John Orphanotrophos and Saint Nicholas: a special relationship? Some observations in light of figural evidence

Despite the celebrity of John Orphanotrophos and his crucial political role during the reign of the empress Zoe, his devotion toward Saint Nicholas has received limited attention. The special relationship between John Orphanotrophos and the saint can be followed both through written sources and figural evidences. According to Skylitzes, in 1034, saint Nicholas healed John Orphanotrophos from a rare disease. The contemporary miracle offers an interesting area of investigation and a vantage point on Saint Nicholas’ cult during the eleventh century. A further lens through which we can interpret this event is the illustration which follows Skylitzes’ account in the famed manuscript in Madrid (Madrid, Biblioteca National de España, Vitr. 26-2, fol. 209r). Additionally, a group of seals linked to Orphanotrophos’ personality and their iconography will be further discussed in relation to the evidence given by historical sources