomi) Δημιουργήθηκε στις 15/1/2017 Σελίδα 6/8
Akrasos (Lipara) Apollonias Attaleia Bage Blandos Mesotymolos Hierocaesarea (Hagia) Dalde (Yaleis) Keraseis, Stratonikeia (Kalamos) Gabala Satala Hermokapeleia Gaudeia (Trakoula) [The list was compiled according to J. Darrouzes (ed.), Notitiae Episcopatuum Ecclesiae Constantinopolitanae (Paris 1981), nos. 1 20]. 2. List of the bishops of Sardis Clement (2 nd century) Meliton (2 nd century) Artemidoros (325) Maionius (431) Florens (449 451) Julian (553) Marinos (681) Euthymios (787) John (?) Peter (858 912) Δημιουργήθηκε στις 15/1/2017 Σελίδα 7/8
Theophylaktos (879) Antonios (912 925) Leo (945) Stylianos (10 th century) John (1071 1082) John (1147) Niketas (1166/7) Nikephoros Chrysoberges (1213) Alexios (1216) Andronikos (1250) Iakovos Chalazas (1260/1) Andronikos (1283) Gerasimos (1285) Clement (1286) Nikephoros (?) Kyrillos (1313) Gregory (1315) Dionysios (1438) Bessarion (1438) Nikolaos (1450) [The list was compiled according to Fedalto, G., Hierarchia Ecclesiastica Orientalis. Series Episcoporum Ecclesiarum Christianarum Orientalium I: Patriarchatus Constantinopolitanus (Padua 1988), pp. 179 180. The bishops whose names are unknown have not been included in the list]. Δημιουργήθηκε στις 15/1/2017 Σελίδα 8/8