Ioannes VIII Xiphilinos, patriarch of Constantinople E / M XI
οἰκουμενικὸς πατριάρχης (Ioannes 18)
(Unspecified)
(null)
Narrative
(78)
Before 1025
Unassigned Activities
Authorship
(null)
Death
(3)
After his death the emperor (
Michael 7
) appointed Kosmas to succeed him
κοιμηθέντος καὶ πρὸς τὴν ἀγύρω λῆξιν μεταθεμένου. Skylitzes Continuatus 176.6-10
The encomium of him written by
Michael 61
breaks off at the end, despite having promised to describe his death
ὀλίγα ἄττα καὶ περὶ τῆς ἐντεῦθεν τούτῳ ἐξόδου ἐπιμνησθείς. Psellos Xiphilinos 421
Was transferred to the eternal abodes after shepherding the church for eleven years and seven months
Zonaras 18.18.3
Description
(16)
He above all had risen to greatness of fortune (i.e. above
Michael 61
and
Ioannes 289
)
ὁ μάλιστα ἐπὶ μέγα τῆς τύχης ἀρθείς. Psellos: Chronographia VI 195.1-2
A man consummate in virtue and well suited to the high priesthood
ἄνδρα καὶ τὴν ἀρετὴν τελεώτατον καὶ τῇ ἀρχιερωσύνῃ μάλα προσήκοντα. Psellos: Chronographia VIIa 26.9-10
Shepherded the church for eleven years and seven months
ἐπὶ δέκα ἐνιαυτοὺς ἐφ ᾿ ἑνι καὶ μησὶν ἑπτὰ τὴν ἐκκλησίαν ποιμάναντος. Zonaras 18.18.3
An erudite man, he had demonstrated his scholarly virtues openly and was equally well versed in law
τὸν λογιώτατον. Mauropous: Orations 198.8
Was numbered among the outstanding men of the senate
τοῖς ἐξόχοις τῆς συγκλήτου συνηρίθμηται. Zonaras 18.9.17
A man originating from abroad but living in Constantinople
ἐξ ἑτέρων πατρίδων τὴν σεβαστὴν ῾Ρώμην οἰκήσαντε. Psellos: Chronographia VI 192.3-4
He and
Ioannes 289
were older,
Michael 61
much younger than they
ἐκείνω μὲν ἤστην πρεσβυτέρω, ἐγὼ δὲ παρὰ πόλυ ἐκείνων νεώτερος. Psellos: Chronographia VI 192.5-6
Just as
Michael 61
was senior in learning, so too his spiritual progress was comparably advanced and
Michael 61
was senior to him and
Ioannes 289
in the palace
ἐμοὶ δὲ ἄρα ὥσπερ ὁ λόγος ἐγεγόνει πρεσβύτερος, καὶ τὰ τῆς ψυχῆς, ἵν᾿ οὕτως εἴποιμι, κατὰ τὸ ὅμοιον προὔλαβε, καὶ πρώτως ἐκείνων ἐφεστήκειν τοῖς ἀνακτόροις. Psellos: Chronographia VI 192.12-15
He preceded (
Michael 61
) in seizing the better life
ὁ προλαβὼν καὶ τὴν κρείττω προαρπάσας ζωήν. Psellos: Chronographia VI 198.10.11
A wise and learned man, well known in the imperial administration and most virtuous
καὶ τοῖς πολιτικοῖς περίβλεπτος γεγονώς. Attaleiates: History 92.16-19 / 70.6-8
His father died while he was young, but his mother lived much longer, surviving into a virtuous and godfearing old age, even predicting the prominence of her son
Psellos Xiphilinos 421
His legal and intellectual training and experience as a monk gave him all the academic and practical skills needed to become an excellent patriarch
Psellos Xiphilinos 421
A wonderful man by his education, wisdom, sagacity and virtue, he hailed from Trebizond and lived as an ascetic on Mount Olympus
τὰ πάντα θαυμαστός, λόγῳ σοφίᾳ καὶ συνέσει καὶ ἀρετῇ. Glykas 606.15-17
Blessed (had died by the time Kekaumenos was writing his Strategikon)
τὸν μακαρίτην. Kekaumenos 218.26
His family was only praised (in the encomium of
Michael 61
) for virtue, not for wealth or prominence
Psellos Xiphilinos 421
A wise and educated man, he became known in public affairs and lived a virtuous life
ἀνὴρ δὲ σοφὸς καὶ παιδεύσεως εἰς ἄκρον ἐληλακὼς κἀν τοῖς πολιτικοῖς περίβλεπτος γεγονὼς καὶ ἀρετῆς εὐφρόνως ἐπιμελούμενος. Skylitzes Continuatus 117.14-16
Dignity/Office
(30)
Ecumenical patriarch
οἰκουμενικοῦ πατριάρχου. Oath of Eudokia 52-53
οἰκουμενικῷ πατριάρχῃ.
