Nicephorus, Theodore the Reader, and Theophanes, assert that Leo was
elected by the Senate, and that the diadem was set upon his head by the
Patriarch Anatolius[12], but Constantine does not make any reference to
any act of coronation by the Patriarch, and does not mention him at all,
except as being among the high officials who accompanied the Emperor to
the Hippodrome. Evidently as yet the Patriarch took no very public or
prominent part in the ceremonial.
We are told more, however, in connection with the inauguration of the
Emperor Anastasius I in 491[13]. On the death of Zeno, the choice of his
successor to the Empire was left in the hands of the Empress Ariadne.
The Senate summoned the Patriarch to exhort her to make a worthy choice,
and she chose as Emperor Anastasius the Silentiary. After the funeral
of Zeno, Anastasius takes up his position before the portico of the
great Triclinium and the magistrates and Senate require of him an oath
that he will retain no private grudge against anyone, and that he will
rule the Empire well and justly. The Patriarch Euthymius then demands
an oath in writing[14] that he will make no change in the Faith or
Church, and that he shall sign the Chalcedonian dogmas. Anastasius then
proceeds to the Hippodrome and enters the triclinium from which the
Emperor is wont at race times to receive the adoration of the Senate.
He is clothed in the golden-striped Dibetesion (a tunic reaching to the
knees), girdle, greaves, and royal buskins, his head being uncovered.
The military standards are in the meanwhile lying on the ground, to
signify, apparently, the vacancy of the throne. The people acclaim him,
he is raised on a shield, and a campiductor places a torque about his
head. This last is perhaps a perpetuation of the makeshift coronation
of Julian with a military torque. The standards are then lifted up, and
people and soldiery together acclaim the Emperor. The Emperor re-enters
the triclinium, and is invested with the regalia. The Patriarch says a
prayer which is followed by the _Kyrie eleeson_, and then the Patriarch
invests the Emperor with the imperial chlamys (the purple robe), and
sets a gorgeous crown upon his head. After this the Emperor goes to the
Kathisma and shews himself to the people, who greet him with the cry
_Auguste_, Σεβαστέ. The Emperor then proceeds to address the people in a
special ritual formulary, a book containing which is put into his hand
for the purpose.
EMPEROR. _It is manifest that human power depends on the will of the
supreme Glory._
PEOPLE. _Abundance to the world! As thou hast lived, so rule. Incorrupt
rulers for the world!_ and so on.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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