Sergius

ON SAINT SERGIUS, MASTER OF THE SOLDIERY, FOUNDER OF THE MONASTERY OF NICETIATA.

ON THE GULF OF NICOMEDIA NEAR BITHYNIA.

From two Ms. Synaxaria.

9TH CENTURY.

Sergius the Master, Founder of the monastery of Nicetiata on the gulf of Nicomedia (S.)

BY THE AUTHOR D. P.

From Italy through Gaul returning into

Belgium in the year 1662, we found

and to be used received two illustrious

Synaxaria, The historians, intent on the vices of the Emperor Michael, one on linen paper,

but very dense, written, and

by Petrus Franciscus Chiffletius for our College of Dijon

obtained; the other on parchment,

by Jacobus Sirmundus brought into the Library of the College of Paris,

most fully furnished in all Gaul. To both

we owe the notice of the Saint, expressed in the title, who under

Michael the son of Theophilus led the Roman army

into Crete, and there seems to have died in 860; they scarcely speak of the Leaders of his forces. of whom however

nothing is read in Leo the Grammarian, Zonaras,

Manasses or Cedrenus, although the rule of that Michael

in writing they pursued: inasmuch as they, the young

Emperor, after his most holy mother Theodora was thrust away into a Monastery,

his inept genius and morals

and acts rather studied to explain, than

the warlike expeditions under him of the Leaders, against the Saracens

and other barbarians sent out. only one mentions Petronas, Zonaras alone, the victory of Petronas

over the Saracens being related, who Romania itself with

a ravaging band had entered about the year 858,

to make for this seems, when he says, that the same Petronas,

with triumph received at Constantinople, of the Legions

Domestic is designated (for now Manuel

the Master and Domestic of the Legions had ceased

to be among the living) nor much after he himself the debt of nature

paid: but he shows that under Michael's

auspices nothing thereafter of good was done, against the Barbarians

repeatedly hostile.

[2] To Petronas therefore the Master, Domestic of the Legions,

in the honor of the same title to have succeeded Sergius

we can believe, whom Sergius could have succeeded, on occasion of the expedition into Crete

directed, as in the aforesaid Synaxaria among the other praises of the holy

man is read, under this title, Memory

of the holy and just and blessed Sergius the Master,

who founded the monastery of the most holy Mother of God

surnamed of Nicetiata, in the gulf of Nicomedia

situated, renowned for the convent founded near Nicomedia, between the two emporia of Fair Field and

of Dorcon. These then were the names, now they have ceased to be,

and only remains in the innermost recess of the Astacene gulf

Nicomedia, commonly by Europeans called Comidia;

by the Turks Ismid, but nearly deserted, distant a hundred and more

miles from Constantinople; where

of the Great Domestic (by the testimony of Codinus Curopalata, chapter 2)

the fourth was the dignity in the Palace, and in the age of the same Codinus,

one Domestic of the Eastern, another of the Western

Themes or Legions, concerning whom

see the Commentators on Codinus, while I set forth the Acts

thus briefly contracted:

[3] by race a Paphlagonian. "This one was from the region of the Paphlagonians,

from a place called

Nicetia, very near the city

of Amastris, wherefore also

the surname his monastery

obtained.

And such a man being good,

and of good parents

a son, had also

as kinsfolk Theodora

the renowned Empress,

and her

son Michael

the Emperor.

Who also a zealot ardent

of the orthodox faith

became,

and much

he strove

that the

orthodoxy might come about

of the holy

and venerable

images.

But the Roman

fleet having gone down

at that

time

to Crete, is set over the army sent to Crete, he

was sent

by Michael

the Emperor

and all

the Senate,

scarcely

to this

him

having persuaded

to command

and to rule

all

the army,

through his cleverness,

and that he was

sufficient

over the Roman

affairs

to preside.

And he, having departed

thither

and having fallen asleep, and there dying is buried. then

indeed

was laid

his

sacred relic

in the

according to

Crete

monastery,

which up to

the

now

is surnamed

of the Master;

but later

was carried over

and placed

in the

by

him

built

monastery,

on

the gulf

of

Nicomedia."

[4] He had been a kinsman of the Empress Theodora. He was sprung from the region of the Paphlagonians,

in a town which was called Nicetia near

the city Amastris, whence also a surname received

his monastery. But he was a good man

and the son of most excellent parents, having as kinsfolk

Theodora the most reverend Empress, and her

son the Emperor Michael. But he was

a most fervent zealot of the right faith, and much

he labored for restoring the orthodoxy of the holy and venerable

images; in the year 862, a zealot of orthodoxy

concerning which see Henschenius in the Acts of S. Theodora §. 6

on the 11th day of February. But when there was afterward to be sent out

into Crete the Roman fleet, sent he himself was

by the Emperor Michael and the whole Senate, on account of

his noted nobility, and because he was judged fit

to preside over the affairs of the Roman commonwealth:

although he himself with difficulty could be persuaded, that going out

he should undertake the command of the whole army. The Body brought back to his own monastery. But he

having advanced thither, and there having died, then

indeed his holy body was placed in that

monastery which was at Crete, and to this present

day is surnamed of the Master: but afterward

thence it was translated to that which he himself

had built, on the Gulf of Nicomedia.