CI CIRCULATIONRCULATION OOFF HOLYHOLY PLPLACESACES ABSTRACTABSTRACT

ThisThis ppaperaper illustratesillustrates whatwhat can bebe termedtermed thethe “journey“journey of a name,” one of the manymany kinds ofof culturalcultural aandnd mmaterialaterial trtransmissionansmission ththatat occurredoccurred betweenbetween earlyearly ByzantineByzantine ConstantinopleConstantinople andand thethe major centers of the pprovincerovince of IItaly,taly, which had been taken back fromfrom their cacaptorsptors bbyy Justinian’s armiesarmies iinn ththee foufourthrth aandnd fifthfth ddecadesecades of ththee ssixthixth century.century. InIn fact, the monasterymonastery of Cosmas and Damian in ConstantinopleConstantinople offers a pparticularlyarticularly aaptpt casecase stustudy,dy, as its name was given to tthreehree newnewlyly foundedfounded eecclecclesiasticalsia stical eestabstablishmentsl ishments in IItaly.taly. TThehe lalatter seem to have had no sspecipecific connectionconnection wwithith wwhathat wwasas cclaimedlaimed aass ttheirheir mmotherhouse.otherhouse. TThehe nnameame could simplysimply be among the most distinct reflections ofof a sort ofof traveling memory.memory.

/KKeywordseywords/ Kosmidion, Cosmas and Damian, Santa Maria in Cosmedin,Cosmedin, Ravenna, NaplesNaples

1 / Constantinople, Plan ofof 20 thethe AyvansarayAyvansaray ddistrictistrict A JourneJourneyy of Men and Names Constantinople’sConstantinople’s Kosmidion and its Italian Replicas

