Georgios 223

Prosopography of the Byzantine Empire
SexM
FloruitM/L IX
Dates859 (tpq) / 886 (taq)
PmbZ No.2259
ReligionChristian
LocationsNikomedia;
Nikomedeia (officeplace)
OccupationBishop
TitlesBishop, Nikomedeia (Bithynia) (office);
Metropolitan, Nikomedeia (Bithynia) (office)
Textual SourcesPhotius, Epistulae, ed. B. Laourdas and L. G. Westerink, 3 vols. (Leipzig, 1983-85) (letters)

Georgios 223 was metropolitan bishop of Nikomedeia; addressee of twelve letters from the patriarch Photius (Photios 1), all addressed Γεωργίῳ μητροπολίτῃ Νικομηδείας or similar bar one, Ep. 126 (I 164 Laourdas-Westerink), which is addressed jointly to Georgios 223 and Euschemon 5, Εὐσχήμονι καὶ Γεωργίῳ μητροπολίταις: Photius, Epp. 24 (I 75 Laourdas-Westerink; a. 859/867), Ep. 26 (I 76 Laourdas-Westerink; May 866/23 Sept. 867), Ep. 126 (I 164 Laourdas-Westerink; late 869), Ep. 156 (II 11 Laourdas-Westerink; unknown date), Ep. 164 (II 22ff. Laourdas-Westerink), EP. 165 (II 25ff. Laourdas-Westerink), Ep. 166 (II 35ff. Laourdas-Westerink), Ep. 169 (II 45 Laourdas-Westerink; Nov. 867/872), Ep. 199 (II 97 Laourdas-Westerink; unknown date), Ep. 201 (II 98ff. Laourdas-Westerink; c. 872), Ep. 216 (II 120ff. laourdas-Westerink; unknown date), Ep. 248 (II 181ff. Laourdas-Westerink; unknown date), Ep. 277 (II 227ff. Laourdas-Westerink; November 877/September 886).

When Photios 1 wrote Ep. 24 (I 75 Laourdas-Westerink) he had recently consecrated Georgios 223 as bishop of Nikomedeia (in succession to Ioannes 455). Georgios 223 was a man of learning (σοί, γραμματικευομένῳ καὶ ταῖς τῶν ποιητῶν λεσχηνεύοντι μελέταις): Photius, Ep. 156 (II 11 Laourdas-Westerink), cf. Ep. 164 (II 22ff. Laourdas-Westerink), Ep. 165 (II II 25ff. Laourdas-Westerink), Ep. 166 (II 35ff. Laourdas-Westerink) and Ep. 169 (II 45 Laourdas-Westerink) (all reflecting his interest in secular learning).

He also raised theological points for Photios 1 to answer: Photius, Ep. 216 (II 120ff. Laourdas-Westerink) and Ep. 248 (II 181ff. Laourdas-Westerink). He and Euschemon 5 were praised for their piety; they are addressed by Photios 1 as ὦ φίλοι καὶ τέκνα καὶ ἀδελφοί: Photius, Ep. 126 (I 164 Laourdas-Westerink). Georgios 223 rebuked Petronios 1 and received abuse in return: Photius, Ep. 199 (II 97 Laourdas-Westerink). Photios 1 styles him ἡ σὴ τελειότης or similar: Photius, Ep. 199 (II 97 Laourdas-Westerink) and Ep. 201 (II 98ff. Laourdas-Westerink). In one letter, Ep. 277 (II 227ff. Laourdas-Westerink), Photios 1 offered Georgios 223 advice, in the guise of a fable, to avoid drunkenness. He also sent Georgios 223 a letter of consolation on the death in exile of a cleric (Anonymus 599) whom Georgios 223 had ordained: Photius, Ep. 201 (II 98ff. Laourdas-Westerink).

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