Niketas David Paphlagon (Greek: Νικήτας Δαβὶδ Παφλαγών), also known as Nicetas the Paphlagonian or Nicetas of Paphlagonia, was a prolific Byzantine Greek writer of the late 9th and early 10th century.[1]

Older scholarship dated Niketas' death to about 890, but more recent research suggests that he was born around 885 and was active as late as 963. He was a disciple of Arethas of Caesarea. In a letter, Arethas calls him a scholastikos, meaning lawyer. "David" appears to be a religious name, which he may have taken later in life.[2] When Arethas, under pressure from Pope Nicholas I, moved to support the tetragamy[lower-alpha 1] of the Emperor Leo VI, Niketas distributed all his master's goods to the poor and fled to Thrace. He was arrested and imprisoned in Constantinople. The Patriarch Euthymios I secured his release, but forced him to live in seclusion for two years.[1]

Niketas was a prolific author on Christian topics. He wrote about fifty hagiographies, a treatise on calculating the end times, a commentary on the Psalms and many other works, including possibly pamphlets against Leo VI and Euthymios. In his commentary, he provides a moral exhortation for every psalm, which was an innovation at the time. He also evinces a strong dislike of musical instruments.[1] His biography of Ignatios of Constantinople functions also as a tract against Photios. It was probably written in the 910s.[3] His biography of Gregory of Agrigento was highly esteemed by Symeon the Metaphrast, who included it in his synaxarium.[4] He was accused of heresy for proclaiming himself God, although this probably means only that he emphasised the divine nature in man.[1]

Notes

  1. ↑ The legitimization of Leo VI's son by a concubine after his three marriages failed to produce an heir.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Kazhdan, Alexander (1991). "Niketas David Paphlagon". In Kazhdan, Alexander (ed.). The Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium. Oxford and New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-504652-8.
  2. ↑ Smithies, Andrew (2013). "Introduction". The Life of Patriarch Ignatius. Dumbarton Oaks. pp. xi–xxxv.
  3. ↑ Nicetas David (2013). Andrew Smithies; John M. Duffy (eds.). The Life of Patriarch Ignatius. Dumbarton Oaks.
  4. ↑ Høgel, Christian (2002). Symeon Metaphrastes: Rewriting and Canonization. Museum Tusculanum Press.
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