AlessandroAlessandro TaddeiTaddei

The starting point: ConstantinopleConstantinople

TheThe name KosmidionKosmidion is not attestedested in BByzan-yzan- the Kosmidion alongalong the stretch ofof shore between tine written sources before the earlyearly 1100thth century,century, AyvansarayAyvansaray anandd EyEyüp.üp. A tratraditionallyditionally acceacceptedpted althoughalthough it mightmight well have had an earlier origin.origin. identification Kosmidion-Kosmidion-EyüpEyüp was ppartlyartly discarded ItIt indicated a comcomplexplex ooff a church and a monastermonasteryy by recent studies, since it does not fit – fromfrom a mor-mor- ddevotedevoted to Cosmas andand DamianDamian,, tthehe AnargyroiAnargyroi, i.e. phologicalphological ppointoint of view – with ProcoProcopius’pius’ reference the two most famousfamous representativesrepresentatives among the toto a hill. Moreover, CyrilCyril Mango underlined the factfact ’unmercenary’’unmercenary’ phyphysiciansician saintssaints.. CoCosmassmas aandnd DDamianamian thatthat bothboth thethe ChroniconChronicon PPaschaleaschale aandnd ththee aaccountccount of allegedlyallegedly were active in the citcityy of CCyrrhusyrrhus and were the MiraclesMiracles ofof ththee twtwoo saintssaints locatedlocated KosmidionKosmidion iinn martyredmartyred ununderder DiocDiocletian,letian, in 287. AAss earearlyly as tthehe 4thth centurycentury ADAD their cult spreadspread fromfrom SSyriayria to Jerusalem 1 See KosmasKosmas uundnd Damian.Damian. Texte und EinleitungEinleitung, Ludwig Deubner ed., andand across EEgypt,gypt, aalwayslways preserving a strong Syriac Leipzig – BerBerlinlin 1907 (repr., AAalenalen 1980), pppp.. 38–83; CyriCyrill Mango, ““OnOn character.character. IInn tthehe 5th centurcenturyy it was to be ffoundound attest-est- the Cult ooff Saints Cosmas and Damian at Constantinople”, in Thymiama steste mnememneme testes LaskarinasLaskarinas BouraBoura, AAthensthens 1994, pppp.. 1189–192,89–192, espesp.. pp.. 1190.;90.; eded in a great number ofof centres around the Mediter-Mediter- BBeateat BrenBrenk,k, “Da GaGalenoleno a Cosma e Damiano: consiconsiderazioniderazioni attorno rraneananean basinbasin1. all’introduzioneall’introduzione deldel cucultolto deidei SS. Cosma e Damiano a Roma”, in SaluteSalute e guarigione nella tarda antichitàantichità, Hugo Brandenburg, SteStefanfan Heid e Cosmas andand Damian’s monastermonasteryy at ConstanConstan-- ChristophChristoph Markschies eds., Città del Vaticano 2007, pp. 79–92. tinopletinople was seeminglyseemingly locatedlocated on a hillhill toptop on thethe 2 Cyril Mango, “The origins ofof the Blachernae shrine at Constantinople”, inin Radovi XIII.XIII. međunarodnog Kongresa za Starokršćansku AArheologijurheologiju, leftleft bank ooff the Golden Horn, in a suburban sspotpot just ActaActa XXIIIIII Congressus internationalis archaeologiae christianae (Split northeast ofof the eastern edge ofof the Theodosian citcityy – Poreć, 25-9/1-10-1994), II, Nenad Cambi and Emilio Marin eds., Città walls.walls. Neither the church nor the adadjoiningjoining buildinbuildingsgs del Vaticano 1998, pp. 61–76,61–76, esp. pp. 70–71.70–71. TheThe areaarea of thethe Blacher-Blacher- nae has been generally identified with the 1414th region.region. CfCf.,., recently, havehave been preserved.preserved. Nor indeed is anyany archaeolog-archaeolog- Cyril Mango, “Le mystère de la XIVVe région de Constantinople”, in ical evidence known of,of, so we can onlyonly relyrely uponupon Mélanges Gilbert DagronDagron, (TravauxTravaux eett MMémoiresémoires dduu CCentreentre ddee rrechercheecherche d’Histoire et Civilisation de ByzanceByzance, 14), Vincent Déroche et al. ed., Paris written sources to trace out ttheirheir roughrough location.location. 2002, pp. 449–455. OOnn the Blachernae complex see: AAndreandrea Paribeni, AroundAround ththee mmid-6id-6th centurycentury ProcopiusProcopius describes “Separati in casa. I ddestiniestini paraparallelilleli ddellaella cchiesahiesa e ddelel papalazzolazzo ddelleelle BBla-la- ccherneherne a CostantinopoCostantinopoli”,li”, in Medioevo:Medioevo: la chiesa e il palazzo, (I convegniconvegni thethe suburban sanctuarysanctuary of Cosmas and Damian as didi PParmaarma, 8),8), ArturoArturo Carlo Quintavalle ed., Milano 2007, pppp.. 3357–368.57–368. situated on a steesteepp hill on the Golden Horn shore-shore- line, in the vicinityvicinity ofof the Blachernae district (pres-(pres- ent-dayent-day Ayvansaray).Ayvansaray). ThisThis llaatter districtdistrict clusteredclustered aroundaround ththee mmostost fafamousmous shrshrineine of ththee MMotherother of GGodod in thethe capitalcapital citcity,y, erecteerectedd in tthehe 460’s–470’s2. Conse-Conse- quently,quently, scholars tried to find a suitable location for 2121 thethe BlachernaeBlachernae/Ayvansaray/Ayvansaray district. Thus, a locloca-a- shared with this latter the constant flow of pilgrims: tion on the hills slightlslightlyy north of AyvansarayAyvansaray was thethe texttext ofof thethe MiraclesMiracles cclearlylearly reasserts tthehe linkslinks be-be- suggestedsuggested /Fig./Fig. 11//3. ThisThis topographictopographic connection tweentween thethe cultcult of St.St. MaryMary anandd tthehe hhealingsealings achievedachieved would prove significant from the point of view of throughthrough the supernatural intervention of Cosmas the ’ex’export’port’ ooff the pplacelace names. andand DDamianamian10. WhereverWherever ththee shrineshrine of CCosmasosmas aandnd DDamianamian aactu-ctu- Justinian’s new shrineshrine didn’tdidn’t lastlast long.long. ItIt was allyally was, written sources like the PatriaPatria, TheoTheophanesphanes severelyseverely damaged both bbyy the AAvaro–Slavicvaro–Slavic raids in andand PatriarcPatriarchh NiceNicephorusphorus tetellll us tthathat it hhadad bbeeneen the hinterland ofof ConstantinopleConstantinople in 623 and byby the builtbuilt on a suburban estate called “ττὰὰ ΠαουλίνΠαουλίνηςης”4. failed siege thetheyy attememptedpted on the citycity in collaborcollabora-a- EEvenven iiff wwee hhaveave nnoo iinformationnformation aaboutbout ththee PPaulinaaulina ttionion withwith ththee PersiansPersians inin 6261111. The complexcomplex seems afterafter whom the estate was named, it seems likelylikely nevertheless to have survived,survived, fforor a church ofof Saints thatthat a ladylady of this name was the original owner: Cosmas and Damian in τὰτὰ ΠαουλίνηςΠαουλίνης was recorded CyrilCyril Mango suggested that she could have been an as functioningfunctioning as a burial placeplace during the stormystormy aristocrat ofof SyrianSyrian origin who established a placeplace events which accompaniedaccompanied the overthrow ofof the ofof worshipworship in her own suburban dwelling5. WithWith EmperorEmperor Justinian II in thethe yearyear 71112. Thenceforth,Thenceforth, allall likelihoodlikelihood thisthis waswas thethe ’humble’humble church’church’ thatthat wwasas due to the fortifortification ofof the Blachernae complexcomplex about to be rebuilt bbyy Justinian I in the first halhalff ofof by EEmperormperor HeracHeraclius,lius, thethe KosmiKosmidiondion remaineremainedd tthehe 6th century.century. permanentlypermanently outside the city’scity’s defence system.system. InIn What was the occasion fforor the rebuildinrebuilding?g? fact,fact, mention ofof the sanctuarysanctuary can be once again ProcopiusProcopius (DDee aedificiiciiss, I.6)I.6) tellstells us thatthat Justinian foundfound during the earlearlyy 9thth-century-century BulgarianBulgarian siege himself,himself, havinhavingg fallen ill with the insurinsurgencegence of ofof Constantinople. Then, in 813, the troops of the plagueplague in AADD 542, was in a desperatedesperate situation. All khankhan Kroum encampedencamped in thethe monasterymonastery precinct,precinct, the theratherapiespies having pprovedroved ineffectual, he finallnallyy certainlycertainly exploitingexploiting the morphologymorphology of the hill from rerecoveredcovered ththanksanks ttoo ththee mmiraculousiraculous iinterventionntervention of which commanded a view ofof the cacapitalpital citcityy and the Cosmas andand DamianDamian,, wwhoho visitevisitedd hhimim in a ddream.ream. GoldenGolden HHornorn1313. AsAs a conseconsequencequence of his healing, Justinian trans-trans- A ccertainertain ddeclineecline sseemseems toto hhaveave affectedected thethe mon-mon- ferredferred their relics fromfrom CyrrhusCyrrhus to the church at Con-Con- asteryastery fromfrom the earlyearly 7thth centurycentury to the 1111thth-century-century stantinople,stantinople, rebuildingrebuilding it on a llargerarger scascale.le. WWhoeverhoever rrevivalevival ofof the sanctuarysanctuary owed to the patronagepatronage ofof has lost the hopehope of healing – ProcopiusProcopius tells us – EmperorEmperor MicMichaelhael IIVV (1034–1041), wwhoho cchosehose tthehe nowadaysnowadays payspays a visit to tthehe sanctuary,sanctuary, approachingapproaching KosmidionKosmidion as hhisis own retirement anandd bburialurial plplaceace1414. it bbyy boat. ItIt aappearedppeared to the seafarersseafarers on the toptop ofof a We can imagine that,that, untiluntil 626, bothboth thethe churchchurch sortsort of ’acropolis’, thanks to the steep slope of the hill andand tthehe monastic community rapirapidlydly increaseincreasedd wherewhere itit stoodstood6. So thethe EmperorEmperor eagerlyeagerly promotedpromoted theirtheir wealthwealth mainlymainly tthankshanks to tthehe establishmentestablishment thethe cult ofof the two doctor saints renovating or build-build- of a xenodocheionxenodocheion, or a charitable foundationfoundation to be ing new churches at ConstantinopleConstantinople and AAntioch.ntioch. AAss housedhoused iinn whwhatat wwasas ththee foformerrmer rresidenceesidence of PPaulina.aulina. forfor his successor, Justin II ((565–578),565–578), he too ffoundedounded ItIt seems likelylikely – even ifif this is onlyonly a hypothesishypothesis a second shrine in honour of the physicianphysician saints at – thatthat tthehe popularpopular name KosmidionKosmidion becamebecame wide-wide- Constantinople,Constantinople, in the nearbynearby ofof the quartersquarters called spreadspread due ppreciselyrecisely to the enhancement ooff the tata BasiliskouBasiliskou aandnd ttaa DDareiouareiou7. prestigeprestige ofof the charitable institution pursuedpursued byby TheThe pilgrimagepilgrimage of sick peoplepeople is closelyclosely linked to Justinian, who aimed to show his imperialimperial philan-philan- the ancient tradition ofof the healinghealing cult in the area thropythropy and euergesiaeuergesia15. ThisThis couldcould bebe thethe casecase of ofof Blachernae. Seemingly,Seemingly, the Christian shrine ofof thethe passagepassage in the text ooff MiraclesMiracles of CosmasCosmas andand Cosmas andand Damian rereplacedplaced an ancient sanctusanctu-- Damian 47,57–8 pertainingpertaining to the “ἰἰατροίατροί” of the aryary ofof the Dioscuri8, thus allowing a continuitycontinuity forfor “μονὴμονὴ Κοσμιδίου”1616. UUnfortunately,nfortunately, it is qquiteuite diffi- thethe incubationincubation practice,practice, whichwhich traditionallytraditionally tooktook cult to pointpoint out the chronologychronology of the different ppartsarts placeplace in it, and which is clearlclearlyy reflected byby the ac-ac- ofof thethe texttext ofof ththee MiraclesMiracles ofof CCosmasosmas aandnd DDamianamian1717. countcount ooff Justinian’s dream. A detailed descridescriptionption If we could consider 47,57–8 as belonbelongingging to the of the healing cult at Kosmidion is pprovidedrovided bbyy earlier phasephase of the text’s editing, i.e. the one con-con- thethe ByzantineByzantine accounts ooff the MMiraclesiracles pperformederformed temporarytemporary with the spreadspread ofof the two martyrs’martyrs’ cult, by thethe two doctordoctor saints9. Being closelyclosely linkedlinked to we couldcould rerelyly uuponpon a ppre-7re-7th-century-century occurrence ofof 22 St.St. MaryMary of Blachernae, the Kosmidion maymay have the name. AdmiAdmittedly,edly, it is to be recognized that the first ever mention of the name Kosmidion in Byzan-Byzan- 4 AAndnd not ΤΤὰὰ Παυλίνου: discussion about the erroneous readinreadingg in tinetine literarliteraryy sources dates back to ca. 859859/860,/860, when Mango,Mango, “On“On the Cult ofof Saints Cosmas and Damian” (n.(n. 1)1),, pp.. 1190.90. 5 Mango went so far as to invoke the Paulina mother of the usurusurperper Symeon Magister (ChronikonChronikon, 131,22) reports tthehe Leontius (484–488), who is said to have been of Syrian or IIsauriansaurian existenceexistence of a “προάστιον ΚοσμηδίουΚοσμηδίου”, belonging origin.origin. Consequently,Consequently, in Mango’s opinion sheshe builtbuilt tthehe churchchurch comcom-- plexplex no later than 480: Mango, “On“On the Cult of Saints Cosmas and 18 th to BBardasardas thethe kaisar . Evidently,Evidently, in thethe 9 centurycentury Damian” ((n.n. 11),), pp.. 1191.91. thethe name KosmidionKosmidion gragraduallydually bbeganegan to pprevailrevail – in 6 Procope de CCésarée,ésarée, CConstructionsonstructions dede JustinienJustinien IerIer (PPerieri ktismatktismatōn = De aedificiiciiss));; Denis Roques, EEugeniougenio AAmatomato anandd Jacques ScSchamphamp eeds.,ds., thethe learned milieu as well – on the old placeplace name AlessandriaAlessandria 2011, pp. 89, 1132,32, n. 1122.22. ττὰὰ Παουλίνης. Needless to say, the name Kosmid-Kosmid- 7 The Chronicle ooff Theophanes Confessor.Confessor. Byzantine and Near EasternEastern History ion should have alreadyalready been in use before, accoraccord-d- ADAD 284–81284–8133, Cyril Mango and Roger Scott eds., OOxfordxford 1997, p. 359 aandnd note 4. WendyWendy Mayer, “Antioch“Antioch anandd tthehe IntersectionIntersection betweenbetween ReligiousReligious inging to the 8th-century-century evidence of transmission of its Factionalism,Factionalism, Place,Place, anandd Power in Late Antiquity”,Antiquity”, in The Power ofof derivatederivate formsforms in an area as ffarar ffromrom ConstantinoConstantinopleple Religion in Late Antiquityy, Andrew Cain, Noel E. Lenski eds., Ashgate 2009, pp.pp. 357–3357–368,68, esp.esp. pp.. 365. See aalso:lso: PPhilhil BootBooth,h, ““OrthodoxOrthodox andand asas thethe ItalianItalian peninsula.peninsula. Heretic in the EarlyEarly Byzantine Cult(s) ofof Saints Cosmas and Damian”, in An age of saints?: Power, conflict, and dissent in early medieval Christianityy, Peter Sarris, Matthewhew DalDal Santo, PhilPhil BoothBooth eds.,eds., LeidenLeiden – Boston 2011, Rome, Ravenna, NaNaples:ples: pp. 11114–128,4–128, esp.esp. p. 11115.5. 