Where is the Nicomedia edict of Galerius written

I want to share another "story" from Sofia. I confess at once that I myself did not know about it earlier. Since from the school history course I remember only the "Edict of Milan".

Edict for tolerance

In the historic center of Sofia, directly opposite the entrance to the church "Sveta Sofia", which gave the modern name of the city, there are three glass stands. The central one shows the profile of the emperor Galerius, and below it the inscription in Bulgarian: "The edict for tolerance".

We are talking about the "Nicomedia edict", which was released two years earlier than the more famous "Milan". The Nicomedia Edict was written by the emperor Galerius in April 311 and announced on the 30th in the city of Nicomedia (hence the name). With this edict, Galerius stopped persecuting Christians and allowed them to openly practice their religion. On one condition: they had to pray for the prosperity of the Roman Empire and its health.

It is believed that the "Nicomedia edict" did not have the desired effect, because it was not supported by other rulers of the empire and also because it was not complete - the "Edict of Milan", published two years later, gave Christians not only the right to their faith, but also "returned" the property selected for the years of persecution. Nevertheless, historians emphasize the importance of the “Nicomedia edict" as a decision that set the stage for the Milan; the edict of Constantine the Great ("Milansky") was already a continuation of "Nicomedia."

What's so interesting

It is interesting that this "Edict on Tolerance" in Bulgaria is called the "Serdikii Edict", because the Bulgarians believe that in fact this document was written in Serdika (the old name of Sofia), and was only announced in Nicomedia.

Why do Bulgarians think so

The fact is that by the time of the edict, the emperor Galerius was already so sick that he could not move: 653 kilometers between Nicomedia (modern Izmit) and Serdika (modern Sofia). Judging by the testimonies that have reached us, in the winter of 310, Galerius fell ill with a severe form of genital cancer. It was a large tumor that burst and bleed, and the doctors could not stop it. The only thing that somehow relieved the suffering of Galerius was the Sofia thermal water.

The Nicomedia Edict was announced on April 30, 311, and Galerius died on May 5, 311. Consequently, according to the Bulgarians, he wrote his edict in Serdika and did not go anywhere for the sake of its announcement. And since it is known that he asked to be buried in his native places (Galerius was born in Serdiki), then his grave must be located somewhere in the old Sofia. Bulgarian historians believe that the tomb of Galerius is located either in the necropolis under the Basilica of Sveta Sofia, or in one of the stone sarcophagi under one of the basilicas in the Lozenets quarter of Sofia.

That is why the "Nicomedian edict" in Bulgaria is called "Serdicius". Well, and in order not to quarrel with anyone, it is simply written “The Edict of Tolerance of Galeria” - this is already my personal assumption

Thank you for your time and attention.

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All photos in this blog are taken by me unless otherwise attributed.

With love from Bulgaria @varya-davydova

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