Studies on Eastern Orthodox Church Chant by Svetlana Kujumdzieva;

Author:Svetlana Kujumdzieva;
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Taylor & Francis (Unlimited)
Published: 2024-07-15T00:00:00+00:00

10

METROPOLITAN THEOLEPTOS OF PHILADELPHIA

Between Tradition and Innovation

DOI: 10.4324/9781003377238-13

Theoleptos, Metropolitan of Philadelphia in Asia Minor, was one of the most significant figures in the socio-political and cultural life of Byzantium in the second half of the thirteenth and the first quarter of the fourteenth century.1 My interest in this person began while I was working with musical manuscripts at the “Ivan Dujčev” Center for Slavo-Byzantine Studies at the St. Clement of Ohrid University in Sofia. There I came across a notated chant by Theoleptos in manuscript D. Gr. 292. The manuscript is a magnificent full Sticherarion from the middle of the fourteenth century in middle Byzantine notation, containing Menaion, Triodion-Pentekostarion and Oktoechos.2 Its origins are connected with the Kosinitsa monastery near Drama, a region that was settled by a large Bulgarian population during the fourteenth century.3 Despite the vast literature about the life and activities of Тheoleptos, his musical works have remained almost unknown. Thus, every discovery related to the musical activities of this interesting person is extremely valuable, as his works appeared amidst the maelstrom of the dramatic events of the time, for example the Orthodox Church’s refusal to unite with the Western Church during the 1270s, or the survival of three sieges of Philadelphia by Ottoman invaders after 1310: Theoleptos managed to defend the city from Ottoman attacks, for which he earned the hero’s halo.4

In this study I am going to present the notated works by Тheoleptos, comment on their place in the liturgy and characterize the manuscripts in which they appear. First of all, however, what do we know about Тheoleptos?

Information from various sources indicates that he was born around 1250 in Nicaea and died shortly before the end of 1322.5 In 1275 or after the spring of 1276, Тheoleptos abandoned secular life and went to Mount Athos, where he became a pupil of Nikephoros the Hesyhast.6 Gregory of Palama, who was Theoleptos’ pupil and was introduced to hesyhasm by Тheoleptos himself, considered him one of the most important figures in the sphere of that doctrine.7 After Andronikos II Palaiologos ascended to the throne in 1282, Тheoleptos was appointed as Metropolitan of Philadelphia, a position he held for nearly 40 years – from 1283 or 1284 until the end of his life. He maintained close relations with the Palaiologoi family. Theoleptos was especially close to Irene Hagiopetritis, the second daughter of Theodore Hagiopetritis (also known as Nikephoros Choumnos and the monk Nathanial), a prominent scholar and high-ranking imperial official, serving as emperor’s closest advisor: in 1295 Theodore was appointed for first secretary and prime-minister at the court of Andronikos and in 1309/10 became governor of Thessaloniki. Irene married Andronikos’ son, the despot John Palaiologos, and received the title “vassilisan”. Her marriage took place after Easter in 1303, when she was 12 years old and John was 17. Irene was famous for her vast erudition: she was a bibliophile and possessed a rich library. She also copied manuscripts on request.8 The connection between Theoleptos and Irene dates to 1307, when Irene’s husband died suddenly and Irene, under the influence of Тheoleptos, became a nun.

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