8 AlbAlbrechtrecht Berger, UUntersuchungenntersuchungen zu den Patria ConstantinupoleoConstantinupoleoss, BBonnonn thth 11988,988, p. 6672.72. InIn ththee 8 centurycentury the place-nameplace-name Kosmidion 9 On medical practice at Kosmidion, see: Mercedes López Salvá, mademade its first appearanceappearance in the formerformer territories ooff “Actividad asistencial y terapéuticaterapéutica en el Kosmidion de Constantinopla”, thethe BByzantineyzantine ExarchateExarchate of Italy.Italy. The long and de-de- in EpígeiosEpígeios ouranós. ElEl cielocielo enen llaa tierra:tierra: estudiosestudios sobresobre elel monasteriomonasterio bizantinobizantino, PedroPedro BBádenasádenas de la Peña, Antonio Bravo García and Imaculada Pérez tailedtailed biographybiography ofof PopePope Hadrian I (772–795) in the MartínMartín eds., Madrid 1997, pp. 1131–145.31–145. LiberLiber Pontificalicaliss iincludesncludes ththee first rreferenceeference toto a Kos-Kos- 10 CCf.f. also the sharing ooff the sacred bath, the lousmalousma, of thethe Blachernae:Blachernae: seesee Mango, ““OnOn the Cult ooff Saints Cosmas and Damian” (n. 11),), pp.. 1191.91. midionmidion in Rome. This energeticenergetic leader of the Roman 11 WalterWalter EmilEmil Kaegi, Heraclius,Heraclius, EmperorEmperor ofof ByzantiumByzantium, CambridgeCambridge 2002, ChurchChurch restoredrestored thethe diaconiadiaconia devoteddevoted to thethe VirginVirgin pp.pp. 134–136. See, recently, Martin Hurbanič, “A“A topographical note concerningconcerning the AAvarvar siege ooff Constantinople: the question ooff the locallocal-- MarMaryy “quaequae appellatur Cosmidin”,”, todaytoday S. MariaMaria inin izationization ooff St. Callinicus Bridge”, Byzantinoslavica.Byzantinoslavica. RevueRevue internationaleinternationale CosmedinCosmedin1919. IItt isis notnot clearclear whwhenen ththee diaconiadiaconia waswas acac-- desdes ÉtudesÉtudes Byzantines, LXXLXX/1–2/1–2 (2012), pp. 115–24,5–24, esp. pp.. 118.8. 12 TThehe Chronicle ooff Theophanes ConfessorConfessor (n. 7), p. 529 andand nnoteote 14.14. tuallytually built. Nonetheless, it is a matter ofof factfact that it 13 Panos Sophoulis,Sophoulis, BByzantiumyzantium anandd BuBulgarialgaria, 775–831, LeiLeidenden 2011, p. 225151ff. was established in ppartart of a late-antilate-antiqueque rectangular TheThe same happened during the failedfailed siege led by the usurper Thomas colonnaded hall, seeminglyseemingly a sort ofof wide porticoportico thethe SlaveSlave in 822: Berger, UUntersuchungenntersuchungen ((n.n. 8)8),, p. 6672.72. 1414 RaymondRaymond Janin, La géograpgéographiehie eccecclésiastiquelésiastique ddee ll’Empire’Empire bbyzantin.yzantin. PrPremièreemière 20 facinfacingg the ancient Forum Boarium /Fig./Fig. 2/2/ . partie.partie. Le siège de Constantinople et le patriarcat oecuménique. Tome III.III. Les AAss for the dedication to the Mother of GodGod,, we églises et les monastèresmonastères, Paris 196919692, pp.. 287. OnOn the alleged decline ooff thethe monastery see Booth,Booth, “Orthodox“Orthodox andand Heretic” (n.(n. 77),), pp.. 11116.6. InIn 924, cannot forgetforget the originaloriginal link between Kosmidion onceonce again, the monastery was used as a stronghold during the military anandd tthehe BBlachernae.lachernae. InIn ByzantineByzantine andand post-Byzan-post-Byzan- operationsoperations ooff the Bulgarian tsarr Simeon: See James Howard-Johnston, “A“A short piece ooff narrative history: war and diplomacy in the Balkans, tine Italy,Italy, this link would be transformed, as we will winter 921/2921/2 – spring 924”, in Byzantine Style,Style, ReligionReligion andand Civilization.Civilization. IInn see, in the recurringrecurring association between edifices HonourHonour ooff Sir Steven Runciman, ElizabethElizabeth Jeffreys ed., Cambridge 2006, pppp.. 3340–360,40–360, esp. pppp.. 35350–351.0–351. devoted to the Mother ofof God and the appellationappellation 1155 Peter Hatlie, TThehe Monks and Monasteries ofof Constantinople ca. 3350–85050–850, CoCosmedinsmedin. CambridgeCambridge 2007, p.p. 1166.66. A Latin eepigraphpigraph ooff the 8thth centurycentury stillstill ppreservedreserved 16 KosmasKosmas undund DamianDamian (n.(n. 11),), p.p. 2206.06. 17 Alice-MaryAlice-Mary Talbot, “Pilgrimage to Healing Shrines: The EvidenceEvidence ofof in the medieval pporchorch of S. MMariaaria iinn CCosmedinosmedin bebe-- MiracleMiracle AAccounts”,ccounts”, DumbartonDumbarton OOaksaks PaperPaperss, LVILVI (2002),(2002), pp.pp. 153–173,153–173, lonlongedged to the ancient diaconiadiaconia: itit datesdates backback toto thethe esp.esp. pp.. 1155.55. Matthhewew DaDall Santo, DeDebatingbating thethe Saints’ CultsCults in tthehe AgeAge of Gregory the GreatGreat, Oxford 2012, pp. 159–173,159–173, esp. p.p. 160160 (with bib-bib- veryvery end ofof the ByzantineByzantine imperialimperial rule in Rome liography).liography). and Central Italy.Italy. EvenEven if no specispecific mention of the 18 Despite tthehe locationlocation outsideoutside thethe walls,walls, wwhichhich exposedexposed thethe districtdistrict to assaults,assaults, pipillagesllages anandd rairaids,ds, tthehe ppleasantleasant llandscapeandscape anandd hhealthyealthy envenvi-i- namename inin CoCosmedinsmedin was included in the text,text, we can ronmentronment mademade thethe estatesestates of thethe proasteionproasteion attractive and a target forfor the see thethe lastlast ByzantineByzantine ddouxoux, EustathiusEustathius (752–756),(752–756), aristocraticaristocratic class:class: SymeonisSymeonis Magistri et LogothetaeLogothetae ChroniconChronicon, StephanusStephanus WahlgrenWahlgren ed.,ed., BeroliniBerolini et Novi EboraciEboraci 2006, p. 242.242. alongalong withwith hishis bbrother,rother, thethe gloriosissimusgloriosissimus Georgius,Georgius, 1919 Liber Pontificaliscalis, Louis Duchesne ed., Paris 1955, p.p. 507. With only nenec-c- richlyrichly endowing the diaconiadiaconia ofof the Virgin MaryMary essary exceptions, the present-day version ofof the name: “in Cosmedin” thethe Mother of God with a great number of estates willwill bbee useusedd tthroughouthroughout thethe paper. 2020 Richard Krautheimer, WolWolfgangfgang Frankl, Spencer Corbett, Corpus basil-basil- icarumicarum christianarum Romae. The Early Christian Basilicas of Rome (IV–IX(IV–IX 3 Mango, ““OnOn the Cult ooff Saints Cosmas and Damian” (n(n.. 11),), pppp.. 1189–190.89–190. Cent.)Cent.), vovol.l. IIII,, Vatican 1959,1959, pppp.. 300–301. RecentRecently:ly: ValentinaValentina Vincenti, Nonetheless, with some convincing evidence, NurayNuray Özaslan showed “L’“L’AArara MMaximaaxima HHerculiserculis e S. MariaMaria iinn CCosmedin.osmedin. Note di topografia how the nearby Piyer Loti hill (slightly to the south ofof Eyüp)Eyüp) could tardoantica”,tardoantica”, in EEcclesiaecclesiae UUrbis,rbis, Atti ddelel Congresso internazionainternazionalele ddii bbeetter justifyjustify Procopius’ account, since it offers a commanding view studistudi susullelle cchiesehiese ddii Roma (Roma, 4–10 settembreembre 2000), vol.vol. II,, FeFedericoderico ooverver the Golden Horn and Asia. Nuray ÖÖzaslan,zaslan, “From the Shrine ooff Guidobaldi and Alessandra Guiglia Guidobaldi eds., Città del Vaticano CCosmidionosmidion to the Shrine ooff EEyüpyüp EEnsari”,nsari”, GreeGreek,k, Roman, anandd Byzantine 2002, pp. 3353–375,53–375, esp. pppp.. 364–375. Gemma Fusciello,Fusciello, SantaSanta MariaMaria inin StStudiesudies, XL ((1999),1999), pppp.. 3379–399,79–399, espesp.. pp.. 3388.88. CCosmedinosmedin a RomaRoma, Roma 202011,11, pp. 41–53 (wit(withh bibliography).bibliography). 23 locatedlocated iinn tthehe ssuburbs.uburbs. EuEustathiusstathius hhimselfimself aactscts aass ththee graecorumgraecorum”, ffurtherurther evidence ofof its role as one ooff dispensatordispensator of thethe charitablecharitable institutioninstitution21. TThishis latteerr thethe most importantimportant churcheschurches belongingbelonging to thethe East-East- fact reflects the actual cooperation between laymen ernerserners24. andand thethe ChurchChurch inin welfarewelfare administrationadministration oror – toto a Since, aafterfter 554, ByzantineByzantine forcesforces finallynally recon-recon- bbroaderroader extent – the realityreality of the involvement ofof qquereduered Rome, the newcomers (mainl(mainlyy militarymilitary of-of- the ByzantineByzantine authorities in the establishment and ficers and civil servants, but tradesmen as well)well) to managementmanagement ofof new ecclesiastical foundations,foundations, sub-sub- ssomeome extentextent reinforcedreinforced thethe foundationfoundation of thethe newnew sequentlysequently listedlisted as diaconiaediaconiae, in thethe main urbanurban cen-cen- churcheschurches aandnd mmonasteriesonasteries dedidedicatedcated ttoo eaeasternstern tres ooff ItalyItaly22. Whilst Eustathius’Eustathius’ text is in Latin,Latin, the saints (Theodore, GeorGeorge,ge, SergiusSergius and Bacchus, patrons’patrons’ names are undoubtedlyundoubtedly Greek, evidence ooff Euphemia,Euphemia, etc.) across the RiRipapa Greca, the sloslopespes ofof a stillstill vitavitall GreekGreek presencepresence wellwell into thethe 8thth century.century. the Palatine, and the Aventine.Aventine. Some placeplace names ofof WhenWhen HHadrianadrian I cconvertedonverted SS.. MaMariaria iinn CCosmedinosmedin ConstantinopolitanConstantinopolitan origin were importedimported as well,well, a intointo a threethree aisledaisled basilicabasilica withwith apses,apses, hishis biogra-biogra- phenomenonphenomenon whichwhich eventuallyeventually pprovedroved to bbee eephem-phem- pherpher in thethe Liber Pontificalicaliss pplayedlayed on tthehe name eraleral25 but which also affected the other two majormajor “Cosmedin”, usingusing it as ifif it meant somethingsomething like centres ofof ByzantineByzantine Italy,Italy, i.e. Ravenna and Naples,Naples, ’we’wellll built’,built’, ’well’well decorated’,decorated’, or ’orderly’’orderly’ (in Greek:Greek: althoughalthough thethe llaatter ononlyly to a somewsomewhathat llesseresser ddegree.egree. kosmitoskosmitos), a clear misunderstanding on the ppartart The Blachernae monasterymonastery ofof Constantinople,Constantinople, forfor of a Latin-speakingLatin-speaking man – a learned man, whose instance,instance, was reduplicatedreduplicated at Ravenna, probablyprobably knowledge,knowledge, as one wouldwould havehave expected,expected, was not duringduring the first half of the 7th century,century, choosingchoosing an bbroadroad enoughenough to include the Kosmidion shrine ofof extramuralextramural areaarea inin ththee CaesareaCaesarea districtdistrict26, which ConstantinoConstantinople.ple. mightmight have recalled the location ooff the orioriginalginal TheThe diaconiadiaconia ofof SS.. MaMariaria iinn CCosmedinosmedin wwasas llocatedocated shrine /Fi/Fig.g. 3/. The monasterymonastery at Ravenna was inin that area ofof the citycity ofof Rome which had most-most- donated an altar cover byby the exarch Theodore II,II, ly beenbeen populatedpopulated by EasternersEasterners since llateate antiantiq-q- wwhoho ruledruled ca 678–687, andand playedplayed an active partpart in uity.uity. ThisThis qquarteruarter sspreadpread aalonglong tthehe eastern bbankank tthehe diplomaticdiplomatic appeasementappeasement betweenbetween PopePope AgathoAgatho ofof the Tiber, under the slopesslopes ofof both the Palatine (678–681) and the EmperorEmperor Constantine IVIV during hill and the AAventine,ventine, and was significantlcantlyy named thethe MonotheliteMonothelite crisiscrisis2727. TheodoreTheodore waswas laterlater bur-bur- RiRipapa GraecGraecaa. There traditionallytraditionally gathered all those ied,ied, togethertogether with his wife Ageta,Ageta, in the church he minorities consideredconsidered by thethe autochthonesautochthones as be-be- hhadad ricrichlyhly endowedendowed28. The informationinformation is providedprovided inging GreeGreek-speakersk-speakers – GraeciGraeci – , i.e. Greeks,Greeks, Syrians,Syrians, by AndreasAndreas Agnellus,Agnellus, thethe 9thth-century-century author of the Egyptians,Egyptians, Sicilians, etc2323. Thus, readingreading the well-well- LiberLiber Pontificalis EEcclesiaecclesiae RavennatiRavennatiss, who was the knownknown 8th-century-century IItinerarytinerary ofof EEinsiedeln,insiedeln, we find abbotabbot (hegoumenoshegoumenos) ofof our Blachernae monasterymonastery 24 thatthat S.S. MariaMaria inin CosmedinCosmedin isis ccalledalled ththee “aeaeclesiaclesia inin Caesarea.Caesarea. 2 / S.S. Maria in Cosmedin,Cosmedin, pplanlan andand elevationelevation ooff ththee wwestest frfrontont of the pre sent-daysent-day church,church , showingshowing thethe englobedenglobed columnscolumns ofof the late-antique porticoportico

