★ Zacharias, archbishop of Leontopolis ★

Zacharias, archbishop of Leontopolis, 680-692. Seal (Lead, 25 mm, 10.00 g, 12 h). [O] / AΓ/IO/C - K/ON/Ⲱ/N Saint Konon, nimbate, standing facing, holding spear in his right hand and resting his left on shield. Rev. Cruciform monogram of ZAXAPIA APXIЄΠICKOΠOV. Boersema/Wassiliou-Seibt: Seltene Heiligen und eine biblische Szene auf byzantinischen Siegeln einer niederländischen Privatsammlung, in: Zh. Zhekova and T. Todorov (eds): ΑΝΤΙΧΑΡΙΣΜΑΤΟΣ ΕΠΙΣΦΡΑΓΙΣΙΣ: Α tribute to Prof. Ivan Jordanov's 70th anniversary. Shumen 2019, 3. A highly interesting episcopal seal with extremely rare iconography. Some surface roughness, otherwise, fine.

From a European collection, formed before 2005.

Leontopolis, the former Isaura Palaia, was the most important cult center of the local saint, Konon, since the late 5th century. The city was raised to an archbishopric in the 7th century. Our seal, and the published parallel example from a different boulloterion, can be attributed to the archbishop Zacharias of Leontopolis, who is known to have attended the 6th and 'Quinisext' Ecumenical Councils of 680/81 and 691/692.