Theophylaktos of Ohrid sent three letters of complaint soon after arrival at his see

Summary:
Theophylaktos of Ohrid wrote to Adrianos Komnenos, brother of Alexios Komnenos and megas domestikos, asking him for deliverance from serving the barbarous Slavs of Ohrid. Around the same time he wrote to the epi ton deeseon (probably another office of the hypatos of the philosophers Theodoros Smyrnaios), picturing himself as an eagle forced to live in the mud with frogs. A third, shorter letter to Niketas ho tou Serron, refers his correspondent to news sent in the other two letters. [These are conventional letters home of a Constantinopolitan in exile.] Theophylakt's brother, who carried the last two letters (at least), could also be consulted about Ohrid 
Dates:
1088 
Adrianos Komnenos, brother of Alexios I (Adrianos 102)
  • Was exhorted by Theophylaktos 105 in a letter to deliver him from servitude (:) Theophylaktos of Ohrid, Letters 143-145
correspondent of Theophylaktos of Ohrid (Anonymus 215)
  • Was sent a letter by Theophylaktos 105 in which the latter complained about his life at Ohrid and wished him relief from his gout (:) τῆς ἀμειλίκτου θηρὸς ἀπαλλαγὴν τελείαν ἢ ἄνεσιν Theophylaktos of Ohrid, Letters 147-149
epi ton deeseon (maybe Theodoros Smyrnaios?) (Anonymus 217)
  • Was sent a letter by Theophylaktos 105 with the latter's brother (Anonymus 218, from Ohrid), detailing his misfortunes (since his arrival at Ohrid) (:) τὴν πρὸς τὸν ἐπὶ τῶν δεήσεων ἐπιστολὴν ἡμῶν Theophylaktos of Ohrid, Letters 151.8-9
brother of Theophylaktos of Ohrid (Anonymus 218)
  • Carried a letter from his brother (Theophylaktos 105) to the epi ton deeseon (Anonymus 217, presumably from Ohrid to Constantinople); he could be consulted about conditions in Ohrid (:) Theophylaktos of Ohrid, Letters 151.9-10
Konstantinos Doukas, nephew of Eirene Doukaina (Konstantinos 130)
  • Was entrusted with the rule of the (region of the) Vardar (:) ἡ περὶ τὸν Βαρδάριον ἀρχὴ νῦν ἀνετέθη Theophylaktos of Ohrid, Letters 461.18-19, 571.16-17
Michael Doukas, brother of Eirene Doukaina (Michael 121)
  • Was asked by Theophylaktos 105 in a letter to mediate with his son (Konstantinos 130) in order to prevent the dispatch of tax assessors to a church property on the Vardar (Ekklesiai) threatened by Iasites (Anonymus 220) and other tax officials (:) τὸ μὴ ἀναγραφέας ἐπιπέμψαι τῷ χωρίῳ Theophylaktos of Ohrid, Letters 461.18-463.25
Niketas ho tou Serron, didaskalos of Hagia Sophia (Niketas 115)
  • Was sent a letter by Theophylaktos 105 urging him to learn more details about his misfortunes from the letters sent to their common master (Adrianos 102) and to the epi ton deeseon (Anonymus 217), and to inform other people too (:) Theophylaktos of Ohrid, Letters 151
Theodoros Smyrnaios, hypatos of the philosophers (Theodoros 109)
  • He may have been the recipient of a letter sent by Theophylaktos soon after arrival at Ohrid; the Constantinopolitan archbishop compares himself to an eagle forced to live in the mud with frogs (:) Theophylaktos of Ohrid, Letters 147.1-149.44
Theophylaktos, archbishop of Ohrid (Theophylaktos 105)
  • In a letter to the megas domestikos (Adrianos 102) he complained about his life among the barbarians (Bulgarians) and exhorted him to deliver him from servitude (:) Λύσατέ με τῆς αἰσχρᾶς ταύτης δουλείας Theophylaktos of Ohrid, Letters 143-145
  • Sent a letter to Niketas 115 urging him to learn about his misfortunes from his letter to their common master (Adrianos 102) and had his brother (Anonymus 218) deliver another letter to the epi ton deeseon (Anonymus 217) with more details of his ills (:) Theophylaktos of Ohrid, Letters 151
  • In a letter to an un-named person (Anonymus 215, probably Theodoros 109) he complained about his life among the inhabitants of Ohrid and expressed his wish to be saved from the evil that befell him, wishing his correspondent relief from his gout (:) παντελῆ τῶν ἐνταῦθα λύσιν κακῶν Theophylaktos of Ohrid, Letters 147-149
  • Asked Michael 121 in a letter to mediate with his son (Konstantinos 130) in order to prevent the dispatch of tax assessors to a church property on the Vardar (chorion of Ekklesiai) threatened by Iasites (Anonymus 220) and other tax officials (:) τὸ μὴ ἀναγραφέας ἐπιπέμψαι τῷ χωρίῳ Theophylaktos of Ohrid, Letters 461.18-463.25