SymmetricalSymmetrical rerelationshipslationships betweenbetween Constantino-Constantino- 21 AAnnanna Maria GiunteGiuntella,lla, “G“Glili spazi ddell’assistenzaell’assistenza e ddellaella memeditazione”,ditazione”, pleple anandd Ravenna are oobviouslybviously not llimitedimited to tthehe inin RomaRoma nnell’altoell’alto MMedioevoedioevo, XLVXLVIIIIII Settimana ddii stustudiodio deldel Centro IIta-ta- Blachernae monastery. AsAs far as we are concerned, lianoliano didi StudiStudi sull’Altosull’Alto MedioevoMedioevo (27 aprile–1aprile–1 maggio 2000), vol.vol. II,II, SpoletoSpoleto 2001, pp. 639–692,639–692, esp. p. 675,675, fig. 23. Bernard Bavant, “Le ththee KosmidionKosmidion aalsolso ggaveave its name to a cchurchhurch dded-ed- duché byzantin de Rome. Origine, durée et extension géographique”, icateicatedd to thethe Virgin MarMaryy in Ravenna, wwhich,hich, hhow-ow- Mélanges de l’Ecolel’Ecole ffrançaiserançaise de Rome. Moyen-Moyen-Age,Age, Temps modernemoderness, XCIXCI/1/1 (1979),(1979), pp. 441–88,1–88, espesp.. pp.. 886.6. ever,ever, was not a new ffoundationoundation but derived ffromrom 22 RobertRobert Coates-StepCoates-Stephens,hens, “Byzantine BuildingBuilding Patronage in post-Re-post-Re- thethe conversion (rereconciliatioconciliatio) ooff the AArianrian BaBaptistery.ptistery. conquestconquest RomeRome”,”, in Les cités de l’Italie tardo-antique (IVVe–VIIe sièclesiècle).). Institutions,Institutions, économie, société, culture et religion, Massimiliano Ghilar-Ghilar- The conversion of the former AArianrian building to the di, Christophe J. Goddard, PierfrancescoPierfrancesco Porena eds., Rome 2006, CatholicCatholic rite pprobablyrobably occurred around 560560/561/561 or a pp.pp. 1149–166,49–166, espesp.. pppp.. 1163–164.63–164. little laterlater29, ppreservingreserving its ddependenceependence on tthehe nearnearbyby 23 IIndividualsndividuals ooff ‘Greek’ origin in Ravenna seemingly belonged to the so-calledso-called ScholaSchola GrGraecaaeca. TheThe namename isis recordedrecorded forfor ththee first ttimeime iinn a churchchurch ooff St. Theodore,Theodore, the former ArianArian cathedral papyrus ddatingating bbackack to tthehe year 572. Jean-Marie Sansterre (LesLes mmoinesoines (today(today SS.. Spirito).Spirito). ItIt is difficult to ascertain when grecs et orientaux à Rome aux époépoquesques byzantinebyzantine et carolingiennecarolingienne, vovol.l. IIII,, BruxellesBruxelles 1982, pppp.. 1102–104,02–104, note 388) ununderlinedderlined tthehe uncunclearlear originaoriginall the ArianArian BaptisteryBaptistery was actuallyactually separatedseparated fromfrom its nature and significance ooff the institution. AAss fafarr aass RRavennaavenna iiss cconcer-oncer- cathedralcathedral to becomebecome an autonomous church,church, wwhichhich ned,ned, SaSalvatorelvatore Cosentino in hhisis Storia dell’Italia bizantina ((VI–XIVI–XI secolosecolo).). DaDa GiusGiustinianotiniano ai NNormanniormanni, BolognaBologna 2008, p.p. 68 considersconsiders thethe scholaschola was susubsequentlybsequently conceconcededded to a monastic commucommu-- as an elite ofof learned Greek-speaking physicians. nitnityy of eastern origin /Figs. 3,3, 5/5/3030. 24 See StefanoStefano Del Lungo, RomaRoma in età carolingiacarolingia e gligli scritti ddell’Anonimoell’Anonimo WhatWhat isis certaincertain isis thatthat thethe newnew dedicationdedication toto Augiense (Einsiedeln,(Einsiedeln, Bibliotheca Monasterii Ordinis Sancti Benedicti, 326 [8 Nr. 13], IV, ff. 67v–86r)67v–86r), Roma 2004, pp. 6161,, 11112.2. S.S. MaMariaria iinn CCosmedinosmedin iiss first atteestedsted iinn a ddocumentocument 25 AndrewAndrew J. Ekonomou,Ekonomou, Byzantine Rome and the Greek Popes: EasternEastern datingdating bbackack to 767, in wwhichhich a certain EEudociaudocia mamadede InInfluences on Rome and the Papacy ffromrom Gregory the Great to Zacharias, A.D.A.D. 590–752, PPlymouthlymouth 2007, pp. 42, 64, note 5.5. 3131 an endowment to the monasterymonastery . AroundAround 830,830, Ab-Ab- 26 See PaolaPaola Novara, “Una“Una cchiesahiesa ravennate ddii epoca esarcaesarcale.le. Santa Maria botbot AndreasAndreas AgAgnellus’nellus’ Liber Pontificalis ascribesascribes thethe adad BBlachernas”,lachernas”, RomagnaRomagna arte e storstoriaia, VVIIII (1987), pp. 55–16.–16. 2277 Cosentino, SStoriatoria dell’Italiadell’Italia bizantinabizantina (n.(n. 2323),), p. 993;3; Giorgio Ravegnani, conversion of the babaptisteryptistery to his homonymhomonym AArch-rch- GGlili esarchiesarchi d’Italiad’Italia, Roma 202011,11, pppp.. 8080–81.–81. bishopbishop AAgnellusgnellus (556–570). He tells us that it became 28 AgnelliAgnelli Ravennatis, Liber Pontificalis EEcclesiaecclesiae RavennatiRavennatiss, Deborah MaMau-u- thethe church ooff the monastermonasteryy ooff the Virgin MarMary,y, the skopf-Delyannisskopf-Delyannis ed., Turnhout 2006, pp. 290–291, 339. Deborah Mau-Mau- skopf-Deliyannis,skopf-Deliyannis, RavennaRavenna iinn Late AAntiquityntiquity, CambridgeCambridge 2010, p. 29293.3. so-calledso-called “Cosmi”, anandd considersconsiders it necessarynecessary to 2299 IbIbidem,idem, pppp.. 1178,78, 1182.82. provideprovide his readers with the same ffalsealse etetymologicalymological 30 Cosentino,Cosentino, StoriaStoria dell’Italiadell’Italia bizantinabizantina ((n.n. 2323),), pppp.. 325, 3362.62. 3131 Friedrich Wilhelm Deichmann, Ravenna.Ravenna. Hauptstadt des spätantiken explanationexplanation used in Rome to account for the pecu-pecu- AbendlandesAbendlandes, Band IIII.. Kommentar, 1. Teil, Wiesbaden 1974, pp.. 2252.;52.; Le liar and unusual name Cosmedin, translatintranslatingg it as cartecarte ravennatiravennati deidei secolisecoli ottavoavo e nnonoono, Ruggero Benericetti eed.,d., Faenza 2006, pp. 7–13.7–13. ’e’elegant’,legant’, ’harmonious’’harmonious’ llikeike tthehe worworld.ld. For “cosmos 32 Liber Pontificalis EcclesiaeEcclesiae RavennatisRavennatis (n. 28), p. 253.253. iiss ththee wwordord ththee GreeksGreeks useuse forfor ’w’world’orld’ ” 32. ThThee refer-refer- ence to the linguistic discrediscrepancypancy between Latin and Greek can be understood once again ffromrom the ppointoint of view of a Latin-speakerLatin-speaker in the predominantlypredominantly 25 3 / Plan ofof the citycity cc.. AD 600, Ravenna

