Niketas David Paphlagon

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^[a] 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]

• Nicetas of Paphlagonia, 9th-10th cent. Medieval Manuscripts in Oxford Libraries.