Watch List notes:

BYZANTINE SEALS. Circa 13th century. Seal or Bulla (Lead, 30 mm, 17.85 g, 12 h), A seal probably of a monastery dedicated possibly to St. John Prodromos. ΜΗΡ ΘΥ The Virgin Theotokos, nimbate, wearing maphorion and holding the facing nimbate Christ child on her lap, seated facing on elaborate, high-backed throne. Rev. CΦPΑΓΗC/ ΠΡΩΦΗΤΩΝ/ ΤΑC EMAC/ ΓΡΑΦΑC/TOIΠΟΝ (sic!) (St. John Prodromos please print our writings) in five metric lines. Possibly unique. An interesting metric seal, full of orthographic mistakes. Struck on a tight flan and pierced to be reused as a pendant, otherwise, very fine.


The invocation to the "σφραγίς προφητών" (= Seal of the Prophets = crowning of the prophets), is an indirect invocation to St. John Prodromos, as the seal (the last and most important) of the prophets before the arrival of Jesus Christ. He is referred as such in a psalm used during Epiphany.