LatinLatin cultureculture ooff 9th-century-century Ravenna. IInn aallll evievidence,dence, (sesecretariumcretarium) to SS.. Maria in Cosmedin,Cosmedin, pprovidingroviding Kosmidion/CosmedinKosmidion/Cosmedin was a name whose etetymologyymology it withwith an oratoryoratory (that(that hashas since disappeared)disappeared) was byby now completelycompletely effaced. namednamed afterafter his ppatronatron saint “Nicholas, the martyrmartyr S.S. MMariaaria in CosmeCosmedindin in Ravenna, too, ddespiteespite tthehe ooff Christ”Christ”34. A possible reminiscence of the topogrtopogra-a- lacklack ooff evidence, was pprobablyrobably a diaconiadiaconia or,or, at lleast,east, pphyhy ooff ConstantinoConstantinopleple could therethereforefore be taken into a xenodocheionxenodocheion. The communitcommunityy ooff monks ververyy likellikelyy account. IInn tthehe BByzantineyzantine cacapital,pital, an inindependentdependent benebenefitedted – aass wwasas ththee ccasease of EuEudocia’sdocia’s eendowmentndowment – monasterymonastery ofof St.St. NiNicholascholas aatt BlBlachernaeachernae wwasas severe-severe- fromfrom the ppatronageatronage ooff the Greek-sGreek-speakingpeaking aristocracaristocracyy ly damaged during the Avaro-PersianAvaro-Persian siege ofof 626, and from direct episcopalepiscopal intervention. For instance, totogethergether with that of Cosmas and Damian. The two when BishoBishopp Sergius (744–769), a staunch susupporterpporter complexescomplexes lalayy at a ververyy short distance ffromrom each ofof the autonomautonomyy ooff the local Church against PoPopespes other. Officiallcially,y, the MonasterMonasteryy ooff St. NiNicholascholas wwasas SStephentephen II and Paul I,I, came back to Ravenna around inin factfact iincludedncluded iinn ththee BlBlachernaeachernae ddistrictistrict35. ThusThus,, 775757 afterafter being imprisonedimprisoned forfor three yearsyears in Rome, the memormemoryy ooff this ffarawayaraway totopographypography mamayy have hehe went to cecelebratelebrate thethe mass in thethe monasterymonastery whichwhich leftleft some slislightght trace in the altars and oratories ooff isis calledcalled “Cosmiti” anandd to pprayray at StSt.. Nicholas’Nicholas’ alaltartar33. St.St. NiNicholascholas aannexednnexed toto ththee twtwoo chchurchesurches ofof S. MariaMaria ItIt seems thereforetherefore that some politicalpolitical or identityidentity value inin Cosmedin at Rome and Ravenna //Fig.Fig. 6/6/.. was ascribedascribed by Sergius to S.S. Maria in Cosmedin,Cosmedin, oror,, IIf,f, so far, the sources had not reportedreported a status ofof at least, that the ambitious anti-Roman bishobishopp felt ddiaconiaiaconia for the monastermonasteryy of Ravenna, on the con-con- securesecure in tthehe monastermonastery.y. trartrary,y, S.S. Maria in CosmeCosmedindin at NaNaplesples can relyrely uponupon TheThe eevidencevidence fforor a ccultult ooff StSt.. NiNicholascholas attachedached severalseveral 1111th andand 12th-century-century documents affirming to S. MMariaaria iinn CCosmedinosmedin shshouldould nnotot bbee ddismissedismissed itsits trtrueue nnatureature aass a chcharitablearitable iinstitutionnstitution of oorientalriental lightly.lightly. AAtt Rome too, tthoughhough mucmuchh more llater,ater, PoPopepe oriorigin.gin. The first ever mention ooff it is to be ffoundound in 26 Nicholas I (858–867) annexed an episcopalepiscopal residence thethe Chronicon eepiscoporumpiscoporum of the NeaNeapolitanpolitan Church, 4 / Plan ofof the citycity during thethe 7thth century,century, NapNaplesles

