2024-01-26 Guide to the Absolution Certificate Issued by Damianos I, Patriarch of Jerusalem, 1912 SPEC.HRL.0012 Finding aid prepared by Sabrina Gorse Ohio State University Libraries Special Collections
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2024 January This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit 2024-01-26T11:08-0500 English Describing Archives: A Content Standard Absolution Certificate Issued by Damianos I, Patriarch of Jerusalem SPEC.HRL.0012 Ohio State University Libraries Special Collections 0.1 Cubic feet 1912 Absolution certificates, also known as synchorochartia or synchoreteria (in English, “forgiveness papers” or letters of absolution), were certificates issued out by the patriarchs of the Eastern Orthodox Church to individuals in the Eastern Orthodoxy faith from the sixteenth century into the early twentieth century. The Absolution Certificate Issued by Damianos I, Patriarch of Jerusalem contains an absolution certificate issued out by Greek Orthodox Patriarch Damianos I of Jerusalem in 1912. The certificate includes text printed in Greek absolving the certificate’s owner of their sins. (1) oversize folder Greek Jerusalem (Orthodox patriarchate) Acquisitions Information

Accession No. HRL.2024.0001: Purchased, 2021 December

 Preferred Citation

[identification of item], Absolution Certificate Issued by Damianos I, Patriarch of Jerusalem, SPEC.HRL.0012, Hilandar Research Library, Ohio State University

 Access to Materials

Materials in this collection are available for use, but may be used in the Thompson Library Special Collections reading room only.

 Use of Materials

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 Processing Information

Processed by: Sabrina Gorse, 2024 January; Finding aid written by: Sabrina Gorse, 2024 January

 Historical Note

Absolution certificates, also known as synchorochartia or synchoreteria (in English, “forgiveness papers” or letters of absolution), were certificates issued out by the patriarchs of the Eastern Orthodox Church to individuals in the Eastern Orthodoxy faith from the sixteenth century into the early twentieth century. Applicants could acquire or purchase such certificates for themselves or on behalf of others to forgive the owner’s sins and release them from penance. Certificates were given to pilgrims for free when visiting the Patriarchate of Jerusalem.

Damianos I of Jerusalem (1848-1931) served as the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem from 1897 to 1931.

 Scope and Contents

The Absolution Certificate Issued by Damianos I, Patriarch of Jerusalem contains an absolution certificate issued out by Greek Orthodox Patriarch Damianos I of Jerusalem in 1912. The certificate includes text printed in Greek absolving the certificate’s owner of their sins. Space is left blank for the owner’s name in the middle of the text. Illustrations printed along the edges of the certificate depict Jesus Christ, the four evangelists, and the Arma Christi (Instruments of the Passion).

 Damianos I, Patriarch of Jerusalem Jerusalem (Orthodox patriarchate) Absolution--Orthodox Eastern Church--20th century Arma Christi--Pictorial works Canon law--Orthodox Eastern Church--20th century Certificates Forgiveness--Religious aspects--Orthodox Eastern Church Orthodox Eastern Church--Bishops--20th century Patriarchs and patriarchate--Jerusalem