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.
CommentarySergius 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.