veryvery llikelyikely comcomposedposed in tthehe 840’s. TTherehere wwee aarere ttoldold 33 LiberLiber Pontificalis EEcclesiaecclesiae RavennatiRavennatiss (n. 28),28), pp. 335–336. OOnn BisBishophop rdrd thatthat ththee rrelicselics of ththee 3 -century-century BisBishophop EEustathiusustathius SergiusSergius see: AAntoniontonio Carile, MaterialiMateriali didi storiastoria bizantinabizantina, Bologna 1994, hadhad recentlyrecently been laid to rest in the altar ooff the church p.p. 2208.08. 3636 3434 Liber Pontificalis, vol.vol. IIII,, Louis Duchesne ed., Paris 1955, p.p. 161.161. ofof S.S. MMariaaria “que dicitur Cosmidi” . FurtFurthermore,hermore, a Cf.Cf. VVincenti,incenti, “L’“L’AArara MaximaMaxima HerculisHerculis e S. Maria in Cosmedin”Cosmedin” (n(n.. 220),0), document dated 1017 mentions a pplotlot ooff land bbee- pp.pp. 36363–364.3–364. 37 35 Janin,Janin, Les églises et les monastères (n.(n. 14), pp.pp. 369–370.369–370. longinglonging to tthehe “diaconiadiaconia SSanctaeanctae MMariaeariae CCosmidiosmidi” . 36 BartolommeoBartolommeo Capasso, Monumenta ad neaneapolitanipolitani ducatus historiam TheThe church survived upup to our own dadayy as a ddiaconiaiaconia pertinentiapertinentia etc., vovol.l. II,, NapoNapolili 1881–1882 (reprint bbyy Rosaria PiPilone,lone, with the name ooff Santa Maria di Porta NuovaNuova,, and SalernoSalerno 2008), p. 2236.36. 3737 IIbidem,bidem, p. 234, note 377. was attributed to the original groupgroup of seven diacodiaconiaeniae 3838 Domenico Ambrasi,Ambrasi, “Le diaconiediaconie a NapoliNapoli nell’altonell’alto medioevo”,medioevo”, ofof the earlearlyy medieval DuchDuchyy of NaNaplesples //Fig.Fig. 4/4/3838. AAss CampaniaCampania sacra, XI–XIIXI–XII (1980–1981), pp.pp. 445–61,5–61, esp. pppp.. 550–51.0–51. See also Paul AArthur,rthur, Naples.Naples. From Roman Town to City-StateCity-State, London 2002, was oftenoften remarked, the vitalitvitalityy ooff such a kind ooff pp.pp. 68–69. Description ofof the present-day baroque building in: EmilioEmilio monk-managedmonk-managed charitable institution at NaNaplesples – Ricciardi,Ricciardi, ““II bbarnabitiarnabiti a NapoNapolili e llaa cchiesahiesa ddii S. Maria in CosmeCosmedindin a Portanova”,Portanova”, ArteArte LLombardaombarda, CXXXIV/1CXXXIV/1 (2002), pppp.. 116116–126.–126. attested since the time ooff PoPopepe GregorGregoryy the Great 3939 Thomas Granier, “Topografia religiosa e produzione agiografica nei ssee- (590–604) – was assureassuredd once again by tthehe notanotableble colicoli IIXX e X”X”,, in Napoli nel medioevmedioevoo. I. SegniSegni culturali di una città, GalatinaGalatina ’eastern’ features that the NeapolitanNeapolitan ecclesiastical 2007, pp.pp. 441–58,1–58, esp. p. 5555.. 4040 AAmbrasi,mbrasi, “Le ddiaconieiaconie a NapoNapoli”li” (n. 38), pp. 5656–57.–57. administration still showed durinduringg the 1100th centurcenturyy3939. The evidence – for instance – of a bilingual litur-litur- gygy at NaNaplesples can be traced upup to the 14th centurcentury:y: documentsdocuments dedemonstratemonstrate tthathat tthehe primiceriusprimicerius of ouourr S.S. Maria in Cosmedin,Cosmedin, alongalong withwith otherother Greek-speak-Greek-speak- ing clergies, still has the dutdutyy to read the holholyy writ in GreeGreekk in tthehe catcathedralhedral dduringuring HoHolyly SaturSaturdayday anandd tthehe EEaster-dayaster-day40. 2727 5 / Ravenna,Ravenna, the churches ofof St. TTheodoreheodore andand S. MariaMaria inin CoCosmedinsmedin