Seal 0
Exaktor
ἐξάκτωρα. Mauropous: Orations 198.8
Illoustrios
ἰλλούστριον. Mauropous: Orations 198.8
ἰλλούστριον.
Seal 0
Krites
κριτήν.
Seal 0
κριτοῦ.
Seal 0
κριτοῦ.
Seal 0
Krites of the hippodrome
κριτὴν ἐπὶ τοῦ ἱπποδρόμου. Mauropous: Orations 198.8
Maïstor
μαΐστορι. Psellos Letters (Sathas) 44.276-277
Nomophylax
νομοφύλαξ. Mauropous: Orations 198.10
νομοφύλακα. Attaleiates: History 21.17 / 17.20
Patriarch of Constantinople
οἰκουμενικὸς πατριάρχης. Iveron 2.125.2, 2.126.22
οἰκουμενικοῦ πατριάρχου. Synod of 1072 57.2
προχειρίζεται. Glykas 606.15
πατριάρχην Κωνσταντινουπόλεως. Kekaumenos 218.26-27
πατριάρχου. Kleinchroniken 144.73
πατριάρχου. Skylitzes Continuatus 117.13-14
τῆς συνόδου προεξάρχων καὶ τὴν πατριαρχίαν κοσμῶν ... πατριάρχης οἰκουμενικός. Attaleiates: History 92.14-15, 93.4 / 70.4, 70.14
εἰς τὸν ἀρχιερατικὸν τῆς Κωνσταντίνου θρόνον ἀνάγεται. Zonaras 18.9.16
ἄξιος ἐκρίθη τοῦ θρόνου τοῦ πατριαρχικοῦ. Zonaras 18.9.18
πατριάρχου. Zonaras 18.18.3
τοῦ πατριαρχικοῦ θρόνου ἠξίωσεν. Psellos: Chronographia VIIa 26.8-9
ἀρχιεροσύνης. Psellos Xiphilinos 421
ἀχιεπίσκοπος Κωνσταντινουπόλεως νέας ῾Ρώμης. Psellos Robert 153-154
ἀρχιεπισκόπῳ Κωνσταντινουπόλεως.
Seal 0
Proedros
προεδρίᾳ τε τιμηθείς. Mauropous: Orations 198.9
Protoproedros
πρωτοπροέδρου.
Seal 0
πρωτοπροέδρου.
Seal 0
Senator
συγκλητικοῖς. Mauropous: Orations 198.11
Education
(5)
He gave precedence in education to law over philosophy, and became as dominant in that field as
Michael 61
in philosophy, without neglecting other studies
τελεώτερον τοῖς νόμοις φιλοσοφώτερον προσεχώρησε. Psellos Xiphilinos 421
He,
Michael 61
and
Ioannes 289
were brought together by love of learning; ... he and Ioannes were devotees of philosophy, while Psellos was occupied with the highest philosophy
λόγος δὲ τῆς συμφυίας ὁ τῶν μαθημάτων ἐγένετο λόγος· ... ἐκείνω μὲν ἐραστὰ τῆς φιλοσοφίας ἐτύγχανον ὄντε, ἐγὼ δὲ ἐφιλοσόφουν τὰ τελεώτερα. Psellos: Chronographia VI 192.4-9
His education took place half in Trebizond and half in Constantinople, where he could gain the wisdom that astounded the world
ἡμιτελῆ μὲν ἔτι τὴν παίδευσιν. Psellos Xiphilinos 421
The extent of his learning is sketched by
Michael 61
through the juxtaposition of negative and positive judgements
Psellos Xiphilinos 421
Was educated in every branch of learning
πεπαίδευτο δὲ παιδείαν λόγων παντοδαπῶν . Zonaras 18.9.17
Ethnic label
(null)
Second Name
(9)
Xiphilinos
τὸν Ξιφιλῖνον. Kekaumenos 218.27
Ξιφιλῖνον. Mauropous: Orations 198.8
Ξιφιλῖνος. Skylitzes Continuatus 117.14
Ξιφιλῖνος. Attaleiates: History 92.15-16 / 70.5
Ξιφιλῖνος. Zonaras 18.9.16, 18.18.3
Ξιφιλῖνον. Psellos Xiphilinos 421
Ξιφιλῖνον.
Seal 0
Ξιφιλῖνον.
Seal 0
Ξιφιλῖνον.
Seal 0
Kinship
(7)
brother of
Bardas 101
ἀδελφός. Glykas 608.1
Ἀδελφός. Skylitzes Continuatus 123.9
son of
Anonyma 2101
(μήτηρ). Psellos Xiphilinos 421
son of
Anonymus 2102
(πατέρα). Psellos Xiphilinos 421
uncle of
Anonymus 2586
(ἀνεψιοῦ). Psellos Letters (K - D) 265, 310.8
uncle of
Bardas 101
(ἀνεψιὸς). Zonaras 18.10.22
(ἀδελφόπαιδα). Zonaras 18.10.22
Language Skill
(null)
Location
(18)
Constantinople
half-way through his education moved to Constantinople Βυζάντιον. Psellos Xiphilinos 421
lived in Constantinople τὴν σεβαστὴν ῾Ρώμην. Psellos: Chronographia VI 192.3-4
served as patriarch of Constantinople Κωνσταντινουπόλεως. Kekaumenos 218.26-27
was patriarch of Constantinople Κωνσταντινουπόλεως.
Seal 0
Constantinople: Great Palace
had a career next to the emperor in the palace τοῖς βασιλείοις. Attaleiates: History 92.19 / 70.7
Constantinople: Hagios Alexios
convened a synod in the church of Hagios Alexios ἁγίου Ἀλεξίου. Synod of 1072 57.2-3
Constantinople: Mangana
was appointed nomophylax at the school of law within the compound of Saint Georgios at Mangana τὸν ἐκεῖσε ναόν. Mauropous: Orations 198.10
Olympos, Mount (Bithynia)
became a monk on Olympos, Mount (Bithynia) τὸ Ὀλύμπιον ὄρος. Attaleiates: History 92.22 / 70.10
frequented the monasteries on Olympos, Mount (Bithynia) Ὄλυμπον. Zonaras 18.9.18
led an ascetic life on Olympos, Mount (Bithynia) Ὄλυμπον. Glykas 606.17
left Constantinople and became a monk on Olympos, Mount (Bithynia) τὸ θεῖον ὄρος τὸν ῎Ολυμπον. Psellos Xiphilinos 421
retired to Olympos, Mount (Bithynia) τὸ θεῖον ὄρος τὸν Ὄλυμπον. Psellos: Chronographia VI 196.7
spent a considerable time as a monk on Olympos, Mount (Bithynia) τὸ τοῦ Ὀλύμπου ὄρος. Skylitzes Continuatus 117.18-19
Trebizond
hailed from Trebizond ἐκ Τραπεζοῦντος. Glykas 606.16
hailed from Trebizond ἐκ Τραπεζοῦντος. Skylitzes Continuatus 117.14
hailed from Trebizond ἐκ Τραπεζοῦντος. Attaleiates: History 92.16 / 70.5
originated from Trebizond Τραπεζοῦντος. Zonaras 18.9.17
was born in Trebizond Τραπεζοῦντος. Psellos Xiphilinos 421
Occupation/Vocation
(4)
Monk
μοναχός. Glykas 606.14-15
μοναχός. Skylitzes Continuatus 117.13
τὴν μοναχικὴν πολιτείαν...ἀσπάσασθαι. Attaleiates: History 92.20-21 / 70.8-9
μοναχῷ. Psellos Letters (Sathas) 175.444 tit.
Possession
(null)
Religion
(null)
Eunuchs
(null)
Alternative Name
(null)
Uncertain Ident
(2)