6 / Diagram showingshowing thethe ttransmissionransmission of place names aandnd cults from Constantinople ttoo Italy,Italy, drawingdrawing byby tthehe authorauthor

ConclusionConclusion

A recent article byby Phil Booth providedprovided us with AfterAfter a long periodperiod in which EmperorsEmperors like an in-dein-depthpth investigation ooff the multi-doctrinal pper-er- Maurice and Phocas avoided raisinraisingg the issue spectivesspectives emerging from the exegesis of the text ofof of the doctrinal controversiescontroversies,, in 616 Heraclius thethe MiMiraclesracles ooff CCosmasosmas aandnd Damian.Damian. HHee shshowedowed mademade a first – short-lived – attememptpt at reconciliareconcilia-- how the pilgrimspilgrims and the individuals benefiting tiontion betweenbetween ChalcedoniansChalcedonians andand anti-Chalcedo-anti-Chalcedo- from the healing practicespractices or the miracles of the nians.nians. HeracliusHeraclius aimeaimedd to restore rereligiousligious unitunity,y, two pphysicianhysician saints belonged to different doctrinal beingbeing pressed by the difficulties of foreign policy orientations.orientations. Apparently,Apparently, whilewhile distinctionsdistinctions were and, generallgenerallyy speaking,speaking, byby the centricentrifugalfugal trends oftenoften made throughoutthroughout the texts between ortho-ortho- ooff thethe anti-Chalcedoniansanti-Chalcedonians42. TThehe attememptpt at union doxdox and heretics or even pagans,pagans, the authors ofof leadlead to negative reactions on the ppartart ooff both the thethe didiffeerentrent collectionscollections ofof miracles’miracles’ talestales werewere of sides due to its monenergistic fformula.ormula. IInn pparticular,articular, different extraction and opinions.opinions. MMainlyainly in the first the union found its tireless opponentsopponents in the most stagesstages ofof the compositioncomposition ofof the Miracles’ texts, an active Chalcedonians ppersonalities,ersonalities, among whom aanti-nti- ChalceChalce doniandonian elementelement sseemseems evident.evident. we find SophroniusSophronius the Sophist,Sophist, the futurefuture Patriarch OnceOnce we assume the likellikelyy SyrianSyrian origin of at least of JJerusalem.erusalem. He wrote, some time after 603, the partpart ooff the original communitcommunityy at Kosmidion in the AccountAccount ofof the Miracles ofof St.St. CyCyrusrus and JohJohnn, tthehe two 5th century,century, the influence of the MiaMiaphysitephysite doctrines phyphysiciansician saints wwhoho ooperatedperated at ttheirheir own sshrinehrine can be easilyeasily understood. Nevertheless, as Booth atat Menouthis/Abukir in Egypt43. Sophronius’Sophronius’ work,work, rightlyrightly indicated, the earlier hagiograhagiographicphic texts ooff written aafterfter his eeyeye had been healed thanks to the thethe MiraclesMiracles shouldshould havehave undergoneundergone substantialsubstantial revirevi-- miraculous intervention ooff the two saintssaints,, is well aac-c- sionssions and remodelling aafterfter the imimperialperial intervention quaintedquainted with some ooff the earlier texts ooff the Mira-Mira- inin the management ooff the AnargyroiAnargyroi cult, i.e. afterafter the cles ofof Cosmas and Damian. A new ttypeype ofof rhetoric, creationcreation of the two great shrines at ConstantinoConstantinopleple nevertheless,nevertheless, inspiredinspired Sophronius.Sophronius. WWhenhen ttheyhey are by Justinian and Justin IIII.. The existence ooff various said to be ’heretics’, i.e. anti-Chalcedonians, CCyrusyrus doctrinaldoctrinal eelementslements iinn ththee accountsaccounts ooff ththee MMiraclesiracles and John’s ppatientsatients have to rerepentpent bebeforefore thetheyy can relatingrelating to the shrine at ConstantiConstantinopleno ple (especially(especially in be healedhealed44. Thus, the various and syncretisticsyncretistic am-am- the CopticCoptic corcorpuspus ppublishedublished bbyy RuRupprechtpprecht in 1935) is biebiencence of thethe first miraclesmiracles of CosmasCosmas andand DamianDamian a pprobablerobable reflection of the multifaceted Kosmidion aandnd ofof the pilgrimagepilgrimage at Kosmidion appearsappears to be communitycommunity and mark of the somewhat ambiguous by now totallytotally a thing of the past.past. religiousreligious politicspolitics adoptedadopted byby Justinian I.I. InIn the cap-cap- The disapprovaldisapproval among the Chalcedonian milieu ital,ital, the AnargyroiAnargyroi cult was definitelynitely enhanced as of the ’conciliatory’’conciliatory’ religious ppoliticsolitics of Heraclius anan imimperialperial one, faithfullfaithfullyy reflecting the ververyy nature together with the ppropagandaropaganda of Chalcedonian ofof the Emperor’sEmperor’s religious wayway ofof thinking41. TThesehese activists llikeike SoSophroniusphronius against tthehe compromisercompromiser ppoliciesolicies pprobablyrobably came to an aabruptbrupt enendd witwithh Justin politicpolitic of the Patriarch Sergius of ConstantinoConstantinople,ple, IIII,, who ppubliclyublicly disdisplayedplayed a harsh attitude towards a man ofof SyrianSyrian origin, and probablyprobably the son ofof non-Chalcedonians, even ggoingoing as far as occasional JacobiteJacobite parentsparents45. ManyMany SyrianSyrian DDyophysitesyophysites clericsclerics 28 ppersecution.ersecution. and monks fled from SyriaSyria and the citcityy of Jerusalem occupiedoccupied by thethe Persians in 614, whichwhich shockedshocked allall 41 BootBooth,h, ““OrthodoxOrthodox anandd Heretic” ((n.n. 7), pp. 118–12118–120.0. thethe contemcontemporariesporaries enormouslyenormously4646. TheyThey went to set-set- 42 The conciliatory policy was promoted in the following years by means tletle definitivelynitively in IItaly,taly, substantiallsubstantiallyy increasing the ofof recurrent subscriptionssubscriptions of union documents byby some anti-Chalcedanti-Chalcedo-o- nians in SyriaSyria andand Egypt:Egypt: SophroniusSophronius ooff Jerusalem and Seventh-Century number of the existinexistingg ’Greek’ ecclesiastic commu-commu- Heresy:Heresy: The SSynodicalynodical Letter and OtherOther DocumentsDocuments, Pauline AAllenllen ed.ed.,, nity.nity. InIn Italy,Italy, thethe Roman ChurchChurch cooperatedcooperated closelyclosely OxfordOxford 2009, p. 24ff. 4433 IIbidem,bidem, pp.. 118.8. withwith thesethese ’eastern’’eastern’ monasticmonastic communitiescommunities iinn ssevere-evere- 44 BootBooth,h, “Orthodox“Orthodox anandd Heretic” ((n.n. 77),), pp.. 12123.3. lyly condemningcondemning tthehe monoenergist compromise4747. 45 CyriCyrill Hovorun, Will,Will, AActionction and Freedom. ChristoloChristologicalgical Controversies in the Seventh CenturyCentury, LeiLeiden-Bostonden-Boston 2008, pp.. 56. OftenOften substantiallysubstantially in agreement with the doctrinal 4466 Kaegi, HeracliusHeraclius ((n.n. 11), pp.. 7799ff. positionposition of the Church of Rome, the authorities of the 47 SophroniusSophronius ooff Jerusalem ((n.n. 42), pppp.. 118–19.8–19. Exarchate,Exarchate, and the Duchies as well, pprovidedrovided all the opponentsopponents ooff the religious ppoliticsolitics ooff ConstantinoConstantinopleple with a safe refuge. This mightmight be the historical frameworkframework in which a dissolution ooff the original monastic communitcommunityy ofof thethe KosmiKosmidiondion coucouldld hhaveave tatakenken plplace.ace. TThehe sshockinghocking episodeepisode ofof the yyearear 626, i.e. the looting ooff the shrine by tthehe Avaro-PersianAvaro-Persian bbesiegers,esiegers, sshouldhould bbee tatakenken into accountaccount as a further discouragingdiscouraging element. The IItaliantalian ’re’replicas’plicas’ ofof the Kosmidion ofof Con-Con- stantinoplestantinople were pprobablyrobably the result ooff a large-scale emigrationemigration ooff monks ffromrom the main shrine ooff Cosmas andand Damian at Constantinople.Constantinople. TheyThey were wellwell experiencedexperienced in the management of hospitalshospitals and charitable activityactivity fforor the benefit and welwelfarefare ooff the imimpoverishedpoverished ppopulationopulation ooff the great citiescities.. IInn IItaly,taly, aatt least one of the main features of the orioriginalginal Kos-Kos- midion was ppreserved:reserved: the new diaconiaediaconiae of S. MaMariaria in Cosmedin were pprobablyrobably led bbyy a communitcommunityy ooff monks who took care of the ppooroor and offered hoshos-- pitalitypitality and ffoodood thanks mainlmainlyy to the ppatronageatronage ofof wealthwealthyy individuals. TThehe mmonksonks ccarriedarried ououtt tthehe normalnormal iincumbenciesncumbencies ooff ththee ddiakonitaiiakonitai. TheyThey decided to sseettllee inin thethe threethree mainmain centrescentres of thethe ExarchateExarchate ooff Italy,Italy, i.e. the capitalcapital Ravenna and the duchies ofof RRomeome and NaNaples.ples. OOncence arrived, thetheyy met the flour-our- ishing communities ooff Greek-sGreek-speakingpeaking EEasterners,asterners, readyready to become an active ppartart of themthem.. 29 WhatWhat emerges immeimmediatelydiately wwhenhen anaanalysinglysing tthehe phenomenonphenomenon of the transfer of the name KosmKosmi-i- diondion into the ExarchateExarchate ofof ItalyItaly is the lack ofof con-con- nnectionection bebetweentween tthehe ItalianItalian diaconiaediaconiae ofof S. MariaMaria inin Cosmedin and the cult ofof the PhPhysicianysician saints, in Rome,Rome, Ravenna anandd NaNaplesples aalike.like. TThehe name KoKo-- smidionsmidion/Cosmedin was conseconsequentlyquently dedeprivedprived of its original and basic meaning. If ananythingything survived from the ConstantinopolitanConstantinopolitan motherhouse, it is the truetrue eestablishmentstablishment aass diaconiaediaconiae ooff ththee thrthreeee chchurchesurches devoteddevoted toto S.S. MMariaaria inin CosmedinCosmedin onon ItalianItalian soil.soil. Apparently,Apparently, thethe migrant ddiakonitaiiakonitai monksmonks whowho gave origin to the ItalianItalian diasporadiaspora ofof the Kosmidion sim-sim- ply wantewantedd to ppreservereserve tthehe ConstantinoConstantinopolitanpolitan name as a mark of identityidentity for their community.community. The er-er- rroneousoneous understandingunderstanding ooff the name’s meaninmeaningg in a mainlymainly Latin-sLatin-speakingpeaking cuculturalltural environment plplayedayed itsits role as well. Kosmidion/Cosmedin evidentlyevidently bebe-- ccameame ppopularopular tthankshanks to its mistakenmistaken bbutut suggestive iinterpretationnterpretation as ’ornament’ or ’adorned’.’adorned’. ItIt wouldwould bbee intriguing to imagine thatthat thethe monks,monks, since theythey llostost thethe bondbond withwith theirtheir patronpatron saints Cosmas andand Damian,Damian, found in the pplace-nameslace-names the most suitable wayway to reassert, nostalgicallnostalgically,y, their pprovenancerovenance ffromrom Constantinople.Constantinople.

AlessandroAlessandro TaddeiTaddei ScuolaScuola ddii LLeettereere e BeniBeni culturaliculturali UniversitàUniversità di BolognaBologna [email protected]@unibo.it

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PPutováníutování osob a jjmen.men. Kosmidion v KKonstantinopolionstantinopoli a jjehoeho italské replikreplikyy

První svatsvatynyně v KonstantinoKonstantinopolipoli zzasvasvěccenáená svsva-a- ttýmým KosmoviKosmovi a Damiánovi, bbylayla založenazaložena pravdpravdě- ppodobnodobně v pprrůběhhuu posledníchposledních desetidesetile t tíí 5. st stool letí.etí. StálaStála v ssoukroméoukromé předmedměstskéstské usedlostiusedlosti zvanézvané ta PPaoulinesaoulines, na sseverueveru nenejslavnjslavnějšíjší čtvrtitvrti BlachernaeBlachernae, podélpodél levéhlevéhoo břehu ZlatéhoZlatého rohu.rohu. Její přeesnásná llokaliza-okaliza- ce stále není známa. SpoleSpolečně s kkostelemostelem zasvěcenýmceným dvdvěmmaa svatsvatýmým lékařůřům zde bylabyla založenazaložena i kláš-kláš- terníterní komunita.komunita. TaTa byla povpověřěřeenana pomocípomocí a lékalékař- skouskou ppééčí o jednotlivce ze všech spolespolečenskýchenských tříd.íd. SvatynSvatyně bylabyla bohatbohatě přeestavstavěnnaa za císacísaře JJustiniá-ustiniá- na (527–565).(527–565). JižJiž v leletechtech 662323 a 626, kdy avarsavarsko-slo-ko-slo- vanskévanské kmenykmeny obléhalyobléhaly hlavní město, bbylayla vážnvážně poškozena.poškozena. Chrám KosmyKosmy a DamiánaDamiána sisi prošelprošel ob-ob- dobím úpadku,úpadku, trvajícím až do dobydoby vládyvlády císaře MichaelaMichaela IIV.V. (1034–1041), který sisi jejjej vybralvybral jakojako mís-mís- to odpoodpočinkinkuu v ústranní. LidovLidovýý názenázevv kkomplexu,omplexu, Kosmidion, je doložen v bbyzantskýchyzantských ppramenechramenech až odod ppolovinyoloviny 99.. ststoletí.oletí. LLatinskáatinská vverzeerze nnázvuázvu KoKosmi-smi- dion jeje všakvšak velkouvelkou měrourou atribuovánaatribuována třemem novnově založenýmzaloženým chrámům na úúzemízemí bývaléhobývalého bbyzantské-yzantské- ho exarchátuexarchátu v IItálii,tálii, přesněji řečeenono v hlhlavnímavním městě v RRavennavenně a vvee ddvouvou vvévodstvíchévodstvích v Římímě a v NNeapo-eapo- li.li. TytoTyto tři kostelykostely bylybyly pojmenoványpojmenovány S. MariaMaria inin Cos-Cos- medin (tj. Kosmidion). Písemné pprameny,rameny, které se k nnimim vztahují, se datují do 8. sstoletí.toletí. Jejich založení je všakvšak pravděpodobně nutné přičíístst dříívvějjšímušímu dadatu.tu. První diasporadiaspora mnmnichichů ssee zdezde usadilausadila po ddramatic-ramatic- kýchkých událostech v roceroce 626626.. V iitalskýchtalských rereplikáchplikách KosmidionuKosmidionu už není žádné sspojenípojení s kultem KosmKosmyy a Damiána. Ten bbylyl evidentně nahrazen kultem MaMat-t- kyky Boží. VšechnyVšechny tři chrámychrámy bylybyly původně ovlá- dánydány východnímivýchodními mnišskýmimnišskými komunitamikomunitami a řeckyecky mlmluvícímuvícím klklérem.érem. MnMnišiiši zazasvsvěcceníení chcharitativníaritativní čin-in- nostinosti zazajistilijistili jjistouistou vivitalitutalitu jjejichejich institucí dokonce i po skončení bbyzantskéyzantské vládvládyy v IItálii.